Tarrant County ARB Hearing: What to Expect
If your Tarrant County property tax protest isn't resolved through TAD's value negotiation or informal review, you'll be scheduled for a formal hearing with the Appraisal Review Board (ARB). Here's how to prepare and what to expect.
What Is the Tarrant County ARB?
The Appraisal Review Board is an independent panel of Tarrant County citizens — not TAD employees — who hear property tax protests and make binding determinations on property values. The ARB reviews evidence from both you and TAD, then votes on a final value.
When and Where
ARB hearings run from approximately April through mid-July each year. Hearings are held at the TAD offices at 2500 Handley-Ederville Road, Fort Worth, TX 76118.
TAD must give you at least 15 days' notice of your hearing date, time, and location.
How to Participate
Tarrant County offers multiple ways to participate in your ARB hearing:
- In person: Appear at the TAD office on your hearing date
- By telephone: Request a phone conference when filing your protest
- By videoconference: TAD offers video hearing options
- By affidavit: Submit a written statement with your evidence instead of appearing. Your affidavit must include your name, address, account number, hearing date, and all evidence and arguments.
What to Bring
- Comparable property data: A printed list of 3-5 similar properties with their appraised values and $/sqft. Tarrant Value generates this automatically from TAD's own records.
- Recent sales data: Sale dates, addresses, and prices for comparable homes that sold for less than your appraised value.
- Photos: Dated photos of any condition issues — foundation problems, roof damage, outdated interiors, nearby nuisances (power lines, busy roads, commercial properties).
- Repair estimates: Written estimates from contractors for any needed repairs.
- Your TAD notice: The notice of appraised value you received in the mail, showing your account number and current assessment.
How the Hearing Works
Residential ARB hearings typically last 15-20 minutes:
- Both you and the TAD representative are sworn in
- You present your evidence first (aim for 5-10 minutes)
- TAD presents their evidence and analysis
- Both sides can ask questions and offer rebuttals
- The ARB panel deliberates and announces their decision (usually the same day)
The process is designed to be accessible to homeowners without legal training. Present your data clearly and concisely — the panel sees hundreds of cases and appreciates evidence over emotion.
If You Disagree with the Decision
If the ARB decision doesn't go your way, you have three options:
- Binding arbitration: File within 60 days for homesteads appraised at $5 million or less. Deposit ranges from $450 to $1,550 depending on value.
- District court appeal: File a petition within 60 days. Requires partial tax payment and typically legal representation.
- SOAH appeal: File within 30 days with a $1,500 deposit. Heard by an Administrative Law Judge.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't compare your home to properties in different TAD neighborhoods or vastly different sizes
- Don't argue about tax rates — the ARB only determines appraised values
- Don't skip the informal review stage — most cases are resolved there
- Don't bring irrelevant evidence (your tax bill amount, personal finances, etc.)
- Don't submit your protest without evidence — TAD won't schedule an informal review without it
Sources and evidence for Tarrant County
Prepared by Tarrant Value. Filing resources checked September 4, 2026.
Start with the Tarrant Appraisal District property record and your current notice. Our property pages organize imported public assessment records and available comparable evidence. Check the tax year and data dates shown on each page: a prior-year record is useful history, but does not establish the value on a new notice.
Comparable homes are candidates for review. Verify their size, age, condition, location, and sale details before using them. Value per square foot helps screen candidates; it does not account for every difference. Estimated savings depend on the final assessment, exemptions, assessment limits, and applicable tax rates.
Texas filing and valuation checks
For 2026, the ordinary May 15 filing date has passed. A notice mailed later can have a later deadline. Confirm the date on your notice and the TAD filing instructions. Review Texas Comptroller protest guidance for procedures and owner rights.
Separate a market-value argument from unequal appraisal, and compare the same tax year. A homestead cap or exemption can make taxable value differ from market value; lowering market value may not change the bill immediately. Texas sales coverage is incomplete because sale prices are not universally disclosed.
Check the source before filing
Tarrant Value is an independent research tool. Verify the current procedure with Tarrant Appraisal District, save a copy of your evidence, and retain your filing confirmation. The appraisal authority or review board decides the outcome.