Texas Property Tax Protest Evidence: What to Bring (2027)
What evidence to bring to a Texas property tax protest, based on the Texas Comptroller's guidance and appraisal district practices, with a 2027 checklist.
Key Takeaways:
- You cannot go to a hearing and just say the appraisal district is wrong; you must bring proof.
- Core evidence: sales of similar homes, appraised values of similar homes (unequal appraisal), photos, repair estimates, and a specific opinion of value.
- Read your appraisal district's ARB hearing procedures for how many copies to bring.
- Keep it short, organized and dated.
Quick answer: bring a specific opinion of value and proof that supports it: recent sales of similar nearby homes, a list of similar homes appraised lower than yours (unequal appraisal), dated photos and repair estimates for condition problems, and records that show errors on your property record. The Texas Comptroller says it is up to you to bring what you need to prove your case. This applies in every Texas county, including the Dallas property tax protest and Harris County protest processes.
General education only, not legal advice.
What the Comptroller says to gather
The Texas Comptroller: Appraisal Protests and Appeals page lists the kinds of property information that may be relevant: property photographs (yours and comparables), receipts or estimates for repairs, sales price documentation such as listings and closing statements, calculations of median level of appraisal if you are protesting equal and uniform appraisal, affidavits, newspaper articles, architectural drawings or blueprints, engineering reports, property surveys and deed records.
A practical checklist for a home
- Market value evidence. Three to five recent sales of similar homes near yours, adjusted for size, age, condition and location. Our comps guide walks through finding them.
- Unequal appraisal evidence. A list of comparable properties that the district appraises lower than yours. Texas law lets you win on this ground even when your value is close to market.
- Condition evidence. Dated photos, contractor estimates, foundation, roof or flood reports.
- Record errors. Wrong square footage, a pool or garage you do not have, or an unfinished remodel valued as complete.
- Purchase evidence. A closing statement if you bought recently. See our closing disclosure guide.
- Your opinion of value. A specific number. Online settlement systems, including DCAD's uFile and HCAD's iSettle, need one.
Presenting it
The Comptroller says the hearing has an evidence part and an arguing part: present your case clearly and concisely, and do not get personal. Neither the ARB nor the appraisal district sets your tax rate, and the ARB cannot consider your personal finances. Emotional arguments or baseless claims carry no weight. Your ARB hearing procedures may tell you how many hard copies to bring or which electronic formats are accepted, so read them before the hearing. HCAD, for example, says its three-member panels hold hearings of about 15 minutes, so lead with your strongest page.
Learn what happens before the hearing in informal review vs the ARB hearing, or file on time using the Dallas uFile walkthrough or the Harris County deadline guide.
Want help with the filing?
TaxDrop Pro is full service: licensed Texas consultants file, build the evidence and represent you. The fee is 1% of the assessment reduction we win and nothing if we do not lower your value. TaxDrop One is a $129 per property, per tax year filing packet you file yourself. Pro is available in 17 Texas counties and One in 43, including Dallas and Harris. See the pricing page or the Texas property tax consultant page for how it works.
Sources
- Texas Comptroller: Appraisal Protests and Appeals: evidence list and ARB hearing guidance.
- Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD) protest hearing information (GTA-IAD-001) for hearing length.
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FAQs
What evidence do I need for a Texas property tax protest?
A specific opinion of value plus proof: recent comparable sales, comparable properties appraised lower than yours, dated photos, repair estimates and corrections to errors in the property record.
Can I win just by saying my taxes are too high?
No. The ARB cannot lower your tax rate or consider your personal finances. You must show the appraised value is wrong.
How many copies of my evidence should I bring?
It depends on the appraisal district's ARB hearing procedures. Check them before your hearing.
What is unequal appraisal?
A protest ground showing that similar properties are appraised lower than yours.
Do I need all my evidence on the day I file?
No. You need to file on time. You can build the case before the informal review or hearing, but follow your district's deadlines for submitting evidence.
Ryder Meehan
Ryder Meehan is the Co-Founder of TaxDrop and a Licensed Property Tax Protest Consultant
