Why Harris County homeowners should protest every year
The Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) is responsible for appraising every residential, commercial, and industrial property in the county. That is over 1.7 million properties spanning Houston, Pasadena, Baytown, Sugar Land (partially), and dozens of smaller cities. Appraising that many properties every single year means HCAD relies heavily on mass appraisal models — statistical methods that estimate values based on neighborhood trends rather than individual inspections.
Mass appraisal works reasonably well at the neighborhood level, but it routinely misprices individual homes. Your home might have foundation issues that HCAD does not know about. Your neighborhood might have pockets of lower-value homes that the model averages away. Your per-square-foot appraisal might be 15% above the house next door because of a data entry error from 2019.
The scale of protesting in Harris County tells you everything you need to know about how common over-assessment is. In 2024, 516,654 property owners filed protests. Of the 372,846 that went through informal hearings, 330,399 resulted in a value reduction — an 88.6% win rate. The total value reduced through informal hearings alone was $24.8 billion.
Those are not anomalies. They are the system working as designed. Texas law expects homeowners to protest when they are over-assessed. HCAD expects it too. If you are not protesting, you are voluntarily paying more than you owe.
Harris County key dates for 2026
The protest calendar in Harris County follows the statewide pattern, but there are Harris-specific steps — particularly around HCAD's digital tools — that you should know about.
Early April: Preliminary values posted on hcad.org
HCAD typically posts preliminary appraised values on their website before mailing the official notices. You can look up your property at hcad.org by address or account number. This gives you a head start on researching comparable properties before the clock starts ticking.
Mid-April: Notices of Appraised Value (NOAVs) mailed
HCAD mails NOAVs to every property owner in mid-to-late April. Your NOAV shows your market value, assessed value, exemptions applied, and the protest deadline. Read it carefully — it is the official starting point for your protest. For help understanding your NOAV, see our guide to the Notice of Appraised Value.
May 15: Protest filing deadline
Under Texas Tax Code Section 41.44, you must file your protest by May 15 or 30 days after the date your NOAV was mailed, whichever is later. For most Harris County homeowners, the effective deadline is May 15. File through HCAD's iFile system or mail Form 50-132 to HCAD. Do not wait until the last day — HCAD's online system can experience heavy traffic near the deadline.
May through September: Informal hearings and iSettle offers
After filing, HCAD schedules informal hearings and may send iSettle offers (online settlement proposals) before your hearing date. The informal process typically runs from late May through September, depending on the volume of protests and your scheduling slot.
Do not miss the deadline
May 15 is a hard deadline. If you miss it, you lose your right to protest for the entire 2026 tax year. There are limited late-filing exceptions under Tax Code 41.44(b), but they require demonstrating good cause — military deployment, medical emergency, or similar circumstances. Do not rely on exceptions. File on time.
How to file your protest through HCAD iFile
HCAD's iFile is the fastest and most convenient way to file your protest. The entire process takes about 10 minutes. Here is a step-by-step walkthrough.
Go to hcad.org and search for your property
Visit hcad.org and use the property search tool. You can search by address, owner name, or account number. Your account number is printed on your NOAV and on any prior tax bills. Pull up your property detail page and review the current appraised values.
Click "Protest" and select "iFile"
From your property detail page, look for the protest option. HCAD's interface allows you to start an iFile protest directly. If you do not see the option, it may not be available yet for the current tax year — check back after NOAVs are mailed.
Select your protest reason
You will be asked to select the grounds for your protest. We recommend selecting "The appraised/market value of my property is unequal compared to other properties" (unequal appraisal) as your primary reason. You can also check "The appraised/market value of my property is too high" (market value exceeded). Selecting both gives you the strongest foundation. For a detailed explanation of each protest ground, see our complete Texas protest guide.
Upload evidence (optional at this stage)
iFile allows you to upload supporting documents when you file. This is optional — you can also bring evidence to your hearing later. However, uploading evidence early can lead to a faster iSettle offer, since HCAD staff review uploaded materials before scheduling hearings. If you have your comparable properties ready, upload them now.
Submit and save your confirmation
After submitting, you will receive a confirmation email and a tracking number. Save both. The tracking number lets you check the status of your protest and access any iSettle offers that HCAD sends. You will also receive hearing scheduling information by email or mail.
If you prefer to file on paper, download Form 50-132 from comptroller.texas.gov and mail it to HCAD at P.O. Box 922012, Houston, TX 77292-2012. Use certified mail for proof of timely filing.
The iSettle process: HCAD's online settlement tool
After you file your protest through iFile, HCAD may send you an iSettle offer. This is an online settlement proposal — a reduced value that HCAD is willing to accept without requiring a formal hearing. Understanding how iSettle works can save you significant time.
How iSettle works
HCAD's appraisal staff review your property data, the evidence you uploaded (if any), and their own comparable sales analysis. Based on this review, they generate a settlement offer — a proposed value lower than your original appraised value. The offer appears in your iFile account and you are notified by email.
