In Texas, property taxes are a significant burden for many homeowners and business owners. Rising property values often lead to higher tax bills, leaving property owners scrambling to find ways to reduce these costs. While many turn to professional property tax protest companies to challenge their property assessments, there is another, more empowering option: doing it yourself. With the right tools, homeowners can save money and have more control over the process.
In Texas, property taxes are based on the assessed value of your property, determined by local appraisal districts. Each year, property owners receive notices detailing the value of their property and the resulting taxes owed. Sometimes, these valuations seem unfairly high, and property owners have the right to protest the assessment. A property tax protest involves challenging the appraisal district’s value, and if successful, you could see a reduction in your tax bill.
Interestingly, data suggests that homeowners who protest their property values themselves are more likely to succeed in reducing their assessments than those who hire professional protest companies. DIY protesters not only win more often but also tend to achieve larger reductions on average.
DIY works well if you have a single family home, a duplex or a condo. Here is our guide to lowering your property's appraised value. However, if your property is commercial, industrial, agricultural, mixed-use, business personal property, multi-family etc, then navigating the protest process yourself can get complicated, which is where property tax protest companies come in. These companies specialize in representing property owners to challenge inflated property valuations. Their team of experts will file your protest, gather necessary evidence such as market trends or comparable sales, equity comps, rental income, inventory, replacement cost new et.al. and present your case at the appraisal hearing.
However, hiring a property tax protest company often comes with a significant cost. Many charge anywhere from 20% to 50% of the savings they secure for you. For some homeowners, this cost is a deterrent, as it eats into the potential tax savings. For those who prefer to take control of the process and avoid hefty fees, DIY tools like squaredeal.tax offer a cost-effective and user-friendly alternative.
Not all property tax protest companies are created equal, and it’s crucial to choose one that meets your needs. Here are a few key factors to consider:
As per 2024 data, here are the top 20 companies that handle the most protests in Harris county:
| Property Tax Protest Agent | Num of Protests | Reductions | Success % |
|---|---|---|---|
| O'CONNOR & ASSOCIATES | 84141 | 70709 | 84% |
| OWNWELL INC | 33123 | 29432 | 89% |
| BETTENCOURT TAX ADVISORS LLC | 19968 | 15077 | 76% |
| RAINBOLT & COMPANY | 14142 | 10287 | 73% |
| RESOLUTE PROPERTY TAX | 12891 | 9971 | 77% |
| ADVALOREMTAX.NET | 12435 | 9820 | 79% |
| NOVOTNY AND COMPANY | 11188 | 7916 | 71% |
| AD VALOREM ADVISORS | 10464 | 7510 | 72% |
| ELLIOTT - WELLMAN | 7432 | 6209 | 84% |
| TEXAS TAX PROTEST | 7322 | 6291 | 86% |
| RYAN LLC | 6733 | 6116 | 91% |
| ADVALOREM TAX MANAGEMENT | 6166 | 3396 | 55% |
| HARDING & CARBONE INC | 5641 | 2884 | 51% |
| B R LAWSON & CO | 5604 | 3672 | 66% |
| RAINBOLT, ALEXANDER | 5086 | 3155 | 62% |
| COCHRAN & COMPANY | 4045 | 2391 | 59% |
| AMBROSE & ASSOCIATES | 3560 | 2189 | 61% |
| QUATRO TAX LLC | 3512 | 2028 | 58% |
| APPEAL PROPERTY TAX COM | 2900 | 2568 | 89% |
| REPUBLIC PROPERTY TAX | 2728 | 2021 | 74% |
Protesting your property tax assessment involves several steps:
While many property tax protest companies handle all of these steps, DIY tools like squaredeal.tax equip homeowners with comparable property reports, based on unequal appraisal. With this information, you can confidently present your case and potentially save more than if you hired a professional.
A successful protest can lead to immediate and significant savings on your tax bill. In some cases, homeowners have saved thousands of dollars by simply contesting an inflated property value. These savings can be even more impactful over time, as a lower assessment affects your taxes in subsequent years.
If you’re a property owner in Texas, you don’t have to accept rising tax bills without a fight. Engage a professional property tax protest company or DIY. But, protest for sure. You aren't going to get a reduction without protesting!
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