Bexar County Property Tax Protest, Texas

Travis Bunn·Updated July 24, 2026

Watch: How to protest your property taxes in Bexar County

Bexar County is Texas's fourth-largest county with a population of approximately 2.18 million, anchored by San Antonio, the state's seventh-largest city and the county seat. The county's median home value of $260,000 combined with an effective property tax rate ranging from 1.55% to 2.03% results in median annual tax bills of $3,900 to $5,362, significantly higher than the national median of $2,400. With property taxes representing one of the highest burdens among U.S. counties, protesting your assessed value is critical to managing your annual tax liability in Bexar County.

Notable cities: San Antonio, Schertz, Converse, Universal City, Alamo Heights, Helotes, Leon Valley

Median Home

$260,000

Tax Rate

1.81%

Annual Tax

$4,429

Population

2,181,234

On the typical Bexar County home, valued near $260,000 at the county’s effective tax rate of 1.81%, an over-assessment of even 10% means you are overpaying year after year until you protest it. Here is how to find out if yours qualifies.

2026 Protest Deadline: May 15, 2026, or 30 days after the date on your Notice of Appraised Value, whichever is later

This year's protest window has passed in most of Texas. Order now and we re-run your numbers free when the window reopens, so your evidence is ready the day your next notice lands.

The deadline is May 15, 2026, or 30 days from the notice date printed on your appraisal notice, whichever is later. Most Bexar County notices are mailed in April, so May 15 typically applies. If May 15 falls on a weekend, the deadline extends to the next business day. Late protests may be accepted for good cause if submitted before the appraisal records are certified, typically by July 20.

Want the full walkthrough? Read our Bexar County Property Tax Protest Guide with evidence strategies and hearing tips.

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How Bexar County Assesses Property

100%of market value

Assessed by: Bexar Central Appraisal District (BCAD)

Assessment cycle: biennial

Notices typically mailed: April

In Texas, properties are taxed according to their fair market value, the appraised value equals the market value, which is what the property could currently sell for. Bexar County uses a 100% assessment ratio, meaning no reduction is applied between market and assessed value. For example: If your home's market value is $260,000, at Texas's 100% assessment ratio your assessed value would be $260,000, resulting in approximately $4,706 in annual taxes at the county's effective rate of 1.81%. Starting in 2026, Bexar County moved to biennial appraisals, meaning market values are reassessed every two years in odd-numbered years, making the value you lock in through protest even more important as it carries forward for two full years.

The Protest Process

Appeals are heard by the Appraisal Review Board (ARB). ARB hearings in Bexar County are conducted by phone, video conference, or in person (if requested), and typically last 15-20 minutes. A three-member panel reviews your evidence and the appraisal district's data to determine the property's fair market value.

Check your appraisal notice mailed in April and note your deadline (May 15 or 30 days after notice date, whichever is later). Your notice includes your Owner ID and PIN needed for online filing.

File Form 50-132 (Notice of Protest) through BCAD's online portal at bcad.org/online-portal, by email to protest@bcad.org, by mail, or in person at 411 N Frio St. Online filing provides instant confirmation and is recommended.

Request your evidence packet from BCAD showing the comparable sales and property data they used. This is available through the online portal after filing and helps you build your counter-evidence.

Participate in an informal review (May-June). BCAD schedules a phone, video, or in-person conference with an appraiser. In Bexar County, 99% of informal appeals in 2024 resulted in some form of reduction, this is where most protests are resolved.

If the informal review doesn't yield acceptable results, attend a formal hearing before the Appraisal Review Board (ARB). Present your evidence including comparable sales, property condition issues, and equity arguments. ARB hearings last 15-20 minutes and have a 92% success (2024) rate (2024) in Bexar County.

If dissatisfied with the ARB decision, file a further appeal to district court (within 60 days), binding arbitration (within 60 days for properties under $5 million, requires $500 deposit), or the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) within 30 days.

