May 31 Last Day to Protest Appraised Value for Most Taxpayers
Property Appraised Value Protest Forms Online

HOUSTON – May 26, 2005 - Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt advises Harris County property owners to review their notice of appraised value sent by the Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD). The last day to file a protest for most taxpayers is Tuesday, May 31, 2005.

“The property tax bill of an average Houston-area home has increased $1,643, up 106.2% over the last seven years,” said Bettencourt. “A successful protest is the quickest way to a tax cut in any town in Texas, so I’m encouraging all property taxpayers to review their appraised value notice and to do their homework to see if they have a case to protest their value.”

A “How To Protest Your Property Appraisal” guideline section is available on the Harris County Tax Office website. The website includes detailed information about HCAD’s online filing system IFile at www.hcad.org. IFile gives property taxpayers the opportunity to electronically file their appraised value protests and the ability to view the evidence the appraisal district will use at the hearing once their protest is scheduled.

“While you can’t protest your property value simply because your taxes are too high, you can protest because of unequal appraisal or the condition of your home,” added Bettencourt. “It’s also important for property taxpayers to check and claim all exemptions allowed by law to pay their lowest legal amount of property taxes.”

Harris County property owners may still protest by mail using the pre-printed form included with each 2005 appraisal value notice, but the notice must be postmarked by May 31, 2005.

“Nearly 700,000 notices to property owners are already in the mail and for these taxpayers they generally have until May 31st to respond. Another 300,000-plus notices are being mailed with later deadlines in June as taxpayers have up to 30 days to respond to HCAD,” said Harris County Chief Appraiser Jim Robinson.

Harris County property taxpayers can get information on IFile at HCAD’s website at www.hcad.org, or get tips at www.hctax.net. Taxpayers may also call the Tax Office at 713-368-2000 or HCAD’s Information Center at 713-957-7800.

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