Home address: 625 Shadylawn St

2021 Tax Assessment: $199,341

Recent Sales Price: $199,341 – Over-taxed by 81%

Appraisal district errors in setting assessed values cause Travis County owners to pay extra taxes. Protest market value, get a few comparable sales as evidence and you are very likely to reduce your property taxes. Unequal appraisal appeals compare the level of assessment of your house to comparable houses, typically on a per square foot basis. It is difficult to persuade property owners to protest their property taxes.  But 60 to 80% of those who do are successful.

Property owners are sometimes reluctant to protest their property taxes because the believe the appeal process is difficult. It is not difficult and 60 to 80% of owners who appeal are successful. Appraisal districts use mass appraisal to value property, basically a math model. Overall results are OK.  However, many homes are too high or low. Appraisal districts aggressively settle appeals since they have only 65 days to settle most of the appeals. Property taxes are the largest tax most Texans face. But it is a stealth tax hidden in the mortgage payment, disguising the size of property taxes paid.