Home address: 712 Center St

2021 Taxable Value: $66,220

Recent Sales Price: $39,900 – Over-taxed by 66%

Texas property owners can avoid paying excess property taxes by taking several basic steps. Market value property tax appeals save homeowners an average of $500, according to Texas Comptroller Glen Hager, for 2019. Unequal appraisal is a powerful tool to reduce property taxes, but many homeowners are not aware of it and don’t use it. It is difficult to persuade property owners to protest their property taxes. But 60 to 80% of those who do are successful.

Many owners intended to appeal but the May 15th date slipped by with no appeal. If you want to appeal and it is slipping your mind, consider a consultant. Appraisal districts use mass appraisal to value property, basically a math model. Overall results are OK. However, many homes are too high or low. Most tax protests are settled at the informal level so appraisers can return to measuring and valuing new construction. Property taxes are the largest tax most Texans face. But it is a stealth tax hidden in the mortgage payment, disguising the size of property taxes paid.