Dallas County homeowners overpay $950/year due to assessment errors. We fix that.
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If you're reading this, you probably just opened your Dallas County property tax bill and felt that familiar punch to the gut. You're not imagining it – your taxes did go up again, even though your income didn't. The average Dallas County homeowner now pays between $4,000-$12,000 annually in property taxes, and many are overpaying by hundreds or even thousands due to assessment errors.
Here's what most Dallas County homeowners don't realize: the Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD) uses automated systems to value nearly one million properties. These computer models can't see that your foundation has settling issues common to Dallas clay soil, or that your street became a cut-through for busy traffic, or that the comparable sales they used were from neighborhoods with better amenities. They simply assign values based on broad formulas – and those formulas often work against you.
Unlike dealing with the IRS or other government agencies, Dallas County property tax protests have built-in advantages for homeowners. The system requires DCAD to prove their valuation is correct – not the other way around. Independent review boards hear these cases, and they're often sympathetic to homeowners who present solid evidence. The challenge is knowing how to build that evidence and present it effectively.
Most successful Dallas County property tax protests focus on three key areas: comparable sales analysis (showing similar homes sold for less), property condition factors (foundation issues, busy roads, functional obsolescence), and assessment methodology errors (wrong square footage, incorrect property characteristics, or outdated information). When presented properly, these arguments regularly result in 10-20% reductions.
The biggest reason Dallas County homeowners don't protest their property taxes? Time and complexity. Between researching comparable sales, understanding assessment methodology, preparing evidence packets, and attending hearings during work hours, most people simply can't manage the process. That's exactly why professional property tax consultants exist – to handle the months of work while you go about your life.
The second biggest concern is cost, but here's what makes property tax consulting different: you only pay if we win. Our fee is 25% of your first year's tax savings, which means if we save you $1,000, you pay $250 and keep $750. If we don't reduce your taxes, you owe nothing. It's the only risk-free way to fight an overassessment.
Dallas County property tax protests must be filed by May 15th (or within 30 days of receiving your notice, whichever is later). Miss this deadline, and you're stuck paying the inflated amount for an entire year. That's not just this year's overpayment – it becomes the baseline for next year's assessment too. Every day you delay costs you approximately $2-3 in additional taxes you'll never recover.
The process moves quickly once started: we analyze your property within 48 hours, build your case over the following week, then represent you through informal and formal hearings from May through July. Your new (hopefully lower) tax bill arrives in August. The entire process requires about 5 minutes of your time – just enough to sign our representation agreement and provide property access if needed.
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.
Step 1: Review Your Notice Receive Notice of Appraised Value from Dallas CAD showing property valuation (mailed by April 15).
Step 2: File Your Protest Submit Notice of Protest to Dallas CAD by May 15 or within 30 days of receiving notice.
Step 3: Evidence Submission Provide comparable sales, appraisals, and documentation to support lower valuation.
Step 4: Informal Review Meet with appraiser for informal discussion (optional but recommended).
Step 5: ARB Hearing Present case to Appraisal Review Board panel if informal review unsuccessful (typically May-August).
Step 6: Decision & Adjustment ARB issues written order; if successful, assessed value reduced and reflected in tax bill.
Filing Deadlines:
A property tax protest is a formal challenge to your property's assessed value by the Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD) when you believe it's overvalued. This legal process allows Dallas County homeowners to present evidence supporting a lower valuation. Property owners can save hundreds to thousands annually by successfully reducing their assessed value through the protest process.
Property tax protests in Dallas County typically save homeowners $500-$3,000 annually, with some saving over $5,000 depending on property value and assessment reduction. With Dallas County's effective tax rate of 1.74%, even a $50,000 reduction in assessed value saves $870 per year. Many Dallas homeowners recover their protest costs within the first year of savings.
The Dallas County property tax protest deadline is May 15 or 30 days after your DCAD appraisal notice is mailed, whichever is later. Missing this deadline means you cannot protest your assessment for that tax year. Check your specific notice for your exact deadline date, as it varies by property.
Your Dallas County property may be overassessed if similar homes recently sold for 10-20% less than your assessed value, or if your value increased significantly more than neighboring properties. Compare your assessment using DCAD's Property Search and recent sales data. Property condition issues not reflected in your assessment also indicate potential overvaluation.
The Dallas County property tax protest process typically takes 30-90 days from filing to final resolution through DCAD. Timeline depends on whether you pursue informal review first and if your case proceeds to an Appraisal Review Board (ARB) hearing. Most cases resolve within 60 days during peak protest season from May through August.
Successful Dallas County property tax protests require comparable sales data from similar properties, documentation of property condition issues, and market analysis showing value trends. Professional appraisals, photos of relevant property characteristics, and recent sales within your neighborhood strengthen your case. The strongest evidence shows your property's market value is lower than DCAD's assessment.
Yes, landlords can protest rental property taxes in Dallas County using the same process as homeowners. Investment properties, commercial buildings, and rental homes are all eligible for tax protests if overassessed. Many Dallas County rental property owners successfully reduce their tax burden through professional protest services, improving their investment returns.
A Dallas County ARB hearing involves an independent panel of citizens who review evidence from you and DCAD to determine your property's fair market value. The hearing typically lasts 10-20 minutes where both sides present their case. The ARB makes a binding decision based on the evidence presented, which becomes your official assessed value.
Professional protest services in Dallas County typically achieve 15-25% higher reductions than DIY protests, with success rates around 80% versus 40% for self-represented cases. While you can protest yourself, licensed property tax consultants understand DCAD procedures, have access to comprehensive market data, and can represent you at hearings. Many services work on contingency with no upfront costs.
Approximately 60-70% of property tax protests in Dallas County result in assessment reductions when properly prepared with supporting evidence. Professional services achieve higher success rates of 75-85% due to expertise and comprehensive market analysis. Success depends on the strength of your evidence and whether your property is genuinely overassessed compared to market values.
Many Dallas County property tax protest services charge no upfront fees and work on contingency, taking 25-50% of your first-year tax savings only if successful. DIY protests cost only your time and any evidence gathering expenses. Professional services typically pay for themselves through achieved savings, making the protest process risk-free for property owners.
You cannot protest a previous year's assessment after the Dallas County deadline passes, except in rare circumstances like clerical errors or disaster damage. However, you can begin preparing for the current year's protest cycle immediately. Start gathering comparable sales data and property condition documentation to be ready for the next May deadline.
Start your Dallas County property tax protest by uploading your DCAD notice at app.taxdrop.com for a free analysis to see if you qualify for tax savings. Professional services will review your assessment, gather supporting evidence, and handle the entire protest process. You can also file directly with DCAD, but professional representation typically achieves better results with less effort on your part.