The Austin Property Owner’s Guide to Keeping More Money in Your Pocket: You Must Protest Your Taxes

If you own any property in Central Texas—whether it's your one-bedroom condo or your mansion out in Lakeway or Westlake—this message is for you. You have a critical, time-sensitive opportunity to save money.

The Clock is Ticking: Key Dates to Remember

The Central Texas Appraisal District is sending out tax values right now. By April 15th, everybody should have their notice.

If that number looks inflated to you, or even if it doesn't, you need to protest!

Here are the deadlines you need to mark on your calendar to protect your bottom line:

• Deadline to Protest: You have until May 15th to protest your taxes, or 30 days after you received your notice, whichever is later. Do not miss this window.

Your Best Defense: Why Protesting is an Essential Strategy

Protesting your property taxes is one of the best, most direct ways to keep more money in your pocket, whether you are a homeowner or an investor.

• For the Investor: This is a fundamental way to reduce your overhead and drop that bottom line on your investment properties, directly increasing your profitability.
• For the Homeowner: Successfully lowering your appraised value helps you keep money in your pocket by reducing your annual tax burden.

How to Build Your Evidence for the Appraisal District

The key to a successful protest is having solid evidence that proves your property's value is lower than the Appraisal District's assessment.

If you are seeing any decay on your property—like a loose rain gutter, cracked pavement, or any other signs of wear and tear—take action before you fix it:

1. Take a Picture: Document the damage with clear, dated photos. This is your evidence for the Appraisal District of your property value decreasing.
2. Gather Comps (Comparable Sales): You also need to submit data on comparable sales of similar properties in your area that have sold for less than your assessed value.

If you need help gathering the comparable sales data, please reach out to me. I can provide the professional comps you need to submit with your protest to maximize your chances of success.