How to Protest your Property taxes in Tarrant County from Zac Trostel

How to Protest your Property taxes in Tarrant County from Zac Trostel state certified appraiser.

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I have compiled everything you need to know about how to appeal the valuation of a property and how, when, and why property taxes are levied. As a property owner and state certified appraiser in Tarrant county, I know the most efficient method to lower your taxes is with an appraisal. But let me explain the appeal process and how to let the appraisal do most of the leg work for you. 

Let’s go over the property tax appeal process with a screen record walk-through. First things first, get a hold of your property value notice which is mailed out around April 15th. If you feel your property value on your value notice is high, then it may be time to get an appraisal. The moment you have a third party appraisal document stating your market value is lower than your property value notice from the county, then you are ready to start the process. 

Next, you’re going to want to go to the appraisal district website and find the notice of protest form. Utilize your value notice form to find your account number and your legal description. 

Down the notice of protest form a little further, you’re going to want to mark your value reasons for protest. Your reasons are : incorrect appraised market value, as well as -value is unequal compared with other properties

Scroll down the notice of protest form to find the hearing type. This is where you were going to have to make a choice, however if you have a lower appraisal value from a third-party certified appraiser -  the easiest and least time Consuming method is to mark that you intend to offer evidence by notarized affidavit. This method lets your appraisal document do the work for you, and at the same time diminishes any cross examination to your protest. 

The notarized affidavit form takes no time to fill out. Simply follow the steps here on the screen recording. Once again, you will need your appraisal district account number from your property value notice. You will again be listing incorrect appraised market value, and or unequal value compared with other properties, as the reasons for your protest.

Scroll down the affidavit form a little further and list the number of pages in your appraisal report, which will be the evidentiary materials submitted with the affidavit.

Next simply state the argument that will help resolve your protest case. “ the appraisers opinion of market value came in lower than the county appraised market value.”

You’re starting to see some redundancy here across forms as we scroll down the affidavit form a little further. We are now back to hearing type again. Ensure you are consistent across both forms in how you intend to participate in the ARB hearing. In this case we are marking, “I do not intend to appear at the hearing in person, or by telephone, or by video conference, and you intend for this affidavit, and the evidence, which is the appraisal to be submitted, will indeed be used in the hearing. You can also show up in person, and simply present the appraisal as evidence.”

Time to go get the form notarized and signed.

We always recommend you read over the important information at the bottom of the affidavit form. 

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