Home address: Rancho Del Caballo

 2021 Taxable Value: $287,600

 Recent Sales Price: $141,000   – Over-taxed by 104%

Appraisal district errors in setting assessed values cause McLennan County owners to pay extra taxes. Protest market value, get a few comparable sales as evidence and you are very likely to reduce your property taxes. Property owners can appeal both market value and unequal appraisal. The majority who appeal their Texas property taxes are successful. 

Owners are sometimes reluctant to protest property taxes due to a concern their value might be raised.  This can’t and does not happen.  Since 2019, neither the appraisal district or the appraisal review board can increase a property tax assessment during a protest. Appraisal districts use mass appraisal to value property, basically a math model.  Overall results are OK.  However, many homes are too high or low. Appraisal districts are willing to settle property tax appeals because they realize their values are not precise. 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.