TexasLast checked: October 12, 2026
When is the Texas property tax protest deadline?
Under Tax Code 41.44(a)(1), a Texas property owner must file a written notice of protest with the appraisal review board by May 15 or the 30th day after the notice of appraised value was delivered, whichever is later, to be entitled to a hearing, except as 41.44(b), (c), (c-1) and (c-2) provide. Tax Code 1.06 treats an act as timely if done on the next regular business day after a last day that is a Saturday, Sunday or legal state or national holiday.
This page describes what the Texas Tax Code, the Texas Comptroller and eight appraisal districts publish about the protest deadline. It is not legal advice, and it does not say which date applies to a particular property. The appraisal review board or the appraisal district decides each case.
What does the Tax Code say the protest deadline is?
Tax Code 41.44(a)(1) sets the protest deadline: "not later than May 15 or the 30th day after the date that notice to the property owner was delivered to the property owner as provided by Section 25.19, whichever is later".
Under 41.44(a), and "[e]xcept as provided by Subsections (b), (c), (c-1), and (c-2)," the owner must file a written notice of the protest with the appraisal review board having authority to hear the matter protested to be entitled to a hearing and determination of the protest.
Tax Code 41.44(a)(2) to (a)(5) set separate 30-day deadlines, counted from delivery or receipt of other notices.
What is the protest deadline in 2027?
The Tax Code sets a rule, not a 2027 date. Under 41.44(a)(1), it is May 15 or the 30th day after the owner's notice was delivered, whichever is later, except as 41.44(b), (c), (c-1) and (c-2) provide.
In 2027, May 15 is a Saturday and May 17 is the following Monday.
As of October 12, 2026, none of the district pages read for this page states a 2027 protest deadline or a 2027 notice date.
The 2026 deadline has passed. Joining the Texas Property Protest list now is for the 2027 list. Sign up for 2027.
What is the protest deadline by county in Texas?
Tax Code 41.44(a)(1) is a state statute, so the same rule is the starting point in every county. The table gives what each of eight appraisal districts' pages say about the 2026 protest deadline, with the date of the source.
| County | District | District page | Deadline the district published for 2026 | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris County | Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD) | Protests and corrections | May 15, or 30 days after the date on the owner's property value notice | News release dated May 6, 2026 |
| Fort Bend County | Fort Bend Central Appraisal District (FBCAD) | Appeals | No later than May 15, 2026, or within 30 days after a notice of appraised value was mailed, whichever is later | Read October 12, 2026 |
| Montgomery County | Montgomery Central Appraisal District (MCAD) | Informal Meetings | No 2026 date found on the pages read. The FAQ prints the rule, with no year | Read October 12, 2026 |
| Dallas County | Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD) | News | May 15, 2026 for real property | Read October 12, 2026 |
| Tarrant County | Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD) | News release | May 15, 2026, or 30 days after the date the Notice of Appraised Value was delivered | Release dated April 17, 2026 |
| Collin County | Collin Central Appraisal District (CCAD) | 2026 procedures page | May 15, 2026 for real property | Page undated; read October 12, 2026 |
| Travis County | Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD) | Protest process | No 2026 date found on the pages read. The page prints the rule, with no year | Page modified May 26, 2026 |
| Bexar County | Bexar Central Appraisal District (BCAD) | News release | The release says owners "have until May 15 to protest their 2026 appraised value" | Release dated May 11, 2026 |
Where the as-of column says "Read October 12, 2026," the page carries no date of its own. For Harris County in detail, see the Houston protest deadline guide.
2027 key dates: top 30 districts
Tax Code 41.44(a) sets the protest deadline as a rule, not as a date. The table lists 30 appraisal districts with each district's own page, the 2026 protest deadline that page published, and whether the district has posted a 2027 date. The first eight rows are the eight districts in the table above.
