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Property Tax Sharing Information 41.45h

Property Tax Protest Hearing Evidence Exchanged by Owner and Appraisal District at Start of Hearing

Section 41.45(h) Hearing on Property Tax – Sharing Information

The property owner (or property tax consultant) and chief appraiser are supposed to “provide the other with a copy of any written material that the person intends to offer or submit to the appraisal review board at the hearing.”

Since many appraisal districts now present their information via an electronic projection system, it is not clear if they are required to present a paper copy of information being presented electronically. Harris County Appraisal District does provide a copy of information they plan to present at the hearing. Dallas Central Appraisal District generally does not provide the property owner a copy of evidence they plan to present.

Property owners should bring five copies of information they plan to present at the property tax appeal hearing; one for each of the three ARB members, one for the appraisal district and one for themselves.

Sec. 41.45(h) – Property Tax Sharing Information

 

(h) Before the hearing on a protest or immediately after the hearing begins, the chief appraiser and the property owner or the owner’s agent shall each provide the other with a copy of any written material or material preserved on a portable device designed to maintain a reproduction of a document or image that the person intends to offer or submit to the appraisal review board at the hearing. Each person must provide the copy of material in the manner and form prescribed by comptroller rule.

Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2306, ch. 841, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1982. Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., 1st C.S., p. 171, ch. 13, Sec. 138, eff. Jan. 1, 1982; Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 794, Sec. 1, eff. June 18, 1987; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 796, Sec. 37; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 836, Sec. 3.1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 828, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1039, Sec. 38, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 416, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 463, Sec. 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 21.001(99), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 626 (H.B. 538), Sec. 2, eff. January 1, 2008.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1267 (H.B. 1030), Sec. 4, eff. June 19, 2009.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 771 (H.B. 1887), Sec. 11, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 924 (S.B. 1546), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1259 (H.B. 585), Sec. 21, eff. January 1, 2014.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1201 (S.B. 1394), Sec. 1, eff. January 1, 2016.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 80 (H.B. 455), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 744 (S.B. 1286), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 944 (S.B. 2), Sec. 62, eff. September 1, 2020.

Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 533 (S.B. 63), Sec. 17, eff. September 1, 2021.

Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 644 (H.B. 988), Sec. 17, eff. January 1, 2022.

Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 965 (S.B. 1919), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2021.

 

Cross References:
Right to protest by taxpayer, see Sec. 41.41.
Determination of protest, see Sec. 41.47.
Notice of Protest Hearing, see Sec. 41.46.
Appraisal review board record requirement, see Rule Sec. 9.803.

Notes:
Appearance at appraisal review board hearing in person or by affidavit is mandatory condition precedent to filing suit. Webb County Appraisal District v. New Laredo Hotel, Inc., 792 S.W.2d 952 (Tex. 1990).

Appraisal review board members perform quasi-judicial functions so that immunity did apply in barring claims against them in the performance of their duties. Three appraisal review board panel members were sued by a tax consultant claiming negligence in a value determination for not basing the value reduction on a preponderance of the evidence presented at the protest hearing. The members asserted the affirmative defense of judicial immunity. Sledd v. Garrett, 123 S.W.3d 592 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2003, pet. denied).

An unadjudicated protest filed by a taxpayer does not bar a hearing pursuant to a motion for late correction under Section 25.25(d). Dismissal of a protest for failure to appear at a hearing is not an adjudication of the rights of the parties. The taxpayer was not entitled, however, to recover attorneys fees under Section 41.45 as a result of the denial of the hearing on the motion for late correction. Koger Equity, Inc. v. Bexar County Appraisal Review Board, 123 S.W.3d 502 (Tex. App.-San Antonio, 2003, no pet. h.).

Tax Code Section 25.25(c), subject to a five-year limitation, gives the appraisal review board the authority to change the appraisal roll on motion of the chief appraiser or a property owner. Section 25.25(b) does not contemplate the filing or presentation of any protest, or authorize the appraisal review board to review the chief appraiser’s decision. Western Athletic Clubs, Inc. v. Harris County Appraisal District and Harris County Appraisal Review Board, 56 S.W.3d 269 (Tex. App. – Amarillo 2001, no pet.).

An appraisal review board exceeds its authority by having a written procedure that a taxpayer’s fiduciary authorization must be filed prior to the filing of a protest or motion. Tarrant Appraisal Review Board v. Martinez Brothers Investments, Inc., 946 S.W.2d 914 (Tex. App.-Fort Worth 1997, no writ).

Taxpayer is entitled to judicial review of the appraisal review board order – he is not required to meet his burden of proof or present evidence at the appraisal review board hearing. When the appraisal review board issues its order, the taxpayer has exhausted his administrative remedies. National Pipe and Tube Company v. Liberty County Appraisal District, 805 S.W.2d 593 (Tex. App.-Beaumont 1991, writ denied).
These codes affect property owners across the state, in both larger and smaller cities including:

  • Meadows Place
  • Krugerville
  • Avondale
  • University Park
  • Lakeside
  • Bonney
  • DISH
  • White Settlement
  • Grand Prairie
  • Blue Mound
  • Hutto
  • Otey
  • Pattison
  • Frisco
  • Northlake
  • Grapevine
  • Lancaster
  • Pinehurst
  • Justin
  • Jarrell

The Texas Property Tax Code applies to all property types in Texas including:

  • Single-tenant retail
  • Supermarket
  • Service center warehouse
  • Apartments
  • Health spa
  • Medical facility
  • Office building
  • Daycare center
  • Hotel
  • Drugstore

O’Connor & Associates offers property tax services to all property owners of all land uses across Texas.

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