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Dallas County

To protest your Dallas County property taxes, file Form 50-132 with DCAD by May 15 (or 30 days after your notice). File online at onlineprotest.dallascad.org or mail to 2949 N. Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX 75247. TaxProtestTx generates your evidence packet for $50.

Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD)

Address
2949 N. Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX 75247
Phone
(214) 631-0910
Website
dallascad.org
Online Protest
onlineprotest.dallascad.org
Property Search
maps.dcad.org

Key Dates

April Notices mailed
May 15 Filing deadline
May–Jul Informal hearings
Jun–Oct ARB hearings

File by May 15 or 30 days after receiving your Notice of Appraised Value — whichever is later.

Filing Methods

Online
File at onlineprotest.dallascad.org. Upload your evidence report as supporting documentation.
By mail
Send signed Form 50-132 to 2949 N. Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX 75247. Must be postmarked by the deadline. Use certified mail for proof of filing.
In person
Deliver to the DCAD office at 2949 N. Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX 75247. Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM.

How to Protest Your Dallas County Property Taxes: Step by Step

  1. Receive your Notice of Appraised Value. DCAD mails these in April. The notice shows your property's appraised value for the upcoming tax year and includes your property account number and online protest PIN.
  2. Review your appraisal. Compare your appraised value to recent sales and appraisals of similar homes in your neighborhood. Look at the $/sq ft — if yours is higher than comparable properties, that data may be relevant to your protest. How to read your Notice of Appraised Value →
  3. Gather evidence. You need comparable property data showing your home is overvalued. The two main approaches are unequal appraisal (DCAD appraises similar homes at less per square foot) and market value (recent sales in your area are below your appraised value). Unequal appraisal vs. market value explained →
  4. File Form 50-132 by the deadline. File online at onlineprotest.dallascad.org, by mail to 2949 N. Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX 75247, or in person. The deadline is May 15 or 30 days after your notice — whichever is later. Deadline details →
  5. Attend your informal hearing. DCAD schedules a one-on-one meeting with an appraiser (typically June through August). Bring two copies of your evidence. The appraiser may agree, counter-offer, or disagree. What to expect at your hearing →
  6. Accept or proceed to ARB. If you reach agreement at the informal hearing, sign the settlement. If not, you can proceed to a formal Appraisal Review Board (ARB) hearing at no cost.

What Evidence Do You Need?

Texas law provides two grounds for protesting your property taxes. Most successful protests use one or both:

Unequal Appraisal

Texas Tax Code §41.43(b)(3). Show that comparable properties in your area are appraised at less per square foot than yours. Uses DCAD's own records — the appraisal district's data against itself.

Most common approach. Can be used regardless of market direction.

Market Value

Texas Tax Code §41.43(b)(1). Show that comparable properties sold for less than your appraised value. Uses recent MLS sales data from your area.

Strong when market is flat or declining. Uses actual transaction prices.

TaxProtestTx compiles both types of comparable data from public DCAD records and MLS data, and pre-fills the required forms. Learn more about both approaches →

Common Protest Mistakes to Avoid

  • Missing the deadline. If you file after May 15 (or 30 days after your notice), DCAD will reject your protest. Mark your calendar. Deadline guide →
  • Bringing opinions instead of data. "My taxes are too high" is not evidence. The ARB wants comparable property data — specific properties, appraised values, and $/sq ft comparisons.
  • Using properties from different neighborhoods. Your best comps are from your own neighborhood or subdivision. DCAD groups properties by neighborhood code for a reason — the panel expects to see apples-to-apples comparisons.
  • Forgetting to request DCAD's evidence. Under Texas Tax Code §41.461, you can request the evidence DCAD plans to present. Send a written request at least 14 days before your hearing.

5 common mistakes that weaken your protest →

DIY Protest vs. Hiring a Firm

Property tax consulting firms in Dallas County typically charge 25-40% of the first year's savings. On a $30,000 reduction, that's $200-$350 in fees.

TaxProtestTx charges a flat $50 for the evidence packet. You file the protest yourself and keep 100% of any savings. The same comparable property data is available to everyone — it's public record from DCAD.

Firms do offer hearing representation, which is a different service. If you prefer someone to attend the hearing for you, a firm may be worth the cost. But for the evidence and filing, the data is the same. Full comparison: DIY vs. hiring a firm →

Related Guides

Areas We Cover

TaxProtestTx covers residential properties throughout Dallas County, including:

Dallas Highland Park University Park Irving Grand Prairie Mesquite Garland Richardson Plano Carrollton Cedar Hill DeSoto Lancaster Duncanville

Your Rights

Under Texas Tax Code §41.461, you can request the evidence DCAD plans to use at your hearing. DCAD must provide it at least 14 days before. Include a written request when you file your protest.

Texas law (Tax Code Sec. 41.71) generally prohibits the appraisal district from raising your appraised value solely because you filed a protest.

You may also designate an agent to represent you at the hearing using Form 50-162. However, most homeowners present their own evidence — especially with a well-prepared evidence packet.

Protest Your Dallas County Property Taxes

Enter your Dallas County address to see your comparable analysis.

Montgomery, Harris, Dallas & Travis counties. $50 flat fee if you purchase a protest packet.