| County | Appraisal district | District's own page | 2026 protest deadline the district published | 2027 status | Where the 2027 date will be posted | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris County | Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD) | Protests and Corrections | Protest Deadline Is May 15 For Property In Harris County (source page) | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not yet published by the district. | The News page (news releases) | Read October 28, 2026 |
| Fort Bend County | Fort Bend Central Appraisal District (FBCAD) | Appeals | the deadline is set to no later than May 15th, 2026 (or within 30 days after a notice of appraised value was mailed to you, whichever is later) (source page) | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not yet published by the district. | The Appeals page (Protest Deadline heading); the Calendar page lists statutory dates | Read October 28, 2026 |
| Montgomery County | Montgomery Central Appraisal District (MCAD) | not found. URL tried: https://www.mcad-tx.org/ | not found | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not found: the district's page could not be read. | not found | Read October 28, 2026 |
| Dallas County | Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD) | Calendar | Mail 1: Real property (Residential and Commercial) notices mailed 04/14/26, Protest deadline 05/15/2026. (source page) | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not yet published by the district. | The Calendar page and the News page | Read October 28, 2026 |
| Tarrant County | Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD) | Tarrant Appraisal Review Board | The deadline to file is May 15, 2026, or 30 days after the date your Notice of Appraised Value was delivered. (source page) | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not yet published by the district. | The TARB page (2026 calendar) and TAD news posts | Read October 28, 2026 |
| Collin County | Collin Central Appraisal District (CCAD) | 2026 Property Tax Protest and Appeal Procedures | The 2026 protest deadline for Real property is May 15, 2026. (source page) | Posted: May 17, 2027 - Deadline for timely filing protest for real estate, with notice date of April 15th, district page | The Reappraisal Plan 2027-2028, Appendix B (calendar); the Property Tax Calendar page lists the 2026 dates | Read October 28, 2026 |
| Travis County | Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD) | The Protest Process | The deadline to file your protest is May 15 or 30 days after your Notice is mailed, whichever is later. (source page) | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not yet published by the district. | The Protest Process page; the Calendar page lists no 2027 protest date | Read October 28, 2026 |
| Bexar County | Bexar Central Appraisal District (BCAD) | News Releases and Public Notices | Property owners in Bexar County have until May 15 to protest their 2026 appraised value. (source page) | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not yet published by the district. | The News Releases and Public Notices page | Read October 28, 2026 |
| Denton County | Denton Central Appraisal District (DCAD) | The Protest Process | April 10 - Notices of Appraised Value mailed out from Denton CAD; deadline to file a protest May 15th (this applies to most real property accounts). (source page) | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not yet published by the district. | The Protest Process page (the 2026 Important Dates tab) | Read October 28, 2026 |
| Hidalgo County | Hidalgo County Appraisal District | not found. URL tried: https://hidalgoad.org/calendar | not found | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not found: the district's page could not be read. | not found | Read October 28, 2026 |
| El Paso County | El Paso Central Appraisal District (EPCAD) | Protests and Appeals | The deadline to file is May 15th or 30 days from the date on your Notice of Appraised Value. (source page) | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not yet published by the district. | The Protests and Appeals page | Read October 28, 2026 |
| Williamson County | Williamson Central Appraisal District (WCAD) | Online Protest Filing | not found | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not yet published by the district. | The Property Tax Law Deadlines page (a statutory calendar with no district 2026 or 2027 protest date) | Read October 28, 2026 |
| Cameron County | Cameron Appraisal District (CAD) | Calendar of Events | Deadline To File: ARB Notice of Protest (listed on the 15th under May 2026) (source page) | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not yet published by the district. | The Calendar of Events page | Read October 28, 2026 |
| Nueces County | Nueces Central Appraisal District (NCAD) | News | The deadline for filing a protest is May 15, or within 30 days after delivery of your notice of appraised value, whichever is later. (source page) | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not yet published by the district. | The News page (a standing notice with no year) | Read October 28, 2026 |
| Brazoria County | Brazoria Central Appraisal District (BCAD) | E-File Information | not found | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not yet published by the district. | not found | Read October 28, 2026 |
| Bell County | Tax Appraisal District of Bell County (Bell CAD) | Online Protest Procedures & Tips | not found | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not yet published by the district. | The Calendar page (a statutory calendar with no district 2026 or 2027 protest date) | Read October 28, 2026 |
| Galveston County | Galveston Central Appraisal District (GCAD) | How to Protest | File your notice of protest by May 15 or no later than 30 days after the appraisal district mailed a notice of appraised value to you, whichever date is later. (source page) | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not yet published by the district. | The Informal Meetings page (a standing text with no year) | Read October 28, 2026 |