You have three options when you receive an iSettle offer:
- Accept — If the offered value matches or is close to what your evidence supports, accept it. Your protest is resolved, your value is reduced, and you are done. No hearing required.
- Reject and counter — Some iSettle rounds allow you to submit a counter-offer with supporting evidence. HCAD may accept your counter, make a new offer, or schedule you for an informal hearing.
- Reject and proceed to hearing — If the iSettle offer is not low enough and you believe your evidence supports a better outcome, reject it and go to your informal hearing. You lose nothing by rejecting an iSettle offer.
When to accept an iSettle offer
Accept the iSettle offer if it brings your value to within 5% of what your best comparable properties support. The informal hearing may or may not achieve a better result, and accepting iSettle saves you the time and effort of attending a hearing. If the offer is significantly above your evidence-supported value, reject it and present your case at the hearing.
Not every protest receives an iSettle offer. HCAD prioritizes iSettle for properties where their data suggests a clear case for reduction. If you do not receive an offer, you will proceed directly to an informal hearing.
Check your Harris County property free
See how your home compares to neighbors across Harris County. Get your per-sqft equity position and a protest recommendation in 30 seconds.
Check Your Property FreeHarris County protest data: The real numbers
The following data comes from HCAD records and Texas Comptroller reports for the 2024 protest cycle. These numbers tell you exactly what happened when Harris County homeowners protested.
Total Protests Filed
516,654
Single-Family Residential
383,719
Filed by Agents
419,829
81.3% of all protests
Filed Online
155,687
Total Value Protested
$504B
Informal Value Reduced
$24.8B
Informal hearing results
Resolved Informally
372,846
Resulted in Reduction
330,399
That is an 88.6% informal win rate. Nearly 9 out of every 10 homeowners who went through an informal hearing received a value reduction. The total value reduced informally was $24.8 billion — an average of roughly $75,000 per successful protest in assessed value.
ARB (formal) hearing results
Went to ARB
83,515
Resulted in Reduction
56,879
Of the protests that were not resolved informally and went to the Appraisal Review Board, 68.1% resulted in a reduction. The ARB is a tougher audience than the informal hearing, but the majority of protesters still win. If you have strong comparable properties, the ARB hearing is worth pursuing.
What these numbers mean for you: If you file a protest in Harris County with reasonable evidence, the historical data says you have an 88.6% chance of getting a reduction at the informal stage. Even if you go to the ARB, you still have a 68.1% chance. The odds are heavily in your favor. For a statewide comparison, see our success rates by county analysis.
Building evidence for your Harris County protest
The quality of your evidence determines whether you win or lose. In Harris County, the most effective evidence is comparable properties — similar homes in your area that are appraised at a lower per-square-foot value than yours. Here is how to build a strong evidence packet using HCAD data.
Finding comparable properties on hcad.org
HCAD's public property search at hcad.org is your primary research tool. Search for properties near your address and look at their appraisal details. You want to find 5 to 10 homes that are similar to yours in size, age, and condition, but are appraised at a lower per-square-foot value.
Start with your subdivision
The ARB gives the most weight to properties in your immediate subdivision. Search for homes on your street and surrounding streets. Note the appraised value and living area square footage for each property. Calculate the per-square-foot value: appraised value divided by square footage.
Match key characteristics
Good comps match your home on square footage (within 20%), year built (within 10 years), number of stories, and overall condition. A 1,900 sqft home built in 2005 compared to a 2,100 sqft home built in 2008 is a strong comparison. A 1,500 sqft home built in 1975 compared to a 3,000 sqft home built in 2020 is not.
Focus on lower per-sqft values
This is the core of the unequal appraisal argument. If your home is appraised at $175 per square foot and you can show 5 to 8 similar homes at $145 to $155 per square foot, that gap is your case. Calculate the median per-sqft value of your comps — that is what you should argue your home should be valued at.
Document condition differences
If your home has condition issues — an aging roof, foundation concerns, dated interior, flood history — document them with photos. HCAD may have your home rated in better condition than it actually is, which inflates your appraisal. Photos paired with repair estimates are compelling evidence.
Our toolkit does this automatically. Enter your Harris County address and our system pulls your property data directly from HCAD records, identifies comparable properties in your neighborhood, calculates your per-sqft equity position against the median, and generates a formatted evidence packet ready for your hearing. It takes 30 seconds instead of 3 hours of manual research. Try it free.
For a comprehensive walkthrough of evidence preparation strategies that work across all Texas counties, read our guide to preparing evidence for your property tax protest.
Informal hearing tips for Harris County
The informal hearing is where the vast majority of Harris County protests are resolved. You meet with an HCAD staff appraiser — either in person at HCAD offices, by phone, or through a video conference — and present your evidence. The appraiser reviews your comps, compares them to their data, and makes a settlement offer if warranted.
