Houston Property Tax Attorney for HCAD Protests & Appeals
Attorney-led review and representation for Houston and Harris County owners facing HCAD protests, ARB hearings, complex valuation disputes or eligible post-ARB appeals.
You can file an HCAD protest yourself, and an attorney is not necessary for every property. Attorney-led representation may make more sense when the property is commercial or high-value, the valuation depends on complex income or equity evidence, the dispute presents a legal issue, or the owner wants continuity if the case proceeds beyond the Appraisal Review Board.
PropertyTaxes.Law is led by Houston attorney Brandon Barchus. The firm reviews appraisal records, develops the valuation position, prepares evidence, handles eligible protest and hearing stages, and evaluates available post-ARB options under the engagement.
Deadline reminder: The usual Texas protest deadline is May 15 or 30 days after the appraisal district mails the notice of appraised value, whichever is later. Use the date on your notice and confirm the current requirements before filing.
Avoid overlapping guidance
Choose the Right PropertyTaxes.Law Resource
This page is for owners deciding whether to hire a Houston property tax attorney. Use the more specific resources below when your need is procedural or statewide.
Houston attorney representation
Hiring guidance, local legal scope, credentials and Houston case review.
You are on the right page
HCAD process and filing
Local filing steps, HCAD resources and Harris County procedure.
When a Houston Property Tax Attorney May Add Value
Complex Valuation
Commercial income data, unequal-appraisal analysis, ownership issues and unusual property characteristics can require a tailored evidentiary position.
Legal Escalation
An attorney can advise on legal rights and represent an owner in district court when an eligible dispute should continue beyond the administrative process.
Continuity
One strategy can guide the file from initial review through an ARB hearing and, when appropriate, a post-ARB appeal evaluation.
High-Value or Portfolio Work
Owners with major tax exposure or multiple accounts may benefit from coordinated evidence, deadlines and valuation positions.
Non-attorney agents may represent owners in many administrative proceedings. The best choice depends on the property, issues, desired scope and possible need for legal advice or litigation.
Houston Property Tax Representation
The firm handles residential and commercial matters in Houston and Harris County. The exact scope and fee arrangement should be confirmed in a written engagement.
HCAD Protests and ARB Hearings
Review of the appraisal record, protest grounds, comparable or equity evidence, informal resolution opportunities and hearing preparation. See the Houston and Harris County protest guide.
Commercial and Industrial Property
Evidence may include rent rolls, leases, vacancy, expenses, capitalization rates, comparable sales and equal-and-uniform analysis. Review the commercial property tax protest guide.
High-Value Residential Property
Custom homes may require careful comparable selection and adjustments for location, condition, construction quality and distinctive improvements. Learn about high-end residential property tax work.
Post-ARB Appeal Evaluation
After an ARB order, the firm can assess whether binding arbitration, SOAH review or district court is available and appropriate. Eligibility, deadlines, costs and strategic value differ by route.
Published firm case examples
Representative Property Tax Results
These published examples show reductions in appraised value. They are not tax-savings figures and do not predict the outcome of another property or tax year.
$23,079,91320005 Liedecke RoadInitial value: $25,515,040 Final value: $2,435,127
$8,050,00010441 Spring Green BlvdInitial value: $18,453,410 Final value: $10,403,410
$2,630,0169915 FM 1960 Road WestInitial value: $10,130,016 Final value: $7,500,000
Hunter Brown reports that the team has handled industrial, office, single-family and multifamily matters for InSite Realty Partners.
Hunter Brown, InSite Realty Partners
Jeremy Bartholomew describes a lease-up assessment dispute that produced what he considered a fair assessment and a major value change.
Jeremy Bartholomew
No result is guaranteed. Results depend on the property, evidence, tax year, procedural posture and applicable law. Confirm fee terms, expenses and scope in the engagement agreement.
