Harris County · Texas Property Tax Protest · 2026

Houston Homeowners Are Paying
Too Much.
Let's Change That.

HCAD appraises more properties than any other county in Texas — and most Houston homeowners who protest get a reduction. Flat fee, no contingency, deadline May 15.

Start My Harris County Protest See how it works →
Protest Deadline
May 15, 2026
STATUTORY DEADLINE
Filing We handle it
Evidence We build it
Hearings We attend
Your time ~2 min to sign up
1M+
Properties appraised by HCAD annually — more than any other county in Texas
4.7M
Residents make Harris County the largest county in Texas by population
28%+
Median Harris County home value increase since 2020 — your bill likely reflects it
Harris County

We protest in all of Harris County.

Texas Tax Lock handles property tax protests for homeowners across Harris County, including Houston, Pasadena, Baytown, Humble, Deer Park, La Porte, Bellaire, West University Place, Jacinto City, Jersey Village, Galena Park, Friendswood, Seabrook, and Channelview. Harris County is the largest county in Texas and the third most populous in the United States.

The Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) appraises more than one million properties every year. The sheer volume of appraisals means many are done with limited individual property review — and that often works in favor of homeowners who protest. HCAD has a well-organized informal hearing process, and evidence-backed protests routinely result in meaningful reductions.

The statutory deadline to file a protest is May 15, 2026. We take care of filing, evidence preparation, and all negotiations or hearings with HCAD. You sign up — we do the rest.

Cities We Serve
Houston
Pasadena
Baytown
Humble
Deer Park
La Porte
Bellaire
West University Place
Jacinto City
Jersey Village
Galena Park
Friendswood
Seabrook
Channelview
Recent Results

What we've been getting in Harris County.

Houston (Memorial area) — Single-Family
−$155,000
$940,000 assessed → $785,000 settled
2025 Protest Season
Humble — Single-Family
−$47,000
$385,000 assessed → $338,000 settled
2025 Protest Season
Pasadena — Single-Family
−$41,000
$348,000 assessed → $307,000 settled
2025 Protest Season
Selected results from our 2025 protest season. Results vary by property — past outcomes do not guarantee future results.
How It Works

Three steps. You do almost nothing.

STEP 01
Sign Up in 2 Minutes

Enter your property address and 2026 notice value. We immediately register as your authorized agent with HCAD and file your protest before the May 15 deadline. No paperwork on your end.

STEP 02
We Build Your Case

Our team pulls comparable sales from HCAD's records and MLS data, runs unequal appraisal analysis, and prepares a complete evidence package. We identify the strongest argument for your specific property — not a one-size-fits-all submission.

STEP 03
We Negotiate and Represent

We attend your informal hearing with HCAD and present the evidence. If informal doesn't resolve, we proceed to a formal ARB hearing. You don't appear. We notify you when there's a final result.

Why Flat Fee

You keep your savings.
We keep our fee.

Contingency-fee firms charge a percentage of your first year's tax savings — which means they take a cut of every dollar you save, every time. Our flat fee means you pay once, up front, and everything you save beyond that is yours to keep.

On a $50,000 value reduction at a 2.3% tax rate, you save approximately $1,150 per year — and every year after. A 25% contingency firm would take $288+ from year one alone. Our fee: $199.

On a $50,000 value reduction
Annual tax savings ~$1,150
Contingency firm (25%) −$288+
Texas Tax Lock −$199 flat
You keep (year 1) $951 more
Pricing

Flat fee. No surprises.

One flat fee per property, based on your 2026 Notice of Appraised Value from HCAD. No contingency fee on your savings — ever.

Under $150K
$99
$150K–$250K
$149
$250K–$400K
$199
$400K–$600K
$249
Over $600K
$299
15% OFF Add 2 or more properties and save 15% on the total. No contingency fee on savings.
Common Questions

What Harris County homeowners ask us.

What is HCAD and why does it matter?
HCAD — the Harris County Appraisal District — appraises all real property in Harris County for ad valorem tax purposes. With over a million properties on the roll, HCAD sets assessed values that directly determine your property tax bill from the city of Houston, Harris County, Houston ISD, and other taxing entities. Your Notice of Appraised Value comes from HCAD. If your value is inflated, a formal protest — which we file and argue on your behalf — is the mechanism to correct it.
What's the deadline to file a protest?
The statutory protest deadline in Texas is May 15, 2026, or 30 days after your Notice of Appraised Value — whichever is later. Sign up before that date and we handle the filing. Earlier sign-ups give us more time to build the strongest case for your property.
Is there a contingency fee if my value gets reduced?
No. Our fee is flat — based on your notice value, not your savings. You pay once and that's it, regardless of the outcome. On a typical $5,000 value reduction, a contingency firm at 25% would take $28.75 or more from your first-year savings. We take $199. On a $50,000 reduction at $1,150 in annual savings, a contingency firm takes $288+. We still take $199.
What evidence does Texas Tax Lock use to argue my value?
We use two primary approaches: comparable sales analysis — recent sales of similar properties in your area that support a lower value — and unequal appraisal, which shows that similar homes in your area are assessed lower than yours on a per-square-foot basis. Texas law requires the appraisal district to correct unequal appraisals. We pull data directly from the CAD's own records and market databases, so the evidence is grounded in the same sources the district uses.
Do I need to attend any hearings?
No. As your appointed agent, we handle all communications, negotiations, and appearances with the appraisal district and the Appraisal Review Board on your behalf. You don't appear, call in, or prepare anything. We notify you when the process is complete and tell you the final result.
How long does the protest process take?
Informal negotiations typically run from late spring through early summer, often resolving by June or July. If a case proceeds to a formal ARB hearing, the timeline can extend into late summer or early fall. The appraisal district controls the schedule; we move as fast as they allow. You'll hear from us when there's a result.
Can I protest multiple properties?
Yes — add as many properties as you own in the signup form. Two or more properties automatically qualify for a 15% discount on the total. We file and represent each property separately with the appropriate appraisal district.
What should I know about protesting with HCAD specifically?
HCAD manages one of the highest-volume appraisal protest systems in the country. They have a well-organized iFile system and informal hearing process that handles hundreds of thousands of protests each season. Because of the volume, HCAD reviewers rely heavily on comparable sales data and unequal appraisal arguments — which is exactly what our evidence packages are built around. Most Harris County protests resolve at the informal stage without needing a formal ARB hearing.
Deadline · May 15, 2026

Ready to fight your Harris County tax bill?

Sign up in under 2 minutes. Deadline is May 15, 2026. We handle everything from here.

Start My Protest — Harris County

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