Bexar County Property Tax Protest Guide 2026

How the Bexar Appraisal District Values San Antonio Properties

The Bexar Appraisal District (commonly called Bexar CAD) is responsible for valuing all real and personal property in Bexar County as of January 1st each year. Like all Texas appraisal districts, Bexar CAD uses computer-assisted mass appraisal (CAMA) — applying statistical regression models to groups of similar properties across the county. San Antonio's real estate market has diverse submarkets: from established neighborhoods on the north side with high price points, to affordable south-side communities, to rapidly developing areas along the 1604 loop and beyond. CAMA models applied to this diverse market inevitably misvalue many individual properties. The good news: if your assessed value exceeds what your home would actually sell for, you have a legally valid protest.

Bexar CAD 2026 Protest Deadline

The Bexar Appraisal District typically mails Notices of Appraised Value in April. Your protest deadline is the later of May 15, 2026, or 30 days from the mailing date printed on your notice. San Antonio is Texas's second-largest city — Bexar CAD processes a high volume of protests, and informal hearing slots fill up. File as early as possible after receiving your notice.

• ✓Standard deadline: May 15, 2026
• ✓Extended: 30 days from notice mail date if mailed after April 15
• ✓Bexar CAD address: 411 N Frio St, San Antonio, TX 78207
• ✓Online filing at bcad.org
• ✓TaxAppeal files via certified mail with return receipt

San Antonio Market Context for 2026

San Antonio's real estate market appreciated steadily through 2021-2022, though less dramatically than Dallas, Austin, or Houston. The city's large military presence (Joint Base San Antonio is one of the largest in the country) and steady employment base provided a floor under values even as other Texas markets corrected. However, rapid new construction on the city's edges has created buyer alternatives that put downward pressure on established neighborhood values. If you own a home in an older San Antonio neighborhood competing with new construction, your resale value may be lower than BCAD's model suggests.

Evidence That Works at Bexar CAD Informal Hearings

Bexar CAD informal hearings follow the same framework as all Texas districts: you present evidence, the appraiser reviews it, and they have authority to reduce your value on the spot. Comparable sales are the most persuasive evidence at every Texas appraisal district.

• ✓Comparable sales: Recent closed sales in your neighborhood, similar size, age, and condition, below your assessed value
• ✓New construction competition: Evidence that new homes in your area sell at or below your assessed value
• ✓Property defects: Foundation issues common in San Antonio's expansive clay soils, roof condition, HVAC age
• ✓Location factors: Proximity to San Antonio River flood zone, flight paths from JBSA, busy commercial corridors
• ✓Bexar CAD record errors: Wrong square footage, bedroom count, pool status, or lot size

Bexar County Cities and Areas TaxAppeal Serves

TaxAppeal files protests for all Bexar County property owners — including San Antonio (all zip codes), Converse, Universal City, Schertz (Bexar County portions), Live Oak, Windcrest, Kirby, Leon Valley, Balcones Heights, Alamo Heights, Terrell Hills, Olmos Park, Hill Country Village, Shavano Park, Castle Hills, Hollywood Park, Grey Forest, Helotes, and all unincorporated Bexar County areas.

Why $79 Flat Beats Contingency in Bexar County

San Antonio contingency fee protest firms typically charge 25–40% of first-year savings. On a $1,500 annual tax reduction — a realistic outcome for a median Bexar County home — that's $375–$600 in fees per year. Over five years with annual re-filing, you'd pay $1,875–$3,000 in fees. TaxAppeal charges $79 flat per filing. Five years of TaxAppeal costs $395 total. The math is straightforward.

Frequently Asked Questions