How Attorney-Led HCAD Representation Works
1. Review the notice and filing deadline
The first step is confirming the property account, proposed value, available protest grounds and deadline. Owners may use the official HCAD owners portal or authorize a representative under the required process.
2. Develop the valuation and evidence position
The relevant evidence depends on the property and protest grounds. It may include comparable sales, appraisal-equity data, condition records, leases, rent rolls, operating expenses or capitalization analysis. Follow the current portal and hearing-notice instructions, and submit evidence early enough to avoid preventable issues.
3. Evaluate informal resolution
If HCAD presents an informal or online settlement opportunity, the proposed value should be compared with the evidence, tax exposure and goals before it is accepted or rejected.
4. Prepare for the ARB hearing
Unresolved cases may proceed to an Appraisal Review Board hearing. The representative organizes the relevant evidence and argument for the hearing format shown in the scheduling notice.
5. Review eligible post-ARB options
After a written ARB order, different review routes have different eligibility rules and deadlines. A district court petition or request for regular binding arbitration is generally due within 60 days; SOAH review, when available, generally has a 30-day deadline. Tax-payment and other procedural requirements may also apply.
About Houston Property Tax Attorney Brandon Barchus
Brandon Michael Barchus is eligible to practice law in Texas and has been licensed since April 6, 2006. His State Bar profile lists Houston as his primary location and includes real estate, taxation and commercial litigation among his practice areas.
State Bar Status
Eligible to practice in Texas. Bar card number 24052873.
Houston Location
The official profile identifies Houston as his primary practice location.
Relevant Practice Areas
The State Bar profile includes real estate, taxation and commercial litigation.
Firm Role
PropertyTaxes.Law identifies Brandon as its founder, attorney and Senior Property Tax Consultant.
A Houston property tax attorney can review an HCAD valuation, identify protest grounds, develop evidence, represent an owner in an ARB hearing, advise on legal issues and evaluate eligible post-ARB options. The exact services depend on the written engagement.
No. Texas owners may protest their own property, and non-attorney agents may handle many administrative matters. An attorney may be a better fit for a complex, high-value or commercial dispute, a matter involving legal advice, or a case that may continue to district court.
PropertyTaxes.Law states that contingency arrangements are available for many initial protest matters. Appeal, arbitration and litigation terms may differ. Ask for the fee percentage, expense responsibility, cancellation terms, covered stages and payment trigger in writing. No firm can guarantee a reduction.
The usual deadline is May 15 or 30 days after the appraisal district mails the notice of appraised value, whichever is later. Exceptions can apply. Check the date on the specific HCAD notice and current official instructions.
Yes. Commercial cases can involve the income, sales-comparison and cost approaches, plus equal-and-uniform analysis. Useful records may include leases, rent rolls, vacancy, expenses, condition evidence, comparable sales and capitalization data.
Depending on eligibility and the dispute, an owner may consider regular binding arbitration, SOAH review or district court. A district court petition or regular binding-arbitration request is generally due within 60 days of receiving the written order, while SOAH review generally has a 30-day deadline. Confirm all current requirements immediately.
This page helps owners evaluate Houston attorney representation, credentials, scope and case proof. The Harris County property tax protest guide focuses on HCAD filing and local procedure.
Discuss Your Houston Property Tax Matter
Request a review of the property, notice, timing and goals. The firm can then explain whether representation may fit and what the proposed scope and fee terms would be.
General information only, not legal or tax advice. No result is guaranteed.
Brandon and his team have proven they can perform with any product type we give them,
from industrial and office property to single and multi-family residential.
- HunterBrown, InSite Realty Partners, L.P.
At a critical time when a property was in lease-up, we were faced with an unreasonable and unjustified assessment.
Brandon’s tenacity and responsiveness resulted in a fair assessment and the largest value change I've seen in my career.
- Jeremy Bartholomew
Outstanding!! These guys are pros - they are great at what they do and great to work with.
- David Denenburg, Denenburg Interests, LLC / Station 3
