Every Texas homeowner who wants to protest their 2026 property tax assessment is working against a hard deadline. Miss it, and you're locked out for a full year âÃÂàpaying taxes on an inflated value you could have legally challenged. Here is everything you need to know about Texas property tax protest deadlines in 2026, including how the deadline is calculated, what to do if you think you missed it, and how to file fast.
The Standard Texas Protest Deadline: May 15, 2026
Texas Tax Code ÃÂç 41.44 establishes the protest deadline as May 15 of the tax year, or 30 days after the appraisal district mailed your Notice of Appraised Value âÃÂàwhichever is later. For most Texas homeowners, the deadline is May 15, 2026. However, if your county appraisal district mailed your notice after April 15, your personal deadline is extended. The date that matters is the mailing date printed on your Notice of Appraised Value âÃÂànot the date you received it.
How to Calculate Your Personal Protest Deadline
Your notice has a mailing date printed on it. If that date is on or before April 15, 2026, your deadline is May 15, 2026. If that date is after April 15, add 30 days to the mailing date âÃÂàthat is your deadline.
- ✓Notice mailed on or before April 15 âÃÂàDeadline: May 15, 2026
- ✓Notice mailed April 16 âÃÂàDeadline: May 16, 2026
- ✓Notice mailed April 25 âÃÂàDeadline: May 25, 2026
- ✓Notice mailed May 1 âÃÂàDeadline: May 31, 2026
- ✓Notice mailed May 15 âÃÂàDeadline: June 14, 2026
Deadlines by Major Texas Appraisal District
All major Texas appraisal districts follow the same statutory framework âÃÂàMay 15 or 30 days from notice date, whichever is later.
- ✓Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) âÃÂàNotices mailed April. Standard deadline: May 15.
- ✓Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD) âÃÂàNotices mailed April. Standard deadline: May 15.
- ✓Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD) âÃÂàNotices mailed late March to mid-April. Standard deadline: May 15.
- ✓Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD) âÃÂàNotices mailed April. Standard deadline: May 15.
- ✓Bexar Appraisal District âÃÂàNotices mailed April. Standard deadline: May 15.
- ✓Collin Central Appraisal District (CCAD) âÃÂàNotices mailed April. Standard deadline: May 15.
- ✓Denton Central Appraisal District âÃÂàNotices mailed April. Standard deadline: May 15.
What Happens If You Miss the Protest Deadline
If you miss your protest deadline, you generally cannot challenge your 2026 assessment. There are very narrow exceptions for clerical errors or mailing address issues, but these are difficult to invoke. The practical answer is: you pay the inflated bill for 2026 and file a protest in 2027. This is why filing early matters.
How to File Your Texas Property Tax Protest Fast
If your deadline is approaching, here is the fastest path: Enter your address at TaxAppeal, complete the 4-minute process, and pay $79. We pull your property data, analyze comparable sales, draft your protest letter, and file via USPS certified mail the same day. You receive your tracking number and a complete copy of your letter by email.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Texas property tax protest deadline May 15 every year? ▾
Yes for most homeowners. Texas Tax Code sets the deadline as May 15 or 30 days from your notice mail date, whichever is later.
Can I file a Texas property tax protest after May 15? ▾
Only if your notice was mailed after April 15, giving you a personal deadline later than May 15. If your deadline has passed, you generally must wait until next year.
Do I have to appear in person to protest? ▾
No. You can file a written protest by mail and request a telephone or video informal hearing. TaxAppeal files your protest by mail âÃÂàyou never need to appear at the appraisal district.
What if I never received my Notice of Appraised Value? ▾
Contact your county appraisal district immediately. If you did not receive a notice and your property was reassessed, you may have grounds for a late protest.
Does the protest deadline apply to commercial property too? ▾
Yes. The same May 15 / 30-day deadline applies to all property types in Texas.
What is the ARB hearing deadline in Texas? ▾
If your informal hearing does not resolve your protest, you must request an Appraisal Review Board hearing before your case closes. The ARB will notify you of available dates.