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Comparison · Checked against the sources

Austin property tax protest options compared

Protesting a Travis County appraisal yourself, hiring a tax firm, or having ATX Untangled file it: cost, effort, and deadline side by side.

Three realistic ways to protest a Travis County appraisal. The deadline is the same for all three: May 15, or 30 days after the appraisal district mails your Notice of Appraised Value, whichever is later.

Do it yourself

  • Cost: Free. The appraisal district charges nothing to file a protest.
  • What you do: You file online through the Travis CAD protest portal, gather comparable sales or condition photos, and handle the informal review and any Appraisal Review Board hearing yourself.
  • Best for: Owners with an evening or two to gather evidence and a clear argument: comps, condition photos, or unequal appraisal.
  • Watch out: Missing the deadline ends the protest for the year, and evidence quality decides the outcome.

Hire a property tax firm

  • Cost: Commonly 25 to 50 percent of your first-year tax savings, charged only if the firm wins a reduction. Some firms add minimum fees.
  • What you do: You sign an appointment-of-agent form; the firm files, negotiates, and attends hearings for you.
  • Best for: Higher-value homes and owners who want a fully hands-off process.
  • Watch out: The fee comes out of year-one savings, and many firms renew automatically each year unless you cancel.

ATX Untangled

  • Cost: Free. ATX Untangled is funded by one Austinite and does not take a percentage of your savings.
  • What you do: You answer a few questions; ATX prepares the protest, files it with the district only after your OK, and saves the confirmation so there is proof it landed.
  • Best for: Owners who want the protest filed correctly and on time without paying a percentage of the savings.
  • Watch out: ATX is independent and not a law firm; complex commercial valuations may still want specialist counsel.

Bottom line

For most Austin homeowners the choice is time versus money: DIY is free but takes an evening or two, firms take 25 to 50 percent of the first-year savings, and ATX Untangled files the protest for free with your OK. Whatever you pick, file by May 15 or 30 days after your notice was mailed, whichever is later.

Common questions

What is the deadline to protest a Travis County appraisal?

May 15, or 30 days after the appraisal district mails your Notice of Appraised Value, whichever is later. Notices usually go out in April, so most owners face the May 15 date.

What do property tax protest firms charge in Texas?

Most work on contingency: 25 to 50 percent of your first-year tax savings, owed only if they win a reduction. Published examples include 50 percent in O'Connor's posted terms and a 25 to 50 percent range across Texas firms. Some add minimum fees or auto-renew annually.

What happens after a protest is filed?

The district offers an informal review where many protests settle. If you do not settle, the case goes to an Appraisal Review Board hearing, where you present evidence and the board sets the value.

Sources

Checked 2026-09-06.

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ATX Untangled is independent and not affiliated with the City of Austin, Travis CAD, or any firm named here.