| Lubbock County | Lubbock Central Appraisal District (LCAD) | Protest Information | PROTEST DEADLINE IS MAY 15TH OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE THE NOTICE WAS MAILED (source page) | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not yet published by the district. | The Protest Information page (a standing notice with no year) | Read October 28, 2026 |
| Webb County | Webb County Appraisal District (WCAD) | Home page | not found | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not yet published by the district. | The home page (it states no protest date; its Critical Dates link goes to the Comptroller's calendar) | Read October 28, 2026 |
| Jefferson County | Jefferson Central Appraisal District (JCAD) | Before Protest Deadline | The protest deadline is the later of May 15, 2026 or 30 days after your notice is mailed to you, which is clearly printed on your notice. (source page) | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not yet published by the district. | The 2026 Value Notices and Protest Procedures PDF (linked from the home page banner 2026 Value & Protest Info) | Read October 28, 2026 |
| McLennan County | McLennan Central Appraisal District (MCAD) | McLennan CAD E-Services | not found | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not yet published by the district. | The home page and the E-Services page (neither states a protest date; the Critical Dates link goes to the Comptroller's calendar) | Read October 28, 2026 |
| Smith County | Smith County Appraisal District (SCAD) | Protest Process | To protest an appraisal value set by SCAD, a taxpayer must notify the appraisal district in writing by 30 days from the date of the Notice of Appraised Value. If no Notice of Appraised Value was generated by the appraisal district, a protest may still be filed by May 20. (source page) | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not yet published by the district. | The Protest Process page (a standing text with no year; the Calendar page still shows 2024 dates) | Read October 28, 2026 |
| Brazos County | Brazos Central Appraisal District (Brazos CAD) | Notice of Appraised Value to Hit Mail Soon - Protest Deadline May 15th | Protest deadlines are May 15th or 30 days from the date your NOAV was placed in the mail. (source page) | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not yet published by the district. | The News page (the April 13, 2026 post carried the 2026 date); the Calendar page is a statutory calendar with no district 2027 date | Read October 28, 2026 |
| Hays County | Hays Central Appraisal District (Hays CAD) | Online Protest & Protest Information | Not later than May 15th (or within 30 days after a notice of appraised value was mailed to you, whichever is later). (source page) | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not yet published by the district. | The Online Protest & Protest Information page (a standing text with no year) | Read October 28, 2026 |
| Johnson County | Central Appraisal District of Johnson County (JCAD) | Protest Portal | not found | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not yet published by the district. | The Protest Portal page (it states no protest date) and the News Releases page | Read October 28, 2026 |
| Ellis County | Ellis Appraisal District (Ellis AD) | File your Protest Online | not found | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not yet published by the district. | The File your Protest Online page and the home page (neither states a protest date) | Read October 28, 2026 |
| Midland County | Midland Central Appraisal District (Midland CAD) | Calendar | not found | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not yet published by the district. | The Calendar page (a statutory calendar with no district 2026 or 2027 protest date) | Read October 28, 2026 |
| Guadalupe County | Guadalupe Appraisal District (GAD) | Home page | PROTEST DEADLINE - MAY 15, 2026 (source page) | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not yet published by the district. | The home page (a banner) | Read October 28, 2026 |
| Comal County | Comal Appraisal District (Comal AD) | Protest Information | The deadline to file your protest is May 15 or 30 days after your Notice is mailed, whichever is later. (source page) | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not yet published by the district. | The Protest Information page and the News page (a standing text with no year) | Read October 28, 2026 |
| Kaufman County | Kaufman Central Appraisal District (Kaufman CAD) | Calendar | not found | Rule: Tax Code 41.44(a). Not yet published by the district. | The Calendar page (a statutory calendar with no district 2026 or 2027 protest date) | Read October 28, 2026 |
Last checked: October 28, 2026, the latest date in the As of column. "Not yet published by the district" means no 2027 date was found on the pages read on the date in the As of column. For a deadline that falls on a weekend or holiday, see the weekend rule on this page.
Why does the deadline differ from one owner to the next?
The second date in 41.44(a)(1) runs from the date the owner's notice was delivered, so the deadline can differ from one owner to the next.
Tax Code 25.19(a) tells the chief appraiser to deliver the notice of appraised value by April 1 for a single-family residence that qualifies for an exemption under Section 11.13, and by May 1 for any other property, in each case "or as soon thereafter as practicable". Section 25.19(a) applies, among the conditions it lists, if the appraised value is greater than it was in the preceding year or greater than the value the owner rendered.
Under Tax Code 1.07(c), a notice that Section 1.07 permits to be delivered by first-class mail "is presumed delivered when it is deposited in the mail", and the presumption "is rebuttable when evidence of failure to receive notice is provided."
How do I find the deadline for my own property?