Required form: Form 50-132 (Notice of Protest)

Filing Methods

online:https://bcad.org/online-portal/ or https://bcadonline.org (requires Owner ID and PIN from your notice)

email:protest@bcad.org

mail:P.O. Box 830248, San Antonio, TX 78283-0248

in-person:411 N Frio St, San Antonio, TX 78207

Evidence to Bring

Comparable sales of similar properties that sold for less than your assessed valuePhotos documenting property condition, deferred maintenance, or defectsRepair estimates for foundation issues, roof damage, or other structural problemsSquare footage corrections or property data errorsUnequal appraisal analysis showing similar properties assessed at lower values

Bexar County Assessor Contact

Bexar Central Appraisal District (BCAD)

Phone: (210) 242-2432

Address: 411 N Frio St, San Antonio, TX 78207 (Mailing: P.O. Box 830248, San Antonio, TX 78283-0248)

Website: https://bcad.org

Online Portal: https://bcad.org/online-portal/

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Tax Exemptions in Bexar County

General Residence Homestead Exemption

$140,000 exemption from school district taxes (2026)

Reduces the taxable value of your primary residence for school district taxes.

Eligibility: Available to all homeowners who own and occupy the property as their primary residence as of January 1. Property must be your principal residence and you cannot claim a homestead exemption on another property in Texas or elsewhere.Deadline: April 30

Over-65 Exemption

Additional $10,000 exemption on school district taxes, plus additional local option exemptions of at least $3,000 from other taxing units

Additional exemption for homeowners age 65 or older, plus a permanent tax ceiling (freeze) on school district taxes.

Eligibility: Available to homeowners who are 65 or older as of January 1 of the tax year and occupy the property as their primary residence. The exemption becomes effective the year you turn 65 regardless of your birthday.Deadline: April 30

Disabled Person Exemption

Additional $10,000 exemption on school district taxes, plus a tax ceiling on school taxes

Additional exemption for homeowners who qualify for Social Security disability benefits or have a physician's statement of disability.

Eligibility: Homeowners who qualify for disability benefits under Federal Old-Age Survivors and Disability Insurance Program or have a physician's statement indicating inability to engage in gainful employment. Must occupy property as primary residence.Deadline: April 30

100% Disabled Veteran Exemption

100% exemption of total appraised value (no dollar cap) covering school, county, city, and all other property taxes

Complete property tax exemption for qualifying disabled veterans.

Eligibility: Veterans with 100% disability rating from the VA or individual unemployability rating. Also available to surviving spouses who have not remarried.Deadline: April 30

Partial Disabled Veteran Exemption

Exemption amount varies from $5,000 to $12,000 based on disability rating (10%-100%)

Partial exemption based on VA disability rating percentage.

Eligibility: Veterans with a service-connected disability rating from the VA. The percentage of disability determines the exemption amount. Surviving spouses and surviving children of deceased disabled veterans may also qualify.Deadline: April 30

Bexar County Protest Statistics

Success Rate

99% at informal review, 92% at ARB

Avg Reduction

$1,290

% Who Protest

24-26%

Bexar County Protest Packet · $49

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the deadline to protest my property taxes in Bexar County for 2026?

The protest deadline in Bexar County is May 15, 2026, or 30 days after the date printed on your Notice of Appraised Value, whichever is later. Most appraisal notices are mailed in April, so the May 15 deadline typically applies for most homeowners. If May 15 falls on a weekend, the deadline automatically extends to the next business day, however, in 2026, May 15 is a Friday so no extension applies. Missing this deadline means you forfeit your right to protest for the entire 2026 tax year, though late protests may be accepted for good cause if filed before appraisal records are certified around July 20.

How do I file a property tax protest online in Bexar County?

To file online, visit bcad.org/online-portal or bcadonline.org and log in using your Owner ID and PIN, both printed on your Notice of Appraised Value. Once logged in, select your property and click the 'File Protest' button. The online system allows you to file your protest, upload evidence, and communicate with BCAD staff entirely digitally. Online filing provides instant confirmation and is the fastest method. If you don't have your notice or can't find your PIN, contact BCAD at (210) 242-2432 to request it be mailed to you, but note that your filing deadline will not be extended while you wait for credentials.

What is the homestead exemption worth in Bexar County?

The 2026 homestead exemption in Bexar County provides a $140,000 reduction in taxable value for school district taxes, which typically saves homeowners $1,400 to $1,820 per year depending on your school district's rate. If you're 65 or older or disabled, you receive an additional $10,000 school exemption plus a permanent tax ceiling that freezes your school taxes at that level. Veterans with 100% disability ratings receive a full exemption covering all property taxes with no dollar cap. The homestead exemption also activates a 10% appraisal cap limiting annual increases in your home's appraised value, providing ongoing protection from rapid value growth.

What happens at an ARB hearing in Bexar County?

