Dallas County Property Tax Protest, Texas

Step 1: Receive your Notice of Appraised Value from DCAD (typically mailed in mid-April). Review the proposed market value, assessed value, and protest deadline carefully.

Step 2: File your protest before the deadline using DCAD's uFile Online Protest system (preferred method, opens in mid-April), by mail, or in person. Select your reason for protesting (value over market value, unequal appraisal, etc.) and submit your opinion of value with supporting evidence.

Step 3: Submit evidence to support your protest including comparable sales (recent sales of similar homes within 12 months of January 1), photos of property condition, repair estimates for any damage, and an inequality analysis showing your home is valued higher than similar properties.

Step 4: DCAD will conduct an informal review of your protest. If you submitted evidence through uFile, DCAD appraisal staff will review your documentation and may contact you by phone or email to offer a settlement before the formal ARB hearing. Dallas County has an 84% informal settlement success rate.

Step 5: If informal review does not resolve your protest, attend your formal Appraisal Review Board (ARB) hearing. You will receive at least 15 days' notice of the hearing date, time, and location. Present your evidence and comparable sales to the ARB panel.

Step 6: Receive the ARB's decision. If you disagree with the ARB determination, you may appeal to binding arbitration (for properties valued under $5 million), file a lawsuit in district court, or appeal to the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) for certain issues.

Step 7: If you pursue binding arbitration or judicial review, file your appeal within 60 days of receiving the ARB order. District court appeals provide a full review of the evidence, while arbitration is a faster, more informal process.