Home address: 3329 Maple Ave

2021 Tax Assessment: $85,970

Recent Sales Price: $68,000 – Over-taxed by 26%

Most homeowners who do not appeal annually pay excess property taxes. Market value property tax appeals save homeowners an average of $500, according to Texas Comptroller Glen Hager, for 2019. An unequal appraisal is a powerful tool to reduce property taxes, but many homeowners are not aware of it and don’t use it. Woody Allen said, “80% of success is showing up”. The same is true of property taxes. If you file an appeal and attend the hearing, your chance of reducing your property taxes is excellent.

Many owners do not protest because they do not understand the process. Most would appeal if they know how easy it is and the high chance of success. It is difficult for appraisal districts to accurately value houses due to limited staff. Tax protests are resolved at the informal hearing since the result is within a “reasonable range of value”. An appraisal is not an exact science and valuations are only an educated opinion of value, not a fact. Property taxes are the largest tax most Texans face. But it is a stealth tax hidden in the mortgage payment, disguising the size of property taxes paid.