When is the deadline to protest your Texas property taxes in 2026?
The Texas property tax protest deadline for 2026 is Friday, the 15th of May, or 30 days after you receive your Notice of Appraised Value (NAV)—whichever is later.
This rule is established under Section 41.44 of the Texas Property Tax Code.
Generally, if May 15 falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline automatically shifts to the next working day.
How the 30-day rule works
If your notice was delivered on April 1, you have until May 15. If it arrives on April 20, you get 30 days from that date—until May 20, 2026—to file your protest.
NOTE: Though Texas Property Tax code Sec. 41.44 says the 30 day window begins from the date of actual notice delivery to the property owner, appraisal districts consider 30 days from the notice printed date. Since USPS doesn’t record the actual delivery date for first class mails, you will have to consider the notice printed date.
Special cases that also trigger a 30-day protest window
- A change in appraisal records or land-use classification
- A denied or modified exemption
- A damage assessment or refund determination notice
Each of these notices starts its own 30-day protest window from the day you receive it.
Didn’t receive your notice?
If you still haven’t received your 2026 notice by mid-May, file a protest anyway. Use the reason “CAD failed to send notice.” Appraisal districts must accept it. You can also check your local CAD’s site for posted values:
Missed the deadline?
You may still file late before the ARB certifies the tax roll, if you can show good cause (for example, illness, mail delay, military duty or being out of country etc.). The ARB decides whether to accept a late filing. Military members and offshore workers in the Gulf of Mexico are allowed to protest late, provided the protest is filed before taxes become delinquent.
Preparing for the 2026 protest season
Appraisal notices usually go out between April 1 – April 20. Mark your calendar now for May 15, 2026, and review your comps early. You can check if your value is high on our address search as soon as you receive the notice or when your CAD publishes the preliminary rolls online.
FAQs
What is the property tax protest deadline for 2026?
Friday, May 15, 2026, or 30 days after you receive your appraisal notice—whichever is later.
Can I protest without getting a notice?
Yes. File using “CAD failed to send notice” as your reason.
What if I file late?
If the ARB hasn’t certified the roll, and you have good cause, your late-protest may be accepted.
Do I have to wait for the notice to file?
No. You can file as soon as appraisal values appear online so long as you have your PIN. If not, contact your CAD for your PIN.
Where can I file my protest?
On your county appraisal district website. Most CADs accept online protests. e.g.,
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