TITLE 1. PROPERTY TAX CODE

SUBTITLE F. REMEDIES

CHAPTER 41. LOCAL REVIEW

SUBCHAPTER A. REVIEW OF APPRAISAL RECORDS BY APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD

Texas Property Tax Code 2023 Edition: The Texas Property Tax Code available on this website are current through the 89th Regular Legislative Session, 2025. The constitutional provisions found on this website are current through the amendments approved by voters in November 2023.

Property Tax Arbitration is Available to Owners Not Satisfied with ARB Hearing Result

Filing a judicial appeal is not financially feasible for most property owners. However, requesting binding arbitration is an excellent option for property owners who are confident their assessed value exceeds market value and whose value after the ARB hearing is $1 million or less.

A judicial appeal can easily cost $2,000 to $5,000. For the owner of a $200,000 home who strongly believes his property is over-assessed by $20,000 (or about $600 property tax reduction), it is not feasible to spend $2,000 or more. However, it is feasible to advance $500 to continue his property tax protest if he is confident his position is correct. If the property owner prevails, the cost of binding arbitration is only $50. An attorney is not required for binding arbitration, which sharply decreases the cost.

Binding arbitration is available to property owner is all counties in Texas. The arbitrators are independent of the appraisal district and are either appraisers or real estate agents.

Sec. 41.01.

(a) The appraisal review board shall:

(1) determine protests initiated by property owners;

(2) determine challenges initiated by taxing units;

(3) correct clerical errors in the appraisal records and the appraisal rolls;

(4) act on motions to correct appraisal rolls under Section 25.25;

(5) determine whether an exemption or a partial exemption is improperly granted and whether land is improperly granted appraisal as provided by Subchapter C, D, E, or H, Chapter 23; and

(6) take any other action or make any other determination that this title specifically authorizes or requires.

(b) The board may not review or reject an agreement between a property owner or the owner’s agent and the chief appraiser under Section 1.111(e).

(c) The appraisal review board by rule shall adopt procedures for hearings the board conducts under this subchapter and Subchapter C. Before adopting the hearing procedures, the board shall hold a public hearing to consider the hearing procedures proposed for adoption by the board. Not later than May 15 of each year, the board shall hold the hearing, make any amendments to the proposed hearing procedures the board determines are necessary, and by resolution finally adopt the hearing procedures. The board must comply with Section 5.103(d) when adopting the hearing procedures. The chairman of the board is responsible for the administration of hearing procedures adopted by the board.

(d) The appraisal review board shall distribute copies of the hearing procedures adopted by the board to the board of directors of, and the taxpayer liaison officer for, the appraisal district for which the appraisal review board is established and to the comptroller not later than the 15th day after the date the board adopts the hearing procedures.

(e) The appraisal review board shall post a copy of the hearing procedures adopted by the board:

(1) in a prominent place in each room in which the board conducts hearings under this subchapter and Subchapter C; and

(2) if the appraisal district for which the board is established maintains an Internet website, on the appraisal district’s website.

Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2302, ch. 841, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1982. Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., 1st C.S., p. 169, ch. 13, Sec. 133, eff. Jan. 1, 1982; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 1031, Sec. 5, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1039, Sec. 37, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 631, Sec. 9, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Amended by:

Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 644 (H.B. 988), Sec. 14, eff. June 15, 2021.