Attend Informal Hearing at Appraisal District Office
An informal hearing typically takes less than 10 minutes and is held at the county appraisal district’s office. The appraiser will provide evidence supporting the district’s appraisal, and you will provide evidence that supports your appeal.
These informal hearings rarely result in a substantial reduction in appraised property values, and most reductions that are approved are small.
In addition, participating in an informal hearing will prevent you from having the right to request a formal hearing or continue with your protest.
Attend Appraisal Review Board Hearing
A formal hearing takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes and is held in front of three appointed ARB members. These board members are independently appointed and are not employed by the appraisal district.
When you argue your case during a formal hearing, you will need to provide strong evidence that supports your protest, just as you would in an informal hearing. In this situation, you are up against an appraiser who has full access to databases that include information on property values and listings, along with sales of comparable properties, which may not be readily available to you as a property owner.
If You Win Your Appeal
If you do receive a reduction in value for the year, the burden of proof moves to the appraisal district for the following year. This can make an appraisal district reluctant to increase the value of your property for the next year.
In addition, if the ARB reduces your appraised property value, it’s unlikely that they would reduce it again the following year.
Appeal Through District Court or Arbitration
If you disagree with the ARB’s decision, you have the right to appeal the decision through your county’s district court. Binding arbitration may also be an option in some situations.
Appealing Through Your District Court
You have the right to appeal within 60 days of receiving the ARB’s decision. Before you decide to appeal through your district court, it’s important to determine if the tax savings you would receive would make up for any legal costs associated with your appeal.
If you choose to appeal, you would do so through the state district court in the county where your property is located. Even though you are appealing the ARB’s decision, you will still need to make a partial payment of your property taxes. Typically, this payment would cover the undisputed portion of the amount.
If you aren’t financially able to prepay your taxes, you could request the court to excuse you from doing so. You would need to file an oath saying that you are financially unable or that prepaying your taxes would hinder your ability to go to court for your protest. In this case, the court would determine the terms and conditions of your payment.
During your appeal, you may request a resolution by a jury, a judge, or through arbitration. You may also request to have settlement discussions prior to your trial date.
Appealing Through Binding Arbitration
You may be eligible to appeal through binding arbitration if your property is a residential homestead and if it has an appraised value of $5 million or less.
You must use the Comptroller’s Request for Binding Arbitration form (Form AP-219) to file your request no later than 60 days after you receive notice of the ARB’s decision.
You will also need to include a deposit, which varies from $450 to $1,550, depending on your property’s appraised value. The deposit amounts are listed on the form, and the Comptroller’s office will reserve $50 for their fee.
If the Comptroller’s office approves your request, it will appoint an arbitrator to handle your case. You may request an arbitrator who is from your county, but you may not request a specific arbitrator. The arbitrator will provide a decision within 20 days.
If the amount in the arbitrator’s decision is closer to the ARB’s appraised value or halfway between the ARB’s appraised value and your determination of your value, the arbitrator’s fee will be taken from your deposit. If the decision is closer to your suggested appraised value, the county appraisal district will pay the arbitrator’s fee. The comptroller’s office will then refund your deposit, with the exception of its $50 fee.
Hire a Property Tax Protest Company
If you decide to file your own appeal to lower your property taxes, use the steps and information above to do so. Alternatively, you can hire a property tax firm to appeal on your behalf. You don’t have to spend your valuable time wading through the Tax Code, collecting data on comparable properties, and preparing an argument for reducing your property taxes.
North Texas Property Tax Services helps homeowners in Dallas, Collin, Denton and Tarrant counties reduce their property value and lower their taxes. Our knowledgeable tax consultants will file any paperwork, perform research to form an argument, and attend all hearings so you don’t have to. We specialize in high-end residential properties, but represent properties valued at $250,000 or more.
We operate on a contingency basis, so when you work with us, you won’t owe anything upfront. Our fee is typically 40% of the amount you save, however, this can sometimes vary depending on your specific tax situation and whether you have commercial, capped, or agricultural property, etc.
Work with a trusted firm that understands tax valuations and appeals in Dallas-Fort Worth. Start your appeal with North Texas Property Tax Services.
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