Travis County Appraisal District

Travis County is home to one of the fastest-growing real estate markets in the United States, and the Travis County Appraisal District (TCAD) appraises well over a million residents' properties each year. With Austin ISD levying a school district rate of 0.9252 per $100 valuation and the City of Austin adding 0.524, the combined tax burden on Travis County homeowners is substantial. If your appraisal notice arrives and the value seems out of step with what your home would actually sell for, you have the right to protest — and a clear process for doing so.

Understand Your Deadline

The protest deadline in Travis County is May 15 or 30 days after the date your appraisal notice was mailed, whichever is later. This deadline is firm. If you miss it, you generally forfeit your right to challenge that year's value. Check the date printed on your notice carefully and mark your calendar immediately upon receipt.

Review Your Notice and Appraisal Record

Before filing anything, pull up your property's appraisal record on the TCAD website at traviscad.org. Verify that the property details are accurate — square footage, bedroom and bathroom count, lot size, and any features that affect value. Errors in the property record are among the most straightforward grounds for a reduction and should be documented before you file.

File Your Protest

TCAD does not currently offer an online filing portal, so protests must be submitted by mail or in person. You can download a Notice of Protest (Form 50-132) from the Texas Comptroller's website or pick one up at the TCAD office. Mail your completed form to Travis County Appraisal District, or deliver it in person to their office. Make sure your protest is postmarked or received before the deadline. Contact TCAD directly at 512-834-9317 if you have questions about where to submit.

Prepare Your Evidence

The Austin metro market has experienced significant volatility in recent years — rapid appreciation followed by corrections in certain submarkets. This means the sales data TCAD uses to set values may not reflect what buyers are actually paying in your specific neighborhood today. Gather the following before your hearing:

• Recent sales of comparable homes (within the past 6-12 months, similar size and condition, within your neighborhood or zip code)
• A recent independent appraisal if you have one
• Photographs documenting any condition issues — deferred maintenance, foundation concerns, outdated systems
• Repair estimates from licensed contractors
• Any evidence of functional obsolescence or external factors affecting your property's marketability

The Informal Hearing

After filing, most Travis County property owners are first offered an informal review with a TCAD appraiser. This is a valuable step. Bring your organized evidence and be prepared to explain clearly why your proposed value is more accurate. Many protests are resolved at this stage without proceeding to a formal hearing.

The Appraisal Review Board (ARB) Hearing

If the informal review does not produce an acceptable result, your case moves to the Appraisal Review Board — an independent panel that hears evidence from both you and TCAD. You will receive a scheduled hearing time. Arrive on time, present your evidence concisely, and focus on comparable sales and property-specific facts. The ARB members are not TCAD employees, and they are required to weigh the evidence impartially.

After the Hearing

If the ARB rules in your favor, your appraised value will be adjusted accordingly. If you disagree with the ARB's decision, you have options including binding arbitration or district court appeal, though these involve additional costs and procedural steps.

Given the tax rates in Travis County, even a modest reduction in appraised value can translate to meaningful annual savings. The process takes effort, but it is designed to be accessible to property owners who prepare carefully and present credible evidence.

1. What is the protest deadline for Travis County property taxes?

The deadline to file a property tax protest with the Travis County Appraisal District is May 15 or 30 days after the date your appraisal notice was mailed, whichever date falls later. The specific deadline will be printed on your notice. Missing this date means you cannot challenge your appraised value for that tax year, so treat it as a hard cutoff.

2. Can I file my Travis County protest online?

As of current information, TCAD does not offer an online filing portal for protests. Homeowners must submit their Notice of Protest by mail or in person. The Texas Comptroller's Form 50-132 is the standard protest form. Contact TCAD at 512-834-9317 or visit traviscad.org to confirm current submission procedures before your deadline.

3. What exemptions are available to Travis County homeowners?

Travis County offers a General Residence Homestead exemption of $140,000 or 20% of appraised value, whichever is greater, applied against school district taxes. Homeowners who are 65 or older or who qualify as disabled persons receive an additional $200,000 exemption. Disabled veterans with a service-connected disability rating between 10% and 100% qualify for a $5,000 exemption. These exemptions reduce the taxable value your rates are applied to, so ensuring you have all applicable exemptions on file is essential before considering a protest.

