Texas Property Tax Protest Deadlines: What You Need to Know

The Standard Deadline

Under Texas Tax Code Section 41.44, the deadline to file a property tax protest is:

May 15 or 30 days after the Notice of Appraised Value is mailed, whichever is later.

For most property owners, the notice arrives in April, making May 15 the effective deadline. However, if your notice is mailed after April 15, your deadline extends to 30 days from the mailing date. The mailing date is printed on your notice.

This deadline applies to all types of protests — value, unequal appraisal, exemptions, and property description errors.

The 30-Day Rule

The 30-day rule is important for property owners who receive their notices late. If the appraisal district mails your notice on May 1, your deadline is May 31, not May 15. Always check the mailing date printed on the notice.

Some districts are slower to mail notices than others, particularly in years with large-scale reappraisals. If you have not received a notice by mid-April, check your county appraisal district's website to see if values have been published online. You can file a protest even before you receive the paper notice.

Late Filing Exceptions

If you miss the standard deadline, Texas law provides a limited late-filing window:

Good cause late filing: You may file a late protest through the end of the day on the last day of the fourth month after the date the appraisal district mails the notices for that year. You must demonstrate "good cause" for the late filing. Examples that typically qualify:

• Medical emergency or serious illness during the filing period
• Military deployment
• Not receiving the notice (moved, incorrect mailing address)
• Natural disaster affecting your ability to file

The ARB determines whether good cause exists. "I forgot" or "I was busy" is generally not sufficient.

Correcting clerical errors: If the district made a clerical error (wrong property description, mathematical mistake), you can file a motion to correct under Tax Code Section 25.25 at any time, even after the protest deadline.

Electronic Filing Deadlines

Most Texas appraisal districts accept electronic protest filings through their websites. The deadline for electronic filing is the same as the standard deadline (May 15 or 30 days from mailing). Some important notes:

• Electronic filings submitted before midnight on the deadline date are considered timely.
• If the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, it typically extends to the next business day.
• Keep a confirmation email or screenshot as proof of timely filing.

County Online Filing Links

Here are online protest filing options for major Texas counties:

• Montgomery County (MCAD): mcad-tx.org/online-protest
• Harris County (HCAD): hcad.org/ifile
• Dallas County (DCAD): dallascad.org/efile
• Travis County (TCAD): traviscad.org/online-protest

Filing online provides an immediate confirmation and eliminates the risk of postal delays.

What Happens If You Miss It

If you miss the deadline and do not qualify for late filing, your appraised value is set for the year. You will still receive a tax bill in the fall based on that value. You can protest the following year when new notices are mailed.

Because the protest window is relatively short (typically 2-4 weeks after you receive your notice), the most important step is to file the protest form by the deadline. You do not need to have all your evidence ready when you file — you will have additional time before your hearing to prepare your comparable data and documentation.