Travis County, TX
Property Tax Protest Guide · Texas
Protest Deadline
Not later than May 15, or the 30th day after the appraisal district's notice of
appraised value was delivered to you, whichever is later. Texas Tax Code Section
41.44(a)(1). Limited exceptions apply for good cause, offshore workers, and active
military service members.
Deadlines
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What is the protest deadline under Texas law?
Texas state law |
May 15 or 30 days after delivered notice, whichever later.
“not later than May 15 or the 30th day after the date that notice to the property owner was delivered to the property owner ... whichever is later;”
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| What is the protest deadline in Travis County? |
2026: May 15 or 30 days after notice mailed, whichever later.
“The deadline to file a protest is May 15 or 30 days after a notice has been mailed, whichever is later.”
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| When does Travis Central Appraisal District mail appraisal notices? |
Travis CAD mailed 2026 notices of appraised value to more than 427,000 property owners beginning in late March; the district dated this announcement March 25, 2026. The mailing date matters: your protest deadline is May 15 or 30 days after your notice was delivered, whichever is later.
“Appraisal notices are being mailed to more than 427,000 Travis County property owners beginning this week.”
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How to File
| Where do I file a protest online in Travis County? |
E-File, reached from the E-FILE NOW button at traviscad.org/efile. Note that as of August 2026 that button points to an address on a staging server (stage.travis.prodigycad.com) rather than a production one. Start from the district's E-File page rather than bookmarking the destination.
“E-File makes it easy to file and settle your protest online.”
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| Can I file online, and what do I need? |
Property owners; online account using property owner ID and PIN on notice.
“you can set one up by using the property owner ID and pin number on your Notice of Appraised Value.”
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| How do I file by mail or in person in Travis County? |
Use the Property Value Protest form. Completed forms can be submitted online, by mail to P.O. Box 149012, Austin, TX 78714-9012, or in person at 850 East Anderson Lane, Austin, TX 78752.
“Completed forms can be submitted online or to our office:”
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Hearings and Evidence
| Can I talk to an appraiser before the hearing? |
Yes; phone/video informal meeting after filing and recorded evidence; schedule portal or daily queue.
“Informal meetings will be offered via phone or video conference.”
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| Can my protest be settled without a hearing? |
Yes, when TCAD makes a settlement offer that the owner accepts in E-File.
“You’ll need to log on to the district’s e-File website to indicate your acceptance.”
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| How can I attend my ARB hearing? |
Four ways: in person, by affidavit or unsworn declaration without appearing, by telephone conference, or by videoconference. A telephone or videoconference hearing must be requested in writing — at least 5 days before the hearing if you are not represented, 10 days if you are — and to offer any evidence at a remote hearing you must also submit a written affidavit before it begins, signed before a notary public, or an unsworn declaration made under penalty of perjury.
“The TARB will hear protests in one of four ways: in person, by affidavit or unsworn declaration, by telephone conference call, or by videoconference.”
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| When and how do I submit my evidence? |
Paper evidence must be brought in multiple sets — three for a three-member panel or one for a single-member panel, plus one for district staff, and one copy of each item stays with the board for the record. Electronic evidence may be uploaded to your portal account or emailed to evidence@tcadcentral.org. Separately, the district publishes its own evidence to the online portal at least 14 days before the formal hearing.
“Evidence that the chief appraiser or their representative intends to use during the hearing will be published to the online portal at least 14 days in advance of the formal hearing.”
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| Can I show evidence from my phone or laptop? |
No. Electronic evidence must be in Word, Excel, .jpg, .png, or .pdf format on a USB flash drive, and the drive must be left with the board for the hearing record. You may not present from a phone or computer unless you can hand over the material. Evidence can also be uploaded to your portal account or emailed to evidence@tcadcentral.org beforehand.
“You may not use a phone, computer, or other electronic device to present information unless you are able to submit the presented information to the TARB for record retention.”
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Can I see the district’s evidence before the hearing?
Texas state law |
Request data, schedules, formulas, and other hearing information; statute lists mail, electronic, or secure site.
“the owner or the agent of the owner is entitled on request to a copy of the data, schedules, formulas, and all other information”
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| Where are the ARB hearing procedures published? |
Travis Appraisal Review Board Formal Hearing Procedures, published at traviscad.org. The district's ARB hearings page labels it the 2026 Hearing Procedures.
“Travis Appraisal Review Board Formal Hearing Procedures”
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| What if I do not speak English? |
Travis CAD and the review board do not provide language translators. You must bring someone to translate, such as a relative or friend. Hearing-impaired owners may request an ASL interpreter by emailing hr@traviscad.org at least 48 hours before the hearing.
“TCAD and the TARB do not provide language translators; if needed, the owner must bring a person to translate, such as a relative or friend.”
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If You Disagree with the ARB
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What if I find an error after the deadline?
Texas state law |
§25.25(c): listed corrections for five preceding years; §25.25(d): qualifying value error before delinquency.
“may direct by written order changes in the appraisal roll for any of the five preceding years to correct:”
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What if my property was substantially over-appraised?
Texas state law |
A property owner may file a motion to correct an over-appraisal at any time before the taxes become delinquent. The error must exceed the correct value by more than one-fourth for a residence homestead, or one-third for other property.
“However, the error may not be corrected unless it resulted in an appraised value that exceeds by more than: (1) one-fourth the correct appraised value, in the case of property that qualifies as the owner's residence homestead under Section 11.13; or (2) one-third the correct appraised value, in the case of other property”
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What are my options besides district court?
Texas state law |
RBA: ARB value ≤$5 million; no value limit for residence homesteads.
“the disputed property’s value, as determined by the ARB, does not exceed $5 million, except for residence homesteads for which there is no value limit;”
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How do I appeal an ARB decision to court?
Texas state law |
Petition for review in state district court within 60 days of ARB written order.
“Within 60 days of receiving the ARB’s written order, you must file a petition for review with the district court.”
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Homestead Exemption
| When is the homestead exemption deadline? |
April 30 annually; if weekend, following Monday.
“The deadline to file your completed homestead exemption application is April 30 of each year.”
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Can I still file a homestead exemption if I missed the deadline?
Texas state law |
Late residence-homestead application allowed through two years after tax delinquency date.
“if it is filed not later than two years after the delinquency date for the taxes on the homestead.”
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| How do I file for a homestead exemption? |
Free; submit by mail, online, or at TCAD office, 850 East Anderson Lane.
“Exemption applications can be submitted by mail, online, or at our office:”
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| How long does Travis Central Appraisal District take to act on my homestead application? |
TCAD says action on homestead application occurs within 90 days of receipt.
“Action on your application will occur within 90 days from the date it is received.”
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Contacts and Hours
| How do I contact the Travis County Appraisal Review Board? |
Email tarbcontact@gmail.com; mail P.O. Box 149012, Austin TX 78714; hand/carrier 850 East Anderson Lane; 512-834-9317 customer service.
“If sent first-class mail, the mailing address is Travis Appraisal Review Board, P.O. Box 149012, Austin, TX 78714.”
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| How do I contact Travis Central Appraisal District? |
Phone 512-834-9317; 850 East Anderson Lane; P.O. Box 149012; website traviscad.org.
“Mailing Address: P.O. Box 149012 Austin, TX 78714-9012”
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| What are the appraisal district’s office hours? |
Mon/Wed/Fri 7:45–4:45; Tue/Thu 9:00–4:45.
“Mon – Wed – Fri 7:45 am – 4:45 pm Tues – Thurs 9:00 am – 4:45 pm”
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