With property taxes being due on January 31 and federal income taxes needing to be paid on April 15, it is easy to see why the people of Houston and Harris County are sick of taxes. While many taxpayers think that the tax season is over with April 15, it is actually only beginning in Texas. That is because notices of appraised value are heading out to mailboxes everywhere between late March and early April. While not bills, these notices are important bellwethers for future property tax bills.
Notices of appraised value contain information vital for taxpayers, especially for those looking to launch an appeal. Usually, May 15 is the final day for filing a property tax appeal, however; taxpayers in Harris County will be getting a small break. Due to the size of the Houston area and the complications with mailing notices, Harris County taxpayers will get an extension until May 18, 2026. In this article, we will cover why the extension has been granted and how this benefits Harris County taxpayers.
The Importance of the Notice of Appraised Value
Property values are central to how Texas property taxes are calculated. Notices of appraised value report the various property values for a piece of real estate, including market, appraised, and taxable values. Market value is what the appraisal district believes a property will sell for on the open market on January 1 of the tax year. Appraised value takes the market calculation and restrains and shapes it within laws, caps, and other regulations. Taxable value is then derived from the appraised value by reducing it further through exemptions. Once market value is distilled down to taxable value, it is then multiplied by tax rates to create bills. Taxpayers should review their notice to see if these values are fair and equal to neighboring properties of the same size and age. Large value spikes or unequal appraisal can signal that it is appropriate to appeal.
The notice will also contain basic information about a property that needs to be verified. Clerical errors can happen, and they can be quite costly if not caught quickly. The owner’s name, square footage, classification, improvements, and exemptions should all be verified as correct. The notice helpfully puts all of this information in one place, making any errors easy to spot. Like errors in valuation, any mistakes in these details should be appealed as well. One of the most common mistakes made when it comes to Texas property taxes is ignoring the notice of appraised value.
Harris County Notices Slowly Arriving
Thanks to millions of properties across the county, the Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD) has a massive number of notices to mail out. Since this could easily overwhelm the postal system, leading to delays, HCAD made the decision to build in a slight delay into the property tax appeal deadline. Typically, taxpayers have until May 15 or 30 days after the notice was mailed to appeal, whichever is later. Since HCAD expected delays, they moved the original deadline to May 17, as it is expected that most taxpayers will receive their notices by April 17. May 17 falls on a Sunday, which means that it is then moved to the next working day, which will be Monday, May 18.
An Extended Deadline to Gather Evidence
While a mere three days may not seem like much of an extension, it does open up more possibilities and gives taxpayers a bit more leeway to get things ready. Along with exemptions, property tax appeals are the only way to lower the taxable value. In fact, they work great in tandem, granting two separate streams of savings. They can also correct simple errors that would otherwise potentially lead to much higher costs. With Texas having some of the highest property taxes in the nation, more and more taxpayers are turning to appeals every year. In 2024 alone, Harris County taxpayers saved around $671 million thanks to appeals.
While fixing basic errors is simple, getting a reduction because of unequal appraisal or overassessment can be much more complicated. This means that evidence needs to be gathered, including photographs, repair estimates, documentation of deferred maintenance, and records of any damage. To prove unequal appraisal, multiple appraisals of similar properties in the same location are necessary. For overassessment, sales records of similar pieces of real estate need to be gathered, which can help show the true value of a home or business. This slight extension gives more time to gather this vital information.
O’Connor Brings Local Expertise to Harris County Appeals
For over 50 years, O’Connor has been helping taxpayers across the nation lower their taxes through cost-effective tax reduction. Based in Houston, there is no property tax firm that knows Harris County and HCAD better. We know exactly the right evidence to impress HCAD in informal appeals and the appraisal review board (ARB) in formal hearings. Our experienced experts can also analyze an appraisal and find any issues that might need to be addressed. As a national firm, we can also bring tons of resources to bear for you, including state-of-the-art databases that can gather appraisals and sales records to back up appeals. We will help you file a homestead exemption for free, file appeals for you, and represent you at all hearings.
Unlike national firms, we also offer a personal touch. When you sign up with O’Connor, you are given a client success consultant. This means you have a consistent person to act as your point of contact, rather than a rotating cast of customer service representatives. Your client success consultant will answer any questions you have and will act as an arbiter on your behalf, along with communicating with your hearing representative. For most clients, we can also send out a concierge team member for a site visit, meaning they will come to your home or business. They will help you locate any issues that might help your appeal, along with gathering information and helping you understand your appraisal and exemptions. There is no upfront cost to these services, and you will only be charged from your winnings if we can lower your taxes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Harris County Appeals
Q: Can I still appeal if I miss the deadline?
A: No, the appeal deadline is strict, and appeals must be filed on time. For basic errors, such as incorrect ownership, you can file a correction of the appraisal roll later in the year, but it is easier to appeal during the deadline.
Q: I got my notice of appraisal early. Is my deadline shorter?
A: No, your notice should indicate that your deadline is May 18, meaning you have the same deadline as those who got their notices later. HCAD expected notices to be late, so they did a blanket extension.
Q: When is the deadline to file exemptions?
A: You have until April 30 to apply for exemptions.
Q: Should I appeal every year?
A: Due to both property values and tax rates changing every year, it is often a good policy to challenge your taxes annually. Even if you cannot get a reduction, it ensures that you are being valued and taxed fairly. O’Connor does annual appeals for clients when they sign up.
