By Harsha N Hegde

Many Bexar County homeowners who successfully protested their 2025 values are now asking the same thing:

“Since I filed and resolved a protest for 2025, will Bexar CAD skip reappraising my home next year?”

Let’s break it down.

BCAD Reappraises Properties Every Year

Under Texas Property Tax Code §25.18, every appraisal district must reappraise all real property at least once every three years. That’s the legal minimum — but in practice, Bexar Appraisal District (BCAD), like most CADs in Texas, performs annual reappraisals to stay aligned with market conditions and state compliance requirements.

So even if you filed a protest last year and won, BCAD will still reappraise your home again for the next tax year. Every property on the roll gets a fresh market value each year, even if BCAD doesn’t perform a physical inspection. Mass appraisal models are updated annually using neighborhood sales, cost tables, and equity data.

What the 2025–2026 Reappraisal Plan Says

On September 18th 2024, BCAD’s Board of Directors adopted its 2025–2026 Reappraisal Plan, a document required by law that outlines how the district will conduct reappraisals.

Here’s the key line that sparked confusion:

“For properties that were appealed and resolved for the 2025 tax year, the market value for appeals may remain the same for the 2026 appraisal year unless there is clear and convincing evidence to change it.”

In plain English:

• If you filed a protest in 2025 and your value was adjusted, BCAD might carry that same market value forward to 2026.
• But only if there’s no strong evidence (like new sales data or property changes) to justify increasing it.

This language doesn’t mean BCAD is skipping reappraisals. It simply means some values could stay the same if the market data supports it. In reality, this isn’t new. Texas appraisal districts have always had the discretion to keep a prior year’s value when there’s no evidence it’s out of line with the market. The 2025–2026 plan simply formalizes that long-standing practice and makes it clear to taxpayers that their successfully protested values may roll forward if nothing has changed.

What the San Antonio Report Article Reveals

According to the San Antonio Report, BCAD’s new policy means that for most property types — residential, commercial, and business — the 2025 market value will roll forward unchanged into 2026 if the property was appealed and resolved in 2025 and there’s been no major change such as new construction or improvements. The article clarifies that what “rolls over” is the market value, not the taxable (capped) value; the rule applies only for the 2025 and 2026 tax years; and BCAD can still increase your value in 2026 with clear and convincing evidence of change.

In short, the policy offers a one-year reprieve for properties that were successfully protested — not a long-term freeze.

Q: If I Got a Reduction This Year, Do I Need to Appeal Again Next Year?

Yes and No. Here is why. If your 2025 protest was resolved and your property hasn’t changed, your market value may roll forward unchanged into 2026 under BCAD’s plan. But, that doesn’t mean you are equitably appraised. You can and should check if you are unequally appraised and file a protest on bcad.org.

Here’s why:

• The “rollover” isn’t guaranteed. BCAD can still raise your value if there’s new sales data or evidence that your property’s market value increased.
• The rule only applies for 2025 and 2026. From 2027 onward, BCAD will return to normal annual reappraisal cycles.
• Your taxable value (the one affected by the 10% homestead cap) may still rise each year until it matches market value.

So even if BCAD doesn’t change your 2026 market value, you should always verify your notice and be ready to file a protest if needed.

Why You Should Still Check and Protest Every Year

Winning a protest doesn’t lock in your value permanently. BCAD’s “may remain the same” clause gives no guarantees — it’s entirely based on market evidence.

Each January, you’ll get a new Notice of Appraised Value, and you should always review it. If it’s higher than comparable homes in your area, or if the data is wrong, you can (and should) protest again.

That’s exactly why filing a protest every year makes sense. It keeps your property’s value aligned with current market conditions — not just what BCAD’s model predicts.

FAQs

Does BCAD reappraise every property every year?

Yes. BCAD must determine market value as of January 1 each year for all taxable property, even if a prior year’s protest was successful.

Will my 2025 reduction carry over to 2026?

It can. Under the 2025–2026 plan, the 2025 market value may roll forward to 2026 if your protest was resolved and there are no significant changes — but BCAD can still change it with clear evidence.

If I got a reduction this year, should I still appeal next year?

You may not need to, but you should still check your 2026 notice. If the value is high versus comps or the data is wrong, appeal again.

Bottom Line

• BCAD still reappraises every property annually.
• The 2025–2026 plan may carry forward some reduced 2025 values into 2026 — but only if there’s no strong reason to change them.
• Your 2025 protest doesn’t freeze your value. Expect annual reappraisals and always verify your notice.

If you’d like to see how your 2025 protest result compares to similar homes, try SquareDeal’s comparable property report — built for Bexar County homeowners who want data on their side.

About the Author

Harsha N Hegde is the founder of squaredeal.tax, a DIY platform that helps Texas homeowners protest unfair property tax assessments. He has helped thousands of Texas homeowners save money using comps-based evidence and practical guidance.

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