An Appraisal Review Board (ARB) hearing in Bexar County is a 15-20 minute proceeding where a three-member panel reviews your protest. Hearings are conducted by phone, video conference, or in person if requested. You present your evidence, typically comparable sales, photos of property condition issues, and equity arguments, and the appraisal district representative presents their valuation. The ARB panel asks questions and reviews all submitted documentation before issuing a decision. In Bexar County, 92% of ARB protests result in a value reduction, making this one of the most successful counties in Texas for property tax appeals.

How much can I save by protesting my property taxes in Bexar County?

In 2023, Bexar County property tax protests resulted in average savings of $1,290 per protested account, with total county-wide savings exceeding $258 million. Individual savings vary based on the amount of overassessment and your property's tax rate. A $20,000 reduction in assessed value translates to approximately $362 per year in tax savings at the county's 1.81% effective rate. Given Bexar County's extraordinary 99% informal success rate, nearly every homeowner who files a protest receives some form of reduction. Starting in 2026, successful protests are even more valuable because the county moved to biennial appraisals, your reduced value carries forward for two full years instead of one.

What evidence do I need for a successful Bexar County property tax protest?

The strongest evidence for a Bexar County protest includes comparable sales of similar properties that sold for less than your assessed value within the past 12 months. You should also document any property condition issues with photos and repair estimates for problems like foundation damage, roof issues, or deferred maintenance. Square footage errors or incorrect property characteristics in BCAD's records are common and worth correcting. An unequal appraisal analysis showing that similar properties in your neighborhood are assessed at lower values per square foot can also be persuasive. BCAD provides an evidence packet after you file showing their comparable sales, which helps you identify weaknesses in their valuation and prepare counter-evidence.

Can I still protest if I didn't receive a notice from Bexar County?

Yes, you can protest even if you didn't receive an appraisal notice, the May 15 deadline still applies. Bexar County only mails notices when a property's appraised value increased by $1,000 or more from the previous year, so if you didn't receive one, your value likely remained flat or decreased. According to Texas Property Tax Code Section 31.01(g), failure to receive a notice doesn't affect the validity of taxes or protest deadlines. You can check your current property value anytime using the property search tool at bcad.org. If you need your Owner ID and PIN to file online without a notice, contact BCAD at (210) 242-2432 to request they mail it to you.

Why is 2026 an especially important year to protest in Bexar County?

Bexar County adopted a biennial reappraisal plan starting in 2026, meaning property values are only reassessed every two years in odd-numbered years. If you successfully protest in 2026, your reduced value carries forward through 2027 without a new market value increase, effectively doubling the value of your protest. A $15,000 reduction that saves you $271 annually becomes $542 in total savings over the two-year period. BCAD returns to annual reappraisal starting in 2027, making 2026 a limited window for this two-year benefit. Combined with Bexar County's 99% informal success rate, 2026 represents one of the most valuable protest opportunities in recent memory for San Antonio area homeowners.

Official Resources

Bexar Central Appraisal District Official Website →

Search property records, check your assessed value, access forms, and file protests through BCAD's official website.

BCAD Online Protest Filing Portal →

File your property tax protest online, upload evidence, and manage your protest case digitally through BCAD's secure portal.

Texas Comptroller Property Tax Information →

Official state resource covering property tax laws, exemptions, protest procedures, and taxpayer rights across Texas.

BCAD Help Center and Support →

Access step-by-step guides, FAQs, video tutorials, and submit questions about protests, exemptions, and property records.

For state-wide protest information including Texas's assessment ratio and deadlines, see our Texas Property Tax Protest Guide →

Considering professional help with your protest? Compare pricing, coverage, and pros/cons in our Best Property Tax Protest Services (2026) or browse side-by-side service comparisons →

More Texas Counties

Angelina County (Lufkin)Bastrop County (Bastrop)Bell County (Killeen)Brazoria County (Pearland)Brazos County (Bryan)Burnet County (Burnet)

← All Texas property tax protest info

Sources: https://bcad.org | https://bcad.org/online-portal/ | https://help.bcad.org | https://www.ownwell.com/property-tax/bexar-county | https://taxbycounty.com/texas/bexar-county | https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-counties/texas/bexar-county | https://www.poconnor.com/bexar-county/ | https://texaspropertytaxappeal.com/blog/texas-property-tax-appeal-success-rates-by-county.html

Last verified: 2026-07-24