Here is how to make the most of your informal hearing.
Have your evidence organized before the hearing
HCAD appraisers handle many hearings per day. Having your comparable properties printed in a clean table or grid — showing address, square footage, year built, appraised value, and per-sqft value for each comp — shows preparation and makes the appraiser's job easier. They respond positively to organized evidence because it speeds up the process.
Know your three best comps by heart
You might have 8 or 10 comps in your evidence packet, but be prepared to discuss your three strongest ones in detail. Why are they comparable to your home? What is their per-sqft value? How does that compare to yours? The appraiser may challenge one or two of your comps — having strong alternatives ready prevents your argument from collapsing.
Lead with unequal appraisal
Start your presentation with the equity argument: your per-sqft appraised value is above the median for comparable properties in your neighborhood. This is the argument that HCAD appraisers are most accustomed to evaluating, and it has the clearest legal standard. Market value is your backup if the equity argument does not fully land.
Be polite and professional
The informal hearing is a negotiation, not a fight. The appraiser did not personally set your value — they are reviewing the data to see if an adjustment is warranted. Being organized, concise, and respectful gets better results than frustration or confrontation. Present your numbers, explain your reasoning, and let the data speak.
Know when to accept a settlement offer
If the appraiser offers a reduction that is within 5% of what your best comps support, seriously consider accepting it. You lock in the savings, avoid the uncertainty of an ARB hearing, and save yourself the time. Holding out for an extra $2,000 in value might net you $50 in tax savings but cost you another hearing appointment.
For word-for-word scripts covering exactly what to say during your opening, how to present comps, and how to handle appraiser pushback, read our hearing scripts guide. We also have a dedicated guide on understanding the cap-gap — which is critical if the appraiser tells you a reduction will not change your taxes this year.
Should you hire a tax agent or do it yourself?
In Harris County, 419,829 out of 516,654 protests were filed by agents or consultants in 2024 — that is 81.3%. The tax protest industry is massive in Houston. Companies like O'Connor & Associates, Ownwell, and dozens of smaller firms handle hundreds of thousands of protests annually.
But the 81.3% agent-filed rate does not mean agents get better results. It means most homeowners do not realize how straightforward the process is with good data. The success rate data from HCAD does not distinguish between agent-filed and owner-filed protests at the outcome level — what matters is the quality of the evidence, not who presents it.
Fully DIY
Free
Research comps on hcad.org, prepare your own evidence, file through iFile, attend the hearing yourself. You keep 100% of savings. Requires 3 to 5 hours of research time.
Our Toolkit
$79 flat fee
We generate your evidence packet from HCAD data: comp grid, per-sqft analysis, filing walkthrough, and hearing scripts. You file and attend the hearing, but with professional-grade evidence. You keep 100% of savings.
Tax Agent
25–50% of savings
The agent handles everything: filing, evidence, hearing, negotiation. No upfront cost usually, but they take 25% to 50% of your first-year savings. On a $30,000 value reduction saving you $700, the agent takes $175 to $350.
The best choice depends on your time and comfort level. If you are comfortable with numbers and willing to spend a few hours, DIY or our toolkit gives you the same evidence an agent would use — at a fraction of the cost. For a more detailed comparison, see our DIY vs. consultant breakdown.
What happens if the informal hearing does not work
If you and the HCAD appraiser cannot reach an agreement at the informal stage, your protest advances to the Appraisal Review Board (ARB). In 2024, 83,515 Harris County protests went to the ARB, and 56,879 of those resulted in a value reduction — a 68.1% success rate.
The ARB hearing is more structured than the informal meeting. You present your evidence to a panel of appointed citizen members. HCAD presents their evidence and reasoning for your current value. The panel asks questions, deliberates, and issues a binding determination.
The same evidence that works at the informal stage works at the ARB — comparable properties with lower per-sqft values, condition documentation, and clear presentation. Our hearing scripts include specific language for ARB presentations, including how to structure your opening statement and respond to panel questions.
If the ARB rules against you, you can appeal to district court or pursue binding arbitration (for residential properties appraised under $5 million). Binding arbitration costs $550 and is decided by an independent arbitrator. Most Harris County homeowners find resolution at the informal or ARB stage.
Start your Harris County protest today
Harris County's property tax protest system handles over half a million protests per year. It is not adversarial — it is routine. The appraisal district expects protests, the informal hearing process is efficient, and the numbers show that homeowners who show up with evidence almost always get a reduction.
Here is your timeline: Start researching comps now on hcad.org. When your NOAV arrives in mid-April, file through iFile immediately. Prepare your evidence packet with 5 to 10 comparable properties at lower per-sqft values. Attend your informal hearing with organized evidence and a clear presentation. With an 88.6% informal win rate, the odds are strongly in your favor.
Enter your Harris County address below to see how your home compares to neighbors, identify over-assessment, and get a personalized protest recommendation — for free.