How to Protest Your TAD Property Tax Assessment

Tarrant County is the third-largest county in Texas, and the Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD) appraises over 870,000 properties each year. Many are over-assessed. Filing a protest is free, takes about 15 minutes online, and homeowners who protest frequently receive reductions at the informal stage.

Can I Protest My TAD Assessment?

Yes — any property owner in Tarrant County can file a protest. You don't need a lawyer, tax consultant, or prior experience. TAD processes tens of thousands of protests each year, and the process is designed for homeowners to handle on their own.

When Is the Deadline?

The protest deadline is May 15 each year, or 30 days after your notice of appraised value is mailed — whichever is later. TAD typically mails notices around mid-April.

If May 15 falls on a weekend, the deadline moves to the next business day. Mail-in protests must be postmarked by midnight on the deadline date.

Check your current assessment and notice date at tad.org.

Step 1: Review Your TAD Assessment

Start by looking up your property on Tarrant Value to see your appraised value, comparable properties, and potential savings. Then verify the details on TAD's website — check your square footage, year built, and property condition. Data errors are surprisingly common and can inflate your assessment by thousands of dollars.

Step 2: Gather Your Evidence

The two most effective protest strategies in Tarrant County:

• Unequal appraisal (equity): Show that similar properties in your neighborhood are appraised at lower values per square foot. Under Texas Property Tax Code Section 41.43(b), your appraised value should not exceed the median appraised value of comparable properties. This is powerful because the ARB must rule in your favor unless TAD proves otherwise.
• Market value: Show that recent sales of comparable homes indicate your property is worth less than TAD's appraised value. Bring sale dates, addresses, and prices for homes similar to yours that sold in the last 6-12 months.

Tarrant Value generates both types of evidence automatically using TAD's own appraisal data and recent comparable sales.

Step 3: File via the TAD Dashboard

TAD's online protest system is the TAD Dashboard. It allows you to file protests, upload evidence, and negotiate values — all online. To file:

1. Go to tad.org and create an account or log in
2. Add your property using your account number and the Online PIN from your Notice of Value (upper-left corner)
3. Click your property and select "Online Protest"
4. Select your protest reasons ("Value is over market value" and/or "Value is unequal")
5. Upload your evidence (comparable property printouts, photos, etc.)
6. Submit before the deadline

You can also file by mail using Texas Comptroller Form 50-132 sent to the Tarrant Appraisal Review Board at 2500 Handley-Ederville Road, Fort Worth, TX 76118.

Step 4: Value Negotiation

TAD offers a built-in value negotiation tool through the Dashboard. After filing your protest with evidence, you may receive a settlement offer. If the offer is close to your target value, accepting it resolves your protest immediately with no hearing needed.

Step 5: Informal Review

If you don't reach a settlement, TAD appraisal staff will review your case before your formal hearing. Most cases are resolved at the informal stage — homeowners who present good evidence frequently receive reductions without needing a formal ARB hearing.

Tips for Tarrant County Protests

• Always upload your evidence through the TAD Dashboard so staff can review it before contacting you
• Focus on 3-5 strong comparable properties with lower $/sqft assessments
• Check for data errors — wrong square footage or year built
• You can protest every year with no penalty; even a small reduction compounds over time
• TAD reappraises each property regularly — if your value jumped significantly, protest that year
• Call TAD at 817-284-0024 if you have questions about the process