Bastrop County homeowners overpay $650/year due to assessment errors. We fix that.
β 100% Done-for-You - We handle everything
β Licensed Tax Pros - Texas experts
β Only Pay If We Win - 25% contingency
If you just opened your Bastrop County property tax bill and felt that familiar punch to the gut, you're not alone. With the median home now assessed at $349,278 and climbing, many homeowners from Cedar Creek to Elgin are paying $500-$2,500 more annually than they should. The Bastrop Central Appraisal District processes over 80,000 properties, and assessment errors are more common than you'd think β especially with our county's rapid growth outpacing their ability to accurately value every home.
Here's what most homeowners don't realize: your assessment isn't set in stone. Texas law gives you the right to challenge it, and the Appeals Review Board approves reductions in roughly 60% of cases when proper evidence is presented. The problem? Most people don't know how to build a winning case or simply don't have 20+ hours to research comparable sales, prepare documentation, and present their argument professionally.
Your property's value should reflect what a willing buyer would pay a willing seller in today's market. But the CAD often relies on outdated sales data, incorrect property details, or comparisons to homes that aren't truly similar to yours. In fast-growing areas like Bastrop's downtown district or the newer developments near Highway 71, these errors compound quickly. We've seen homes assessed $15,000-$30,000 above market value simply because the CAD used a comparable sale from six months ago when the market was peaking.
The most frustrating part? Your neighbors might be paying significantly less for similar homes. Assessment inequity is real β we regularly find nearly identical houses on the same street with valuations that differ by $20,000 or more. That's not fair, and it's exactly what the protest process is designed to fix.
Every month you delay costs you money. With Bastrop County's effective tax rate around 1.39%, a $20,000 overassessment costs you $278 annually β that's $23 every single month. Over five years, you'll overpay $1,390 that could have stayed in your pocket. The protest deadline is typically May 15th (or 30 days from your notice date), and missing it means accepting inflated taxes for another full year.
We understand you're busy. Between work, family, and everything else on your plate, spending weekends researching property values and preparing legal documents isn't exactly appealing. That's precisely why we handle the entire process for you. You spend five minutes providing basic information about your property, and we take care of everything else β research, documentation, filing, and presenting your case to the Appeals Review Board.
Our licensed Texas property tax consultants use advanced market analysis to identify overassessments the CAD missed. We pull recent sales data from your specific area β whether you're in Smithville's historic neighborhoods or one of the newer subdivisions near Bastrop State Park β and build a compelling case for fair market value. We know which comparables the Appeals Review Board finds most persuasive and how to present evidence that gets results.
The best part? You only pay our 25% contingency fee from the money we actually save you. If we don't reduce your assessment, you owe us nothing. Most clients save far more than our fee β keeping 75% of their tax reduction while we handle months of complex work. It's the kind of arrangement that only makes sense when you're confident in your ability to deliver results.
Signup to have TaxDrop take care of your assessment protest for you. It takes less than 3 minutes to enroll and there is no fee if we don't win.
The Bastrop County property tax protest deadline is May 15th or within 30 days of receiving your Notice of Appraised Value, whichever is later. Missing this deadline means waiting until next year to challenge your assessment, potentially costing you hundreds or thousands in overpaid taxes. Homeowners in Bastrop, Elgin, and Smithville should mark their calendars early, as this window is your only opportunity to dispute the Bastrop Central Appraisal District's valuation for the current tax year.
Bastrop County property owners who successfully protested in 2023 saved an average of $1,274.95 per account, with total reductions exceeding $13.54 million. This means even a modest reduction in your appraised value can put hundreds or thousands back in your pocket annually. Professional protest services typically achieve higher reductions than DIY attempts, making the investment worthwhile for most Texas homeowners.
Visit the Bastrop Central Appraisal District (BCAD) website and use their property search tool by entering your address to view current and historical assessed values. This information helps determine if your property might be overassessed compared to similar homes in Bastrop, Mustang Ridge, or surrounding areas. Comparing your appraised value to recent sales of similar properties is the first step in identifying potential tax savings.
Not protesting an incorrect assessment means overpaying property taxes by $500-$2,000+ annually for the life of your ownership. Texas law requires you to formally protest to challenge your valuation, and the Bastrop Central Appraisal District won't automatically correct overassessments. Many homeowners unknowingly overpay for years because they assume their assessment is accurate or fair.
Your property may be overassessed if similar homes in Bastrop County recently sold for 10-20% less than your appraised value, or if your assessment increased significantly more than market trends. Common signs include outdated property characteristics on file, assessments based on peak market data, or valuations that don't reflect your property's actual condition. Professional analysis can quickly identify overassessments using local market data and comparable sales.
Approximately 60-70% of properly prepared property tax protests in Bastrop County result in some reduction, with professional services achieving even higher success rates. The key is presenting compelling evidence like comparable sales, property condition issues, or market data that supports a lower valuation. Success rates are highest when protests include detailed market analysis and proper documentation of property characteristics.
Yes, TaxDrop manages the entire protest process including representation at Bastrop County Appraisal Review Board (ARB) hearings when needed. Licensed property tax consultants prepare compelling evidence and present your case professionally, handling all complexities of the ARB process. Most cases settle during informal conferences, but when formal hearings are required, expert representation significantly improves your chances of success.
Professional protest services typically achieve 15-30% higher reductions than DIY attempts and handle all paperwork, deadlines, and hearings for you. With average savings of $1,274 in Bastrop County, the return on investment is substantial, especially considering most services work on contingency with no upfront costs. The expertise in local market data and ARB procedures often results in significantly better outcomes than self-representation.
The Bastrop County property tax protest process typically takes 2-4 months from filing to resolution, with most cases settling during informal conferences in 30-60 days. If your case proceeds to a formal ARB hearing, it may take an additional 30-45 days for scheduling and resolution. The timeline depends on the Bastrop Central Appraisal District's caseload and whether your case requires a formal hearing.
Start by entering your property address at app.taxdrop.com to instantly see if you qualify for potential tax savings and get an estimate of your reduction. The platform analyzes your Bastrop County assessment and provides a free evaluation of your protest potential. Licensed property tax experts then handle all aspects of your protest, from filing paperwork with BCAD to representing you at hearings, with no upfront fees.