Lower your Travis County property taxes
Austin-area home values have been falling, but TCAD's mass appraisal doesn't always catch every home. If your value held steady while similar homes nearby dropped, you may be overpaying. 25% of first-year savings, only if you save.
What a too-high value costs you
If your home is assessed at $500,000 but similar homes point to about $465,000, you're taxed on $35,000 too much. At a 2.05% rate that's about $718 a year. Our fee would be $179; you'd keep $538.
What gets missed in Travis County
- Values that didn't follow the market. Average single-family values fell in 2026 — but not every home's value moved with them.
- Unequal appraisal. Similar homes nearby can be valued lower than yours. Texas lets you protest that directly.
- Condition. Dated kitchens, roof wear and foundation issues aren't visible in TCAD's records.
- Last year's win, ignored. If your value was lowered last year, TCAD must meet a higher standard to raise it again.
Insider tip: In a falling market, comparing your value with similar homes on your street is often the strongest argument.
Reviewed by the founder
Julien reviews every Travis County case personally and tells you the value we’ll ask for before anything is filed.
Get my free reviewTravis County calendar
| January 1 | Valuation date |
| Late March | TCAD mails notices of appraised value |
| May 17, 2027 | Protest deadline (May 15 falls on a Saturday), or 30 days after your notice if later |
| April – May | Informal settlement with TCAD |
| June – July | Appraisal Review Board hearings |
| July 25 | Appraisal roll certified |
| After the ARB order | 60 days to request binding arbitration or appeal to court |
| October / January | Tax bills mailed / taxes due by the end of January |
*TCAD's 2026 value release: single-family values fell 1.8% on average; the median homestead market value was $493,449.
Sources: Travis Central Appraisal District · TCAD 2026 market values · Texas Comptroller — protest guide. Dates are checked each year; confirm with the county for your property.
Exemptions to check
Your homestead exemption takes $140,000 off your home's value for school taxes ($200,000 if you're 65+ or disabled), and caps how much your taxable value can rise each year at 10%. Over-65 and disabled owners also get a school-tax ceiling. We check your exemptions free at sign-up.
Travis County questions
How do I protest with TCAD?
Online through TCAD's portal, using the information on your notice — or let us file for you with Form 50-162.
Values are falling — do I still need to protest?
Yes, if your value didn't fall with the market or is higher than similar homes nearby.
Can protesting raise my value?
No. The Appraisal Review Board can't set your value higher than what's in TCAD's records.