Travis County
To protest your Travis County property taxes, file Form 50-132 with TCAD by May 15 (or 30 days after your notice). File online at traviscad.org/efile or mail to P.O. Box 149012, Austin, TX 78714. TaxProtestTx generates your evidence packet for $50.
Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD)
- Address
- 850 East Anderson Lane, Austin, TX 78752
- Mailing
- P.O. Box 149012, Austin, TX 78714-9012
- Phone
- (512) 834-9317
- Website
- traviscad.org
- Online Protest (eFile)
- traviscad.org/efile
- Property Search
- travis.prodigycad.com
Key Dates
File by May 15 or 30 days after receiving your Notice of Appraised Value — whichever is later.
Filing Methods
- Online
- File at traviscad.org/efile. Upload your evidence report as supporting documentation.
- By mail
- Send signed Form 50-132 to P.O. Box 149012, Austin, TX 78714-9012. Must be postmarked by the deadline. Use certified mail for proof of filing.
- In person
- Deliver to the TCAD office at 850 East Anderson Lane, Austin, TX 78752. Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
How to Protest Your Travis County Property Taxes: Step by Step
- Receive your Notice of Appraised Value. TCAD mails these in April. The notice shows your property's appraised value for the upcoming tax year and includes your property ID and online protest credentials.
- 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 →
- Gather evidence. You need comparable property data showing your home is overvalued. The two main approaches are unequal appraisal (TCAD 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 →
- File Form 50-132 by the deadline. File online at traviscad.org/efile, by mail to P.O. Box 149012, Austin, TX 78714-9012, or in person at 850 East Anderson Lane. The deadline is May 15 or 30 days after your notice — whichever is later. Deadline details →
- Attend your informal hearing. TCAD schedules a one-on-one meeting with an appraiser (typically May through August). Bring two copies of your evidence. The appraiser may agree, counter-offer, or disagree. What to expect at your hearing →
- 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 TCAD'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 TCAD 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), TCAD will reject your protest. Austin's fast-moving market means notices arrive early — don't assume you have extra time. Common mistakes guide →
- Using comps from the wrong neighborhood. Austin property values vary dramatically block by block — East Austin comps don't work for Westlake, and vice versa. Use properties from your own neighborhood or subdivision for the strongest case.
- Arguing market decline without data. Telling the appraiser "the Austin market is cooling" is not evidence. Bring specific comparable sales with dates, prices, and $/sq ft to support a market value argument.
- Forgetting to request TCAD's evidence. Under Texas Tax Code §41.461, you can request the evidence TCAD plans to present. Send a written request at least 14 days before your hearing — this lets you prepare a rebuttal.
DIY Protest vs. Hiring a Firm
Austin has more property tax protest firms than almost any Texas metro. Most charge 25-40% of the first year's savings. On a $40,000 reduction — common in Travis County — that's $250-$450 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 TCAD.
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 Travis County, including:
Your Rights
Under Texas Tax Code §41.461, you can request the evidence TCAD plans to use at your hearing. TCAD 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 Travis County Property Taxes
Enter your Travis County address to see your comparable analysis.
Montgomery, Harris, Dallas & Travis counties. $50 flat fee if you purchase a protest packet.