Understand the appraisal protest process and your options after an ARB order. Compare regular binding arbitration, SOAH and district court appeals, including filing deadlines and evidence requirements.
A Texas property tax dispute usually begins with a timely appraisal protest. After an Appraisal Review Board (ARB) order, eligible owners may pursue regular binding arbitration, a SOAH appeal or district court review. The available route depends on the property, disputed issue and procedural requirements.
This guide explains the steps from an appraisal protest to a post-ARB appeal, including available procedures, evidence and filing deadlines. Business property owners can also review our Texas commercial property tax appeal guide. For local representation, see our Houston property tax attorney page.
Guidance reviewed: .
Already know you need representation for your appeal? Review our appeal services for the representation process, proposed fees and an assessment of the available route for your property.
View Appeal ServicesAppeal options may become relevant after an unfavorable appraisal review or ARB result.
Property tax arbitration in Texas may be an option for some owners after the protest process.
Some disputes may require evaluating a Texas property tax lawsuit or judicial appeal strategy.
Appeal rights can depend on strict deadlines, notices, and procedural requirements.
A Texas property tax appeal challenges an eligible ARB decision through district court, regular binding arbitration or the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH), depending on the property and dispute. Owners commonly use "appeal" to describe the entire challenge process, but an initial appraisal protest and a post-ARB appeal follow different procedures.
In plain terms, the protest is usually the first formal challenge. The appeal stage may come later if the property owner believes the ARB result, final order, or appraisal outcome is still incorrect, unsupported, or unfair.
Start by identifying your current stage. If you have received an appraisal notice, review the protest deadline and prepare supporting evidence. If you have received an ARB order, promptly evaluate the available post-ARB procedures, filing deadlines and costs. For initial filing steps, use our Texas property tax protest guide.
A Texas property tax protest is typically the first challenge to the appraisal district’s value. A property tax appeal usually refers to next steps after the protest stage if the owner believes the decision is still incorrect or unfair.
For more information about the hearing stage, review our Appraisal Review Board hearing guide.
The deadline depends on the procedure. Initial protest deadlines and post-ARB appeal deadlines are different. Record when you received the ARB order and review the available routes immediately.
| Procedure | General filing window | Important requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Regular binding arbitration | Within 60 days after receiving the ARB order of determination. | File the request and required deposit with the Texas Comptroller. Eligibility and tax-payment requirements apply. |
| District court appeal | Generally within 60 days after receiving the ARB's written order. | File a petition for review with the district court. Tax-payment and other procedural requirements also apply. |
| SOAH appeal | Notice within 30 days after receiving the ARB order of determination. | File the notice with the chief appraiser; a $1,500 deposit is due within 90 days of receiving the order. Eligibility restrictions apply. |
Verify the rules in the Comptroller's appraisal protests and appeals guidance and regular binding arbitration instructions. For initial filing timing, see our Texas property tax protest deadlines by county and Texas property tax deadlines guide.
After an ARB order, compare the routes available for your property and dispute:
Need representation? Review our Texas property tax appeal services for the representation process and proposed terms. The appropriate route depends on eligibility, evidence, costs and deadlines; a reduction is not guaranteed.
Commercial property tax appeals can involve more complex evidence than many residential disputes because commercial values may depend on income, expenses, vacancy, rent rolls, capitalization rates, tenant risk, property condition, market sales, and unequal appraisal comparisons.
If you are still preparing for the appraisal district or ARB stage, review our commercial property tax protest services. If you have already received an ARB order, review our Texas commercial property tax appeal guide.
Strong evidence is often the foundation of a successful protest or appeal. The right support depends on the property type, valuation method, county appraisal district, and specific legal issue.
To understand value terminology before preparing appeal evidence, review Market Value vs. Appraised Value in Texas.
County appraisal districts handle the first stages of most Texas property tax disputes. Use the county pages below to review local appraisal district guidance and connect the appeal process back to county-specific protest issues.
If you've already been through a protest and want to understand what typically comes next, read What Happens After a Property Tax Protest in Texas?
If you're ready to pursue arbitration, SOAH, or a district court appeal with attorney-backed representation, visit our Texas Property Tax Appeal Services page for process and pricing details.
Houston-area owners can also review our Houston property tax attorney service page.
Verify current requirements with the relevant agency before filing:
Reviewed October 23, 2026. This guide provides general information; eligibility and filing requirements depend on the case.
Start by identifying whether you are challenging an appraisal notice or have already received an ARB order. An initial protest usually requires timely filing, supporting evidence and participation in the ARB process. After an ARB order, evaluate regular binding arbitration, SOAH or district court review based on eligibility, costs and deadlines.
Not exactly. A protest is usually the initial formal challenge to an appraisal district decision. A post-ARB appeal challenges an eligible ARB order through a separate procedure. For initial filing and hearing steps, review our Texas property tax protest guide.
Regular binding arbitration and district court review generally have 60-day filing windows after receipt of the relevant ARB order. A qualifying SOAH appeal generally requires a notice within 30 days, with a separate deposit deadline. Review the procedure-specific requirements and your documents promptly. See our Texas property tax deadlines guide.
Regular binding arbitration allows a neutral arbitrator to decide a qualifying post-ARB market value, appraised value or unequal appraisal dispute. It is an alternative to district court for eligible cases, with its own filing, deposit and tax-payment requirements. Read our Texas property tax arbitration guide.
An eligible property owner may seek district court review of an ARB decision by filing a timely petition and meeting applicable procedural and tax-payment requirements. The Comptroller recommends consulting an attorney before filing. Read our Texas property tax lawsuit guide.
Useful evidence may include comparable sales, unequal appraisal analysis, photographs, repair estimates, independent appraisals and property-record corrections. Commercial disputes may also require rent rolls, income and expense records, vacancy data and capitalization rate support. Retain the ARB order, notices and appraisal district evidence.
An attorney is not automatically required for regular binding arbitration. Property owners may pursue an eligible arbitration without an agent, subject to the applicable rules. District court appeals follow different procedures; the Texas Comptroller recommends consulting an attorney before filing a petition. For help evaluating representation, deadlines and proposed fees, review our Texas property tax appeal services.
Yes. Commercial owners may challenge an eligible ARB order through an available post-ARB procedure. The appropriate route depends on the property, ARB-determined value, disputed issue and other requirements. Income, market, cost and unequal appraisal evidence may be relevant. Review our Texas commercial property tax appeal guide.
Received an ARB order? Request a review of your available appeal routes, evidence and filing deadlines. Representation scope and fees are subject to agreed terms; no reduction or particular outcome is guaranteed.
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