Tarrant CountyLast checked: October 28, 2026
How to protest property taxes in Tarrant County
TAD says an owner can file a protest electronically through its dashboard, by mail, or in person. The deadline date is printed on the property value notice. This page walks through what the notice carries, the two online systems, each way to file, what the Notice of Protest form asks, and what happens next. It describes the process and does not tell any owner what to claim.
This page describes how the Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD) takes a protest and how the Tarrant Appraisal Review Board (TARB) picks it up. It states rules and process and does not tell any owner what to claim or what will follow. Who provides this service is on the about page. How pages are made is in the editorial policy. Last checked: October 28, 2026.
What TAD sends with the notice
TAD's Home Owners page says value notices are mailed from April through the summer, and that not every owner gets one every year.
For 2026 TAD changed the layout of the notice. Its guide to the notice lists a more visible protest deadline, with instructions and key dates placed up front.
The guide defines Total Market Value as land plus improvements combined, and calls it the value that is normally protested. The notice also prints the owner's E-File PIN and Owner ID, which TAD says an owner needs to verify the property record in the new portal.
A line-by-line read of the notice itself is on How to read a notice of appraised value.
The Taxpayer Portal and the legacy dashboard
TAD runs two online systems for owners in 2026. Its "Which Portal Should I Use?" page assigns protest filing and online forms to the new portal.
The same page keeps value negotiation, and the district's evidence and documents, on the legacy dashboard through the end of 2026.
TAD says the new portal is a new website, so an owner has to create a new account to use it.
TAD adds that an owner who cannot settle through the negotiation tool has to file a protest on the new website and should keep the protest deadline in mind. What the negotiation step is, and is not, is covered on Tarrant County informal review and ARB hearing.
Filing from the dashboard
For real property, TAD says an online account in the new portal lets an owner submit and view a protest, and its personal dashboard shows all of the owner's property accounts.
An owner who does not want to sign the protest electronically completes the paper Notice of Protest form that came with the 2026 notice.
TAD also emails announcements to online account holders when seasonal steps open, among them filing a protest, value negotiation, and the availability of the notice and the hearing notice.
Filing in writing
Under Tax Code section 41.44(a), the written notice of protest goes to the appraisal review board not later than May 15 or the 30th day after the appraisal notice was delivered, whichever is later. The statewide rule, with the weekend and late-filing provisions, is on The Texas property tax protest deadline.
The statute does not require that notice to be on an official form (section 41.44(d)). TAD publishes its own Notice of Protest form, and the state's version is covered on Form 50-132: notice of protest form.
TAD's form says protest forms are not accepted by fax or email, and it advises keeping copies and using a delivery method that confirms receipt.
For a mailed protest, TAD says it relies on the USPS postmark to decide whether a filing is on time, and that a postmark can show a date several days after the mail was dropped off.
TAD encourages mailing well before a deadline, asking a postal clerk for a hand-canceled postmark, or filing electronically when an online option exists.
What the protest has to say
TAD's Notice of Protest form has eight sections. This is what each one asks.
| Form section | What the form asks |
|---|---|
| Sections 1 and 2: owner and property | The owner or lessee's name, mailing address, the account number, the situs address and the legal description, with boxes to mark age 65 or older, disabled, or military status. |
| Section 3: communication | An email address and a phone number. A footnote says writing the email address on the form is consent to release it under the Public Information Act. |
| Sections 4a and 4b: reasons | The reasons for the protest, such as incorrect appraised value or value unequal to other properties, plus other reasons listed on the form. The form says a reason left unmarked may not be heard, and some reasons need specifics. |
| Section 5: opinion of value | A line for the owner's opinion of value, which the form marks as optional. |
| Section 6: hearing type and panel | How the owner intends to appear, with one box to mark: in person, by affidavit or unsworn declaration, by telephone, or by videoconference. It also asks whether the owner wants a single TARB member or a three-member panel, and says an unmarked box consents to either. |
| Section 7: hearing notice | How the owner wants the hearing notice delivered: regular mail, certified mail at the owner's cost, or email. Optional boxes ask for an email or text reminder and for the final order by email. |
| Section 8: signature | A certification and signature by the owner, a lessee, an agent (with the agent number TAD issued) or another authorized person. |
Tax Code section 41.445 has the appraisal office hold an informal conference before the hearing with each owner who files a protest and asks for one. TAD's form carries a box for the request, and the form says completing it is not required.
After filing
The Tarrant Appraisal Review Board is a separate body from the appraisal district, and a protest goes to it. TARB's procedures say the board must schedule a hearing when a timely notice of protest is filed.
The board must deliver written notice of the hearing at least 15 days before it, stating the date, time, place and subject (section 41.46(a)). At least 14 days before the hearing the chief appraiser must deliver the comptroller's pamphlet and the hearing procedures and tell the owner about the right to request the district's evidence (section 41.461(a)).
The hearing itself is on Tarrant County informal review and ARB hearing. The deadline rule and TAD's 2027 status are on Tarrant County property tax protest deadline. The county overview is Tarrant County.
Sources
- Tarrant Appraisal District. TAD Mails 2026 Notices of Appraised Value to Property Owners Posted April 17, 2026. Read: October 28, 2026.
- Tarrant Appraisal District. Tarrant Appraisal District Advises Property Owners of USPS Postmark Changes Posted March 5, 2026. Read: October 28, 2026.
- Tarrant Appraisal District. A Message for Taxpayers Posted April 14, 2026. Read: October 28, 2026.
- Tarrant Appraisal District. Which Portal Should I Use? Read: October 28, 2026.
- Tarrant Appraisal District. Home Owners Read: October 28, 2026.
- Tarrant Appraisal District. Online Account Management Read: October 28, 2026.
- Tarrant Appraisal District. Notice of Protest (Tarrant Appraisal Review Board form) Read: October 28, 2026.
- Tarrant Appraisal District. Property Value Notice Breakdown Read: October 28, 2026.
- Tarrant Appraisal District. Tarrant Appraisal Review Board Read: October 28, 2026.
- Tarrant Appraisal District. 2026 Hearing Procedures for Tarrant Appraisal Review Board Read: October 28, 2026.
- Texas Legislature. Tax Code section 41.44 Read: October 28, 2026.
- Texas Legislature. Tax Code section 41.445 Read: October 28, 2026.
- Texas Legislature. Tax Code section 41.46 Read: October 28, 2026.
- Texas Legislature. Tax Code section 41.461 Read: October 28, 2026.
Questions
Can I file a Tarrant protest by fax or email?
TAD's Notice of Protest form says protest forms are not accepted via fax or email.
Does the value negotiation tool count as filing a protest?
TAD describes value negotiation as a step on its legacy site and says an owner who cannot resolve the value there must file a protest on the new website.
What if an agent files for me?
TAD says an agent gets online access once the Appointment of Agent form is processed, and does not use the owner's PIN. The state form is explained on Form 50-162: appointment of agent.
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