The Harris, Tarrant and Dallas appraisal districts point owners to the notice of appraised value, and Comptroller Form 50-132 points to the appraisal review board for the county. Tax Code 25.19(n) says the chief appraiser shall post the notice on the district's website, if it maintains one, as soon as practicable after delivering it.
- HCAD. Its FAQ says that if the district does not mail a required notice on or before April 15, the protest deadline will be 30 days after the date printed on the notice of appraised value.
- TAD and DCAD. TAD's release says the date "will be clearly marked on your property value notice." DCAD's Protest Process PDF says it "is printed on the Notice of Appraised Value."
- Comptroller. Form 50-132 and Form 50-132-A each say, "Contact the ARB for the county in which the property is located for the specific protest filing deadline."
What if the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday?
Tax Code 1.06 says an act is timely if the last day for performing it is a Saturday, Sunday or legal state or national holiday, and the act is performed on the next regular business day.
HCAD's FAQ and DCAD's Protest Process PDF each say that when the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline is the next business day. CCAD's property tax calendar says so for May 15.
How do the Comptroller and the districts word the 30-day count?
The sources do not name the same starting point for the 30 days.
- Tax Code. 41.44(a)(1) counts from the date the notice "was delivered to the property owner as provided by Section 25.19".
- Comptroller. Its protests page says that in most cases an owner has until May 15 or 30 days from the notice's delivery date, whichever is later, and then that "the deadline is 30 days from the date the appraisal district mails a notice, not from the delivery date." Publication 96-295 says "30 days after the appraisal district mailed the notice of appraised value".
- Districts. DCAD and TAD say delivered. HCAD, FBCAD, MCAD, TCAD and BCAD say mailed or point to a printed date. CCAD's FAQ states no starting event.
What if the deadline has passed?
Tax Code 41.44(b) entitles an owner who files a notice of protest after the deadline in Subsection (a), but before the appraisal review board approves the appraisal records, to a hearing and determination of the protest if the owner shows good cause, as determined by the board, for failure to file on time. The missed-the-deadline guide sets out the late, missing-notice and correction routes with each condition, time limit and who decides.
Sources
- Texas Tax Code. Sections 41.44, 41.411, 41.4115, 25.19, 25.25, 1.06 and 1.07. Chapter 41 Chapter 25 Chapter 1
- Texas Comptroller. Appraisal Protests and Appeals Publication 96-295, January 2026 revision (PDF) Form 50-132 (PDF) Form 50-132-A (PDF)
- Harris Central Appraisal District. News release, May 6, 2026 (PDF) FAQ Protests and corrections
- Fort Bend Central Appraisal District. Appeals
- Montgomery Central Appraisal District. Informal Meetings
- Dallas Central Appraisal District. News Protest Process (PDF)
- Tarrant Appraisal District. News release, April 17, 2026
- Collin Central Appraisal District. 2026 procedures page Notice FAQs Property tax calendar
- Travis Central Appraisal District. The Protest Process
- Bexar Central Appraisal District. News release, May 11, 2026 Home page Online services ARB hearing procedures (PDF)
Questions
Does the notice of protest have to be on a form?
A notice of protest need not be on an official form (Tax Code 41.44(d)), but Section 41.44(a) requires a written notice. The Comptroller prescribes Form 50-132 for counties with populations greater than 120,000 and Form 50-132-A for counties with populations less than 120,000. The how-to-protest guide covers what the notice must identify and how to file in Harris County.
What time of day is the deadline?
Tax Code 41.44(a)(1) names a date and no time of day. Form 50-132 says, "With exceptions, the typical deadline for filing a notice of protest is midnight, May 15 (Tax Code Section 41.44)."
Do I need to have received a notice to protest?
Bexar Central Appraisal District's home page says, "you do not need a notice to submit a protest." That is one district's statement. A protest of the failure to provide or deliver a notice is in Tax Code 41.411, which has its own payment requirement in Section 41.4115. The missed-the-deadline guide sets out that route.
Can I join the Texas Property Protest list now?
Yes. Texas Property Protest is a flat-fee protest service provided by The Ambrose Group. Joining now is for the 2027 list. Sign up for 2027.
County guides
Join the 2027 list
Texas Property Protest is a flat-fee protest service provided by The Ambrose Group for homes in every Texas county. Joining now is for the 2027 list. The price is on the Houston page. To see what other Houston companies charge first, read the fee comparison.