Harris Property Tax Appeals Save $1 Billion Per Year
2024 was a banner year for Harris County residents who protested their taxes, as they were saved a mammoth $1.11 billion. Taxpayers used their right to appeal unequal taxes and inflated appraisals, taking back a good chunk of money that was rightfully theirs. Whether it was $224.89 million for single family homeowners, or $446.84 million for those who owned commercial properties, 2024 demonstrated why tax appeals are necessary to use every year. Tax protests are also 100% completely free to file, meaning Harris County residents have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Join O’Connor’s Property Tax Protection Program™ today and get annual appeals at no cost. Enroll, relax, and save.
Total Value Reduction, Informal HearingsSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Millions of $ | |||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| $ Total Value Reduction | 7,539.13 | 8,653.85 | 9,470.12 | 9,861.08 | 10,380.77 | 11,712.76 | 14,286.41 | 14,244.09 | 16,779.05 | 24,884.81 | 24,864.73 |
| Single Family Residential Reduction | 1,422.13 | 2,173.94 | 2,393.41 | 2,625.14 | 1,723.43 | 3,200.51 | 4,325.17 | 4,493.31 | 6,027.56 | 8,580.77 | 9,576.29 |
| Commercial / Other | 6,117.00 | 6,479.90 | 7,076.71 | 7,235.94 | 8,657.34 | 8,512.26 | 9,961.24 | 9,750.78 | 10,751.49 | 16,304.04 | 15,288.44 |
Texas property owners should protest annually since The value cannot be raised during the protest, based on 2019 legislation.
Harris County Property Tax Savings from Administrative Appeals
Texas has no income tax, so the budget consists primarily of property taxes. This makes property taxes one of the biggest expenses for the average Texan family. Thankfully, you can protest these taxes for free every year. O’Connor is here to help, with property tax consulting services tailor-made to get you the biggest savings you can get. O’Connor has been representing Texas taxpayers in informal hearings, appraisal review board (ARB) appearances, and even lawsuits for over 50 years, and we are ready to be your champion.
Even though tax protests are free and available to all Texans, most do not practice this fundamental right. As taxes and home values increase, so does the importance of property tax disputes in Harris County. Compared to 2022, $122 million more in taxes was saved in 2024, a trend that looks like it will continue.
HCAD Informal Hearings
The Harris Central Appraisal District(HCAD) reduced the taxable value of property by $24.86 billion in 2024 thanks to informal appeals and hearings. $9.58 billion of those savings were for single family homeowners, while businesses netted a savings of $15.29 billion. This reduced value would translate into millions of dollars saved for the common Texan.
Total Value Reduction, Formal ARB HearingsSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Billions of $ | |||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| $ Total Value Reduction | 10.192 | 10.590 | 11.293 | 10.959 | 10.842 | 11.135 | 11.429 | 10.282 | 9.874 | 9.674 | 7.122 |
| Single Family Residential Reduction | 2.441 | 2.948 | 1.680 | 1.570 | 1.208 | 1.615 | 2.022 | 2.244 | 2.456 | 1.910 | 1.133 |
| Commercial / Other | 7.752 | 7.642 | 9.613 | 9.390 | 9.634 | 9.520 | 9.407 | 8.038 | 7.418 | 7.764 | 5.990 |
Texas property owners should protest annually since You can’t evaluate the strength of your appeal until you obtain the hearing evidence file. You have to protest to obtain the hearing evidence file (available free upon request via U.S. mail).
HCAD Formal ARB Hearings
Harris County property taxes are formally challenged at the ARB, an impartial panel set aside to deal with disputes between citizens and HCAD. $7.2 billion in value was reduced by ARB hearings in 2024, with $5.99 billion of that being commercial or miscellaneous properties. $1.13 billion was thanks to single family homes. ARB hearings represent the second step in a Property tax protest, though they are in decline currently in Harris County. However, the third step, lawsuits against HCAD, have exploded in popularity. This indicates that more elite properties are aiming for big savings than ever before, as only the most expensive pieces of real estate are worth going through litigation.
Tax Savings, Informal HearingsSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Millions of $ | |||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| $ Total Value Reduction | 158.32 | 181.73 | 198.87 | 207.08 | 218.00 | 245.97 | 300.01 | 299.13 | 352.36 | 522.58 | 522.16 |
| Single Family Residential Reduction | 29.86 | 45.65 | 50.26 | 55.13 | 36.19 | 67.21 | 90.83 | 94.36 | 126.58 | 180.20 | 201.10 |
| Commercial / Other | 128.46 | 136.08 | 148.61 | 151.95 | 181.80 | 178.76 | 209.19 | 204.77 | 225.78 | 342.38 | 321.06 |
Texas property owners should protest annually since Not appealing is used against property owners in the subsequent years since “you agreed to the value” (by not protesting).
Estimated Total Property Tax Informal Savings
Informal appeals are the first step in protesting property taxes. By Texas law, property taxes cannot be increased by a protest or appeal, only decreased. HCAD reported that a total of $522.16 million was cut thanks to informal protests in 2024. This was nearly identical to the sum achieved in 2023, which is a strange statistical outcome. Both years blew away 2022’s $352.36 million.
Homeowners managed to reduce their taxes by $201.10 million informally, the most ever seen in the county. While homes have been gaining ground in this first step of the process, commercial properties saw a small downturn. $321.06 million was cut informally, a slight decrease from $342.39 million in 2023. Many businesses are now focusing on either formal or judicial appeals, which is common for high-dollar properties.
Tax Savings, Formal ARB HearingsSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Millions of $ | |||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| $ Total Value Reduction | 214.04 | 222.40 | 237.16 | 230.15 | 227.67 | 233.84 | 240.01 | 215.93 | 207.34 | 203.16 | 149.57 |
| Single Family Residential Reduction | 51.25 | 61.91 | 35.28 | 32.96 | 25.36 | 33.91 | 42.47 | 47.12 | 51.57 | 40.12 | 23.79 |
| Commercial / Other | 162.79 | 160.49 | 201.87 | 197.19 | 202.31 | 199.93 | 197.55 | 168.80 | 155.78 | 163.05 | 125.78 |
Tax Savings, Formal ARB Hearings
Unlike informal appeals, ARB savings have trended downward slightly. This corresponds with massive gains in judicial appeals, which implies that formal protests are being passed over for litigation. Still, ARB hearings are a necessity for both homeowners and businesses. Homeowners saw a savings of $23.79 million in 2024, while businesses of all types managed a savings of $125.78 million. In comparison, judicial appeals were able to reduce taxes by $438.93 million.
Total Tax Savings (Informal & Formal)Source: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Millions of $ | |||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| $ Total Value Reduction | 372.36 | 404.13 | 436.03 | 437.23 | 445.67 | 479.81 | 540.02 | 515.06 | 559.70 | 725.74 | 671.73 |
| Single Family Residential Reduction | 81.11 | 107.56 | 85.54 | 88.09 | 61.55 | 101.12 | 133.30 | 141.48 | 178.15 | 220.32 | 224.89 |
| Commercial / Other | 291.25 | 296.57 | 350.48 | 349.14 | 384.11 | 378.69 | 406.74 | 373.57 | 381.56 | 505.43 | 446.84 |
Total Tax Savings in Harris County
When combined, informal and formal appeals produced a staggering $671.73 million in savings for Harris County taxpayers in 2024. This was the second highest on record, only being beaten by 2023. $446.84 million came from business properties. While commercial real estate was down just a bit, residential properties recorded their best result to date with $224.89 million. With huge savings up for grabs, it is safe to say that more residents of the Houston area will begin to protest their property taxes in the coming years.