El Paso County homeowners are overpaying $750/year on average due to assessment errors while home prices dropped 7.5%. We fix that.
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If you just opened your El Paso County property tax bill and felt confused about why your taxes increased 23.4% while home prices dropped 7.5%, you're experiencing what thousands of El Paso, Socorro, and Horizon City residents are dealing with right now. The county tax rate jumped 14.42% (from $0.426 to $0.488 per $100), which means you're paying $200+ more per year β even though your home is worth less than last year.
Here's what the El Paso Central Appraisal District won't tell you: 40-60% of properties have assessment errors. Your home might be valued using pre-decline sales data, compared to properties that didn't drop in value, or assessed without accounting for desert climate wear and tear. These errors cost you real money β often $400-800 per year that should stay in your pocket.
EPCAD has to value over 250,000 properties across El Paso County with limited staff and outdated systems. They rely on mass appraisal techniques that can't capture your specific property's condition. Maybe your home has stucco cracks from El Paso's extreme heat, foundation settling common in desert soil, or an aging HVAC system strained by 100+ degree summers. These factors should lower your assessment, but the computer model doesn't know that.
We see this constantly in El Paso: homes on the same street in the Northeast or Westside with similar square footage but vastly different tax bills. The difference? One owner protested when prices dropped, the other didn't. With home prices down 7.5% to a median of $246K but assessments staying flat or rising, 2026 is the year every El Paso homeowner should protest.
Let's talk numbers that matter to your budget. If your El Paso County home is overassessed by $20,000 (common when using pre-decline comps), you're overpaying roughly $346 annually at the new county rate. That's $3,460 over ten years β enough for a family vacation to Ruidoso or serious home repairs you've been putting off.
Every year you don't protest is another year of unnecessary payments. Your neighbor who successfully protested saves that money every year going forward, while you keep writing bigger checks. The deadline typically falls on May 15, giving you one shot per year to fix this disconnect between falling home values and rising tax bills.
Most El Paso County residents avoid protesting because they think it's complicated or won't make a difference. But 2026 is unique: home prices dropped while tax rates increased. This creates the perfect storm for successful protests. EPCAD's mass appraisal system can't quickly adapt to market shifts, which means your assessment probably doesn't reflect the 7.5% decline.
The formal ARB hearing process was designed to be intimidating β packets of forms, tight May 15 deadline, facing county officials. But here's what changed: you don't have to do any of that yourself. Licensed professionals who know EPCAD's system handle every step while you focus on work and family. You only pay if they actually reduce your taxes.
When you work with experienced tax professionals who specialize in El Paso County, they analyze your property against recent 2025-2026 sales showing the price decline. They identify assessment errors, document desert climate damage (stucco cracks, roof wear, HVAC strain), and build a compelling case using El Paso-specific comparable sales.
The timeline is straightforward: after you provide basic property information (5 minutes), professionals research recent sales in your El Paso neighborhood, prepare all EPCAD paperwork, meet the May 15 deadline, and if needed, represent you at the ARB hearing. Most cases resolve at the informal review stage. You receive notification of your new, lower assessment and start saving immediately.
El Paso County has unique factors that make 2026 protests especially strong:
These factors create strong evidence for reductions. Professional services know exactly how to present El Paso-specific data that the ARB finds compelling.
You have two choices: keep overpaying while home values are down and rates are up, or take five minutes to see if you're one of the thousands of El Paso County homeowners paying more than necessary. The analysis costs nothing, and you only pay if we save you at least $500.
Remember, you're not asking for special treatment β you're ensuring you pay what you legally owe based on current market values, nothing more. The May 15 deadline is approaching. Every week you wait is money out of your pocket that could be going toward your family instead of padding the county's increased budget.
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 EPCAD showing property valuation (mailed by April 15). Compare to recent El Paso sales.
Step 2: File Your Protest Submit protest to EPCAD by May 15 or within 30 days of receiving notice. Can file online at epcad.org or call (915) 780-2123.
Step 3: Evidence Submission Provide comparable sales from 2025-2026 showing 7.5% price decline, photos of desert climate damage, and documentation of assessment errors.
