When do appraisal notices go out?
Appraisal districts value property as of January 1 each year, and notices of appraised value go out in the spring. The Texas Comptroller says the notice comes by May 1, or by April 1 for a residence homestead.
TAD mailed its 2026 notices on April 17, 2026. Parker CAD mails its own. If you don’t get a notice and you think your value changed, look your property up on the appraisal district’s site.
What’s the deadline to protest?
Generally May 15, or 30 days after your notice, whichever is later. Your exact deadline is printed on the notice. Use that date.
Put the date on your calendar the day the notice shows up.
What can I protest?
Most people protest the market value. You can also protest other things, including:
- Your value is unequal compared with similar properties.
- Facts about the property are wrong, like square footage or condition.
- An exemption was denied or changed.
- Agricultural or timber appraisal was denied, or land under special appraisal had a change of use. That matters on Parker County acreage.
- The appraisal district or review board didn’t send a notice it was required to send.
How do I file a protest with TAD in Tarrant County?
TAD recommends filing online. For residential owners, TAD has a value negotiation tool on its homeowner dashboard. You can try to settle the value there first. If you can’t agree, TAD moves you to its new site to file a formal protest.
You can also file by mail or in person. Your notice has your account details. Start at tad.org (opens in new tab).
How do I file a protest with Parker CAD?
Parker CAD’s 2026 protest procedures say it prefers online protests through parkercad.org (opens in new tab). If you file on paper, use the state protest form, Form 50-132.
Two things from Parker CAD’s procedures worth doing:
- Check the box asking for an informal conference. That gets you an informal review with an appraiser before a formal hearing.
- Include your evidence and your phone and email when you file. Parker CAD says a settlement offer may come by mail or email, and you may not need to visit the office.
If you don’t settle, your case goes to the Appraisal Review Board.
What evidence actually helps?
The Comptroller lists the kind of evidence that works. In plain terms:
- Recent sales of similar homes. Same area, similar size and age, sold close to January 1.
- Photos of problems. Foundation, roof, water damage, anything that hurts value.
- Repair estimates from contractors for those problems.
- Your closing documents if you bought recently. The settlement statement shows what you paid.
- Your appraisal from your loan, if it’s recent. It was done for your lender and as of a different date, but it’s real evidence of value.
Keep it organized and short. One page with the comparables, then the photos and bids behind it.
What doesn’t help: how much your taxes went up, or what you can afford. The review board can’t consider your personal finances, and neither the board nor the appraisal district sets tax rates. Stick to value and facts.
What happens at the hearing?
If the informal review doesn’t settle it, you get a hearing before the Appraisal Review Board. The ARB is a board of local citizens. It’s independent of the appraisal district. The review board sends you notice of your hearing date.
Parker CAD’s procedures say you can attend in person, by phone, by video, or send a sworn affidavit instead (Form 50-283). You can also ask for an evening or Saturday hearing.
At the hearing, the appraisal district explains its value, you present your evidence, and the board decides. Bring copies.
What if I still disagree?
The Comptroller lays out the next options after the ARB order:
- District court. File within 60 days of receiving the ARB’s order.
- Regular binding arbitration. For a residence homestead, it’s available regardless of value. Request it within 60 days. There’s a deposit.
These take more time, and arbitration needs a deposit. Whether it’s worth going further is your call. A property tax consultant or attorney can help you decide.
Should I hire someone to protest for me?
You can. Parker CAD’s procedures refer to you or your agent presenting the case, so an agent can handle it for you. You can also do it yourself with good comparables. Either way, watch your deadline.
Do I keep paying my taxes while I protest?
The Comptroller says taxpayers generally have until January 31 of the next year to pay, and penalty and interest start February 1. If you take an appeal past the review board, Parker CAD’s procedures say you still have to pay at least the taxes on the part of the value that isn’t in dispute, or another amount the law allows, before the delinquency date. Pay on time either way.
What does a lower value do to my mortgage payment?
If your taxes are paid through escrow, a lower value means a lower tax bill, and your servicer’s next escrow review picks it up. If there’s a surplus of $50 or more, federal rules require them to refund it. Then your monthly escrow is reset.
If your payment already jumped, read why your mortgage payment went up. And if you never filed your homestead exemption, do that too. It’s in the homestead exemption article.
I’m not a tax professional and this isn’t tax advice. For your own case, check with your appraisal district, a property tax consultant, or your CPA. For what it means for your loan, call me at 817-873-6288.