Travis County Homeowners: Don’t Miss This May 15 Tax Deadline

Travis County Homeowners: Don’t Miss This May 15 Tax Deadline

If you own a home in Travis County and your appraisal came in higher this year, you’ve got a short window to fix it. The protest deadline is May 15, and if you miss it, you’re essentially agreeing to the county’s value—and the tax bill that comes with it.

This is one of those “do it now or pay for it all year” situations.

Why This Matters (Real Money on the Line)

Texas already ranks among the highest states for property taxes. So when your home is overvalued—even slightly—you’re overpaying.

Here’s what that looks like in real terms:

• Example 1:
  County says your home is worth $550,000
  You paid $500,000 last year
  → That $50,000 difference could cost you $1,000–$1,500+ per year in extra taxes
• Example 2:
  Appraisal jumps $40,000, but homes in your neighborhood are sitting or selling lower
  → A successful protest might save you $800–$1,200 annually
• Example 3 (easy win):
  You bought your home within the last 12 months
  → Your purchase price is often your strongest evidence
  → This is one of the highest-success scenarios I see

Bottom line: this isn’t about being right—it’s about not overpaying.

The Good News (Almost No Risk)

• Filing a protest is free
• The review board cannot raise your value during the process
• Worst case: nothing changes
• Best case: you lower your tax bill every year going forward

There’s very little downside, other than a bit of time.

How to Actually Do It

Step 1: Check your value

Look up your property on the Travis County appraisal site and confirm what they think your home is worth.

Step 2: File your protest

You have until:

• May 15, or
• 30 days after your notice was mailed (whichever is later)

Don’t assume you got the notice—people miss them all the time.

Step 3: Build your case

You don’t need anything fancy, just solid evidence:

• Recent purchase price (if applicable)
• Comparable sales (“comps”) nearby
• Photos of damage, deferred maintenance, or anything that impacts value

If you go the full route, you may:

• Talk to an appraiser, or
• Present your case to a review board

Most people settle before it ever gets that far.

Don’t Want to Deal With It?

There are companies that will handle everything for you and only charge if they win.

A commonly used option is Ownwell, but there are several similar services. They use local data and prior-year trends to push your value down.

Think of it as found money without doing the work.

One More Thing Most People Miss

Make sure you’ve filed your homestead exemption.

If this is your primary residence, you could reduce your taxable value by up to $140,000 before taxes are even calculated.

That’s one of the easiest ways to cut your tax bill—and a lot of people forget to do it.

Final Thought

If your value went up, don’t just accept it. This is one of the few times where a simple action can directly lower your expenses—and keep saving you money every year after.

Miss the deadline, and that opportunity is gone until next year.