4. How do the tax rates in Travis County compare, and why does my bill seem so high?

Travis County property owners within the City of Austin and Austin ISD face a combined rate that includes Austin ISD at 0.9252 per $100 and the City of Austin at 0.524 per $100, before factoring in county and other taxing unit rates. Austin's rapid population growth and the resulting appreciation in home values over the past decade have pushed appraised values significantly higher, compounding the effect of these rates. Even with exemptions applied, homeowners in central Austin can face substantial annual bills.

5. What is the Appraisal Review Board and how does it work in Travis County?

The Appraisal Review Board (ARB) is an independent panel, separate from TCAD staff, that hears formal property tax protests when an informal resolution cannot be reached. After you file your protest, TCAD will typically schedule an informal meeting first. If that does not resolve the dispute, your case proceeds to an ARB hearing where both you and a TCAD representative present evidence. The ARB then issues a binding order. Travis County processes a large volume of ARB cases each year, so being organized and concise with your evidence matters.

6. What kind of evidence is most effective in a Travis County protest?

Because the Austin market has seen both sharp appreciation and notable corrections in different submarkets, the most persuasive evidence is typically recent comparable sales — homes similar in size, age, condition, and location that sold within the past 6 to 12 months at prices below your appraised value. TCAD appraisers are familiar with broad market trends, so neighborhood-specific and property-specific data carries more weight than general market commentary. Photographs of condition issues, contractor repair estimates, and independent appraisals also strengthen a case.

7. Who is the Chief Appraiser at TCAD, and how do I contact the office?

The Chief Appraiser at the Travis County Appraisal District is Leana Mann. The office can be reached by phone at 512-834-9317, and their website is traviscad.org. The website provides access to property records, exemption applications, and general information about the appraisal process.

8. If I win my protest, does my value stay reduced in future years?

Not automatically. Texas appraisal districts reassess property values each year, and TCAD can increase your appraised value in subsequent years based on new market data. However, if you have a homestead exemption, your appraised value cannot increase by more than 10% per year regardless of market conditions — a protection that applies to your primary residence only and can significantly limit year-over-year increases after the first year the cap takes effect.

Submit Early and Confirm Receipt

Because TCAD does not currently offer an online filing portal, your protest must go in by mail or in person. Do not wait until May 15 to mail your form. Send it at least a week early using certified mail with return receipt so you have documented proof of the postmark and delivery. If you deliver in person, ask for a stamped copy of your protest form as confirmation.

Get Your Property Record Right First

Before building any valuation argument, download your property's detail sheet from traviscad.org and check every field. Square footage errors, incorrect year-built entries, and phantom features like a second bathroom that was never added are surprisingly common and can inflate your value without any connection to the market. If you find an error, document it with photographs and measurements. Factual corrections are often resolved quickly at the informal stage.

Build a Comparable Sales Package

Travis County's size and the diversity of its neighborhoods mean that broad Austin-area statistics are rarely persuasive on their own. TCAD appraisers work with neighborhood-level data, so your comparables should too. Focus on homes within your subdivision or immediate area, sold within the past 12 months, with similar square footage, lot size, and construction quality. The TCAD website, county deed records, and public MLS data are all useful sources. Organize your comparables in a simple table showing address, sale date, sale price, and price per square foot.

Document Condition Honestly and Thoroughly

Austin's housing stock ranges from mid-century homes in established central neighborhoods to new construction in fast-growing suburbs, and condition differences matter significantly. If your home has deferred maintenance, an aging roof, foundation issues, or outdated systems, photograph everything and obtain written estimates from licensed contractors. A $25,000 roof replacement estimate is concrete, credible evidence that TCAD appraisers and ARB members can weigh directly against your appraised value.

Take the Informal Hearing Seriously

Many Travis County homeowners treat the informal review as a formality before the ARB, but it is often where the most efficient resolutions happen. Come prepared with your full evidence package — do not hold anything back hoping to use it as a surprise at the ARB. The informal appraiser has authority to adjust values on the spot, and a well-supported case presented respectfully often ends there.

Know What the Exemptions Do — and Don't Do

Filing a protest and ensuring your exemptions are properly applied are two separate actions, but both affect your tax bill. If you are not already receiving the General Residence Homestead exemption ($140,000 or 20%, whichever is greater) or the Over-65 or Disabled Person exemption ($200,000), apply through TCAD before or alongside your protest. Exemptions reduce your taxable value directly and do not require a hearing to apply.

Keep Records of Everything

Save copies of your protest form, all evidence submitted, any correspondence with TCAD, and notes from your informal and ARB hearings. If you disagree with the ARB's final order, you have the right to pursue binding arbitration or a district court appeal, and having a complete paper trail is essential for those next steps.