Step 4: Informal Review Meet with EPCAD appraiser for informal discussion (highly recommended). 75-85% of El Paso protests settle here.
Step 5: ARB Hearing Present case to Appraisal Review Board if informal review unsuccessful (typically June-July 2026). Can be virtual via Zoom.
Step 6: Decision & Savings ARB issues written order. If successful, assessed value reduced and reflected in tax bill. Savings continue every year.
Filing Deadlines:
Required Documents:
Where to Submit:
El Paso Central Appraisal District (EPCAD)
5801 Trowbridge Dr, El Paso, TX 79925
Phone: (915) 780-2123
Online: epcad.org
2026 Key Stats:
The El Paso County property tax protest deadline is May 15th or 30 days after receiving your Notice of Appraised Value from EPCAD, whichever is later. Missing this deadline means you cannot challenge your 2026 assessment and will overpay for an entire year. With home prices down 7.5% but tax bills up 23.4%, filing before May 15 is critical for El Paso, Socorro, and Horizon City homeowners.
El Paso County property tax protests typically save homeowners $500-$1,200 annually in 2026. With home prices down 7.5% but county rates up 14.42%, protests are especially effective this year. Even a modest $15,000 reduction in assessed value saves $260/year at the new county rate. Professional protests achieve 60-80% higher reductions than DIY attempts.
Visit epcad.org and use the property search tool by entering your address or account number. You'll see your current appraised value from El Paso Central Appraisal District. Compare this to recent 2025-2026 sales of similar homes in your El Paso neighborhood. If your assessment is 10%+ higher than recent sales, you likely have grounds for a successful protest.
A successful El Paso County protest reduces your assessed value, directly lowering your 2026 tax bill and future years. With the new county rate at $0.488 per $100, every $10,000 reduction saves $49/year in county taxes alone (plus city and other entities). EPCAD issues an updated assessment and your tax bill reflects the lower amount immediately.
El Paso County's tax rate increased 14.42% (from $0.426 to $0.488 per $100) while home prices dropped 7.5%. This created a 23.4% average increase in tax bills. EPCAD's mass appraisal system is slow to reflect market declines, meaning your assessment probably uses pre-decline comparable sales. This disconnect makes 2026 protests especially effective.
Yes, landlords and investors can protest property taxes on rental properties and commercial buildings in El Paso County. Investment property protests often yield larger dollar savings due to higher assessed values. With the county rate increase, reducing your assessment improves cash flow significantly. El Paso, Socorro, and Horizon City rental properties all qualify.
Your El Paso property may be overassessed if: 1) Similar homes sold for 10-15% less in 2025-2026, 2) Your assessment didn't drop despite the 7.5% market decline, 3) EPCAD records show wrong square footage or features, or 4) Desert climate damage (stucco cracks, roof wear) isn't reflected. Most El Paso homes have at least one of these issues in 2026.
Approximately 75-85% of professionally filed El Paso County protests result in reduced assessments, especially in 2026 with clear market decline evidence. EPCAD processed over 30,000 protests in recent years. The key is using recent El Paso-specific comparable sales and documenting property condition. Professional services achieve the highest success rates.
Professional El Paso County protest services achieve 60-80% higher reductions than DIY attempts and handle all paperwork, EPCAD meetings, and ARB hearings. Most work on contingency with no upfront costs β you only pay 25% if they save you money. For El Paso homes over $200K, professional representation typically pays for itself through larger reductions.
The El Paso County protest process takes 2-4 months from May 15 filing to ARB decision. Simple protests may resolve faster through EPCAD's informal review. Complex cases requiring ARB hearings extend to July-August. Successful protests apply to your 2026 tax bill, providing immediate savings that continue every year until your next reassessment.
Start your El Paso County protest by visiting app.taxdrop.com and entering your address. The system instantly analyzes your property against recent El Paso sales and provides a free savings estimate. Professional services handle filing with EPCAD, evidence gathering, and ARB representation. No upfront payment β you only pay 25% when your taxes are successfully reduced by at least $500.