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5600 N.W. Central Dr Suite 105
Houston, TX 77092


713-952-3500

How can you reduce my property taxes?

We have a diverse body of knowledge and experience along with state of the art property tax management software that allows us to be able to prepare for and resolve almost any property tax situation. Our evidence portfolio for residential accounts will include but is not limited to comparable sales and equity reports, cost documents as well as photos and other information from the owner when relevant to the argument we present against county appraisal districts.

When is the deadline to file a protest on my property value?

The deadline to file a protest is May 31st or 30 days after the appraisal district sends notice of assess value; whichever is later. If May 31st falls on a Saturday or Sunday then deadline is the following business day.

When are value notices mailed out?

Most value notices are mailed out by county appraisal districts in April as the protest deadline is typically May 31st. However if your hearing notice is mailed later you have 30 days from the date of notice to file the protest.

When are protest hearings scheduled?

Protest hearings are scheduled by the appraisal districts and typically run from May through October.

When are tax bills mailed?

Tax bills are typically mailed out at the end of October beginning of November from the taxing jurisdictions and are due without penalty the following January 31st.

What is fair market value? What is a capped value?

Fair market value is the highest price a property would bring it if were for sale on the open market for a reasonable amount of time according to the appraisal district. This is not always a good way to value properties. Various factors come in to play when figuring out a good value for a property. A capped value is the highest amount that the various taxing entities can collect taxes on. This value can equal to or less than fair market value.

What is a homestead exemption?

A homestead is given if you lived in and own your residential property on January 1st of that year. You are only allowed to have a homestead on one property that is your primary residence. The homestead exemption only allows the appraisal district to raise your appraised value by 10% from the previous year. To apply for a homestead exemption you need to fill out the form from the appraisal district or from the link below and return it with a copy of your driver’s license to us and we will get it filed for you.

What is the over 65 exemption?

The over 65 exemption is an even larger property tax break that you get in conjunction with your regular homestead. With this exemption your school taxes are frozen so to speak at the amount you paid the year your turned 65. Basically it is a ceiling and your school taxes cannot go higher however they could go lower. The over 65 does NOT however freeze your appraised value. It can still be increased the 10% from the previous year if the appraisal district deems it necessary. . To apply for an over 65 exemption you need to fill out the form from the appraisal district or from the link below and return it with a copy of your driver’s license to us and we will get it filed for you.

What information could I send to help in my RESIDENTIAL protest hearing and when do you need it by?

Photos of any damages, or things in need of repair (rotten wood, cracked foundation, outdated fixtures, etc). Cost of repairs for any damages or problems with the home (receipts, bill, estimates). Photos of the traffic/commercial buildings if that applies to your home. Copies of fee appraisals for us to review. Any of the above information will be held confidential unless we feel it is helpful in fighting your case with the appraisal district. We need the information ASAP as the appraisal district sets the hearing date and they begin scheduling the last week in April.

What information could I send to help in my COMMERCIAL protest hearing and when do you need it by?

Photos of any damages, or things in need of repair (rotten wood, cracked foundation, outdated fixtures, etc). Cost of repairs for any damages or problems with the home (receipts, bill, estimates). Income and expense statements. Rent rolls with lease term and square footage occupied. We need the information ASAP as the appraisal district sets the hearing date and they begin scheduling the last week in April.

What information could I send to help in my BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY protest hearing and when do you need it by?

We will need a full list of the assets including computers, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment and inventory number as of December 31st as well as a list of vehicles. The list should include the date of purchase and the original purchase price. For vehicles we need the year, make, model, purchase price and mileage, if possible. We need this in our office no later than April 1st to meet the rendition deadline of April 15th. If renditions are not filed by April 15th the tax assessor can impose a 10% penalty.

Why Choose US?

  • Expertly trained staff with combined industry experience of over 50 years
  • Previous HCAD empolyees are members of our staff.
  • Strong background in commercial properties with an emphasis in retail, office buildings, warehouses, hotel/motel and apartments.
  • Strong background in residential properties including single family homestead accounts as well as condos, rentals with our main emphasis in River Oaks, Bellaire, West University, the Villages and other high end residential markets.
  • State of the art property tax management software
  • Prepare in depth analysis with supporting documentation to present in the protest hearing
  • Industry leaders in the binding arbitration process as far as number or arbitrations filed each year and rate of success

Important Dates

  • January 1st-Date that determines taxable and exemption status.
  • April 1st-Last day for property owners to file renditions.
  • April 30-Deadline to make application for many types of total exemptions.
  • May 30-Last day to apply for agricultural, timber, or wildlife productivity appraisal without penalty.
  • May 15-Deadline for filing written protests to the Appraisal Review Board.
  • October 1-31-Tax bills are usually mailed during this month.
  • January 31-Last day of the following year, to pay property taxes without penalty and interest.