Protest status
The deadline to protest 2026 values has passed. 2027 notices arrive in spring 2027, and the 2027 deadline is Monday, May 17, 2027 (May 15 falls on a Saturday, so it moves to the next business day). Start gathering sales evidence early — the deadline comes fast once the notice lands.
Harris County protest dates
Protest deadline
May 15, or 30 days after your notice of appraised value is delivered — whichever is later.
HCAD is the largest appraisal district in the United States, covering Houston and surrounding communities. Always confirm dates on the official site before you file.
HCAD key dates for 2027
- January 1: HCAD values your home as of this date.
- April 30: last day to file a homestead exemption application (Form 50-114) for the current year.
- April – mid-May: HCAD mails Notices of Appraised Value.
- Monday, May 17, 2027: protest deadline (or 30 days after your notice arrives, if later). File online through HCAD's iFile portal or by mail with Form 50-132.
- May – August: informal reviews and HCAD Appraisal Review Board hearings.
See the HCAD deadline and hearing timeline
Documents for your HCAD protest
- Form 50-132 — Notice of Protest (or use HCAD's online portal)
- Form 50-114 — Homestead Exemption Application
- Form 50-283 — ARB hearing affidavit (if you can't attend)
- Your HCAD Notice of Appraised Value, comparable sales, photos and repair estimates
- Harris County Appraisal District forms & protest portal
Browse all Texas protest forms
Learn how to read your HCAD appraisal notice
Open your protest tracker to mark these documents complete
Look up your home in HCAD records
Type your street address or paste your HCAD account number (it's on your appraisal notice). You'll see the value HCAD assigned and similar homes nearby.
Upload your appraisal notice — get your protest plan
Snap a photo or upload the PDF of your notice. Our AI reads your values, property details and deadlines, then builds a protest-preparation checklist around your numbers.
How to protest in Harris County
- Watch for your Notice of Appraised Value. Your appraisal district mails this in spring (usually April). It shows the market value they assigned to your home — the number your taxes are based on.
- File your protest by the deadline. File online with your appraisal district or mail in the protest form. Filing is free and you don't need a lawyer or a tax consultant.
- Prepare your evidence. Recent sales of comparable homes, photos of damage or needed repairs, and a comparison with similar homes appraised for less (unequal appraisal).
- Attend the informal settlement. Most protests end here: you meet with a district appraiser, show your evidence, and agree on a lower value.
- Go to the ARB hearing if you need to. If informal settlement doesn't get you a fair value, the Appraisal Review Board (ARB) — an independent citizen board — hears both sides and mails a decision.
- Still not satisfied? You have more options. After the ARB you can pursue binding arbitration, a SOAH hearing, or district court. Many homeowners stop after the ARB.
Note: step 5 above is the formal hearing — in Texas it's the Appraisal Review Board (ARB), not a court.
Homestead exemptions in Harris County
- Texas homeowners with a homestead exemption get $100,000 off their home's value for school district taxes.
- Homestead values can rise at most 10% per year — and the excess is spread over the following years, not lost.
- Homeowners 65 or older (or disabled) get extra exemptions, and their school taxes can be frozen.
Harris County protest questions
What's the deadline to protest in Harris County?
May 15, or 30 days after your Notice of Appraised Value is delivered — whichever is later. If the deadline lands on a weekend or holiday, it moves to the next business day.
How much does it cost to protest my Harris County assessment?
Nothing. Filing a protest with your appraisal district is free, and you can represent yourself at every stage. Our free checklist walks you through the evidence.
What evidence actually lowers your value?
Recent sales of comparable homes near you, photos of damage or needed repairs, and an unequal-appraisal comparison showing similar homes valued lower than yours.
What happens at an HCAD ARB hearing?
The Appraisal Review Board is an independent citizen panel. You get a short hearing: the district presents its value, you present your evidence, and the ARB mails a written decision.
Does Harris County have a homestead cap?
Yes — statewide, a homestead's appraised value can rise at most 10% per year, and any amount above the cap carries forward. Check that your homestead exemption is actually on your account each year.
Read the complete HCAD protest FAQ
Get your Harris County evidence ready
The homeowners who win bring comparables. File your protest, then track your case from your dashboard.
HomesteadProtest is a private company and is not affiliated with HCAD or any government office. We don't file protests for you and don't provide legal advice. Questions? support@neighborcomp.com