AppealDesk

Dallas County Property Tax Protest — Texas

Rob HartleyRob Hartley·Updated February 15, 2026

Dallas County has a median effective property tax rate of 1.72%, significantly higher than the national median of 1.02% but lower than the Texas state median of 1.67%. The median annual property tax bill in Dallas is $4,875, which is $2,475 higher than the national median property tax bill of $2,400. There are 61 local governing bodies in Dallas County, making property tax protests essential for homeowners seeking to reduce their tax burden. Dallas County's effective property tax rate of 1.74% is significantly higher than the national median of 1.02%. Dallas serves as the county seat and is the largest city in the county, with other major population centers including Irving, Garland, Mesquite, and Richardson.

Notable cities: Dallas, Irving, Garland, Mesquite, Richardson, Grand Prairie, Carrollton

Median Home

$308,210

Tax Rate

1.74%

Annual Tax

$5,040

Population

2.6 million

2026 Protest Deadline: May 15, 2026

The deadline for filing a protest is typically May 15th or 30 days after the notice was mailed, whichever is later. If May 15 falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.

Property in Dallas County, Texas — local tax assessment and protest guide

How Dallas County Assesses Property

100%of market value

Assessed by: Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD), located at 2949 N. Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX 75247

Assessment cycle: annual

Notices typically mailed: April 15

Per Texas law, the annual assessed value is based on a real estate's fair market value (FMV) as of January 1. In Dallas County, properties are assessed at 100% of their market value. For example, if your home's market value is $308,210 (the county median), at Texas's 100% assessment ratio your assessed value would be $308,210, resulting in approximately $5,363 in annual taxes at the county's effective rate of 1.74%.

The Protest Process

Appeals are heard by the Appraisal Review Board (ARB). The Appraisal Review Board will typically designate one Saturday in the month of June for weekend protest hearings. For 2026, five Saturdays have been tentatively designated June 6, 13, 20, 27, and July 11.

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Step 1: Review your Notice of Appraised Value from the Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD) to assess your property's current value and decide if a protest is warranted

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Step 2: File your protest with DCAD before May 15th using the online portal, by mail, or in person

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Step 3: Prepare your evidence including photos, repair estimates, sales data for comparable properties, and any other relevant information that demonstrates your property's market value is less than the assessed value

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Step 4: Participate in an informal review process where you can settle your protest entirely online or attend an informal hearing

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Step 5: If unresolved, attend an ARB hearing in person or by phone where you'll present evidence to the Appraisal Review Board

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Step 6: If unsatisfied with the ARB decision, file a petition with the district court within 60 days of receiving the ARB's letter

Required form: Notice of Protest form included with your Notice of Appraised Value

Filing Methods

online:uFile Online Protest Program on the website of the Dallas Central Appraisal District at https://www.dallascad.org. The online protest for residential and commercial property must be submitted by the deadline on or before midnight on May 15, 2026.
mail:Mail to the address listed on your Notice of Appraised Value or to 2949 N. Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX 75247
in-person:Deliver your protest in person before the office closes on May 15, 2026. The office doors are locked promptly at 5:00 P.M.

Evidence to Bring

photosrepair estimatessales data for comparable propertiesdocumentation of property defectsevidence of unequal appraisal

Dallas County Assessor Contact

Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD)

Phone: (214) 631-0520

Address: 2949 N. Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX 75247

Website: https://www.dallascad.org

Online Portal: https://www.dallascad.org

Hours: Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m.

Tax Exemptions in Dallas County

General Homestead Exemption

$140,000 (school districts)

The Texas homestead exemption requires all Texas school districts to exempt some taxable value of qualifying properties. As of 2023, the annual exemption is $140,000.

Eligibility: Must have an ownership interest in the property and use the property as the individual's principal residenceDeadline: May 1

Local Optional Homestead Exemption

20% of property value

20% exemption from the City of Dallas, 20% exemption from Dallas County, 20% exemption from Dallas College, 20% exemption from Parkland Hospital District

Eligibility: Same as general homestead exemptionDeadline: May 1

Over-65 Exemption

$175,000 for City of Dallas (increased from $153,400 to $175,000 as of 2024), plus $60,000 additional school district exemption

If you are a homeowner aged 65 or older, you might qualify for the over-65 homestead exemption, which provides an additional $60,000

Eligibility: Must either be 65 or older or meet the state's definition of a disabilityDeadline: May 1

Disabled Person Exemption

Same as Over-65 exemption amounts

This exemption is for people who have a physical or mental disability as defined by the Social Security Administration

Eligibility: Must have a disability as defined by Social Security AdministrationDeadline: May 1

Disabled Veteran Exemption

Varies based on disability rating, up to 100% exemption

The disabled veteran exemption is for Texas residents with service-connected disabilities. Veterans with 100% disability may be fully exempt from paying property taxes on their homes.

Eligibility: Must be a veteran of the U.S. armed forces and be classified as disabled by your armed services branch or the Veteran's AdministrationDeadline: May 1

Official Resources

Dallas Central Appraisal District Website →

Access property records, file online protests, apply for exemptions, and view assessment information.

Texas Comptroller Property Tax Resources →

Official state resources for property tax information, exemption forms, and taxpayer rights.

Dallas County Tax Office →

Pay property taxes, view tax rates, and access payment deadlines and delinquency information.

DCAD Property Search Tool →

Search for property values by owner name, address, or account number to review your assessment.

Dallas County Protest Statistics

Success Rate

84% informal success rate - more than eight out of ten homeowners who challenge their assessment walk away with a reduction

Avg Reduction

$NaN

% Who Protest

24%

Check Your Dallas County Assessment

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the deadline to protest my property taxes in Dallas County?
The deadline to file a written protest for real property for the 2026 Tax Year is May 15, 2026. The deadline for filing a protest is typically May 15th or 30 days after the notice was mailed, whichever is later. If you file online using the uFile system, the protest must be submitted before midnight on May 15, 2026. If May 15 falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day. Late protests can be filed if the ARB determines you have good cause for missing the deadline, such as a medical emergency.
How do I file a property tax protest in Dallas County online?
You can file online using the uFile Online Protest Program on the website of the Dallas Central Appraisal District at https://www.dallascad.org. To file an online (uFile) protest, you only need your property address or your name (account number not required). You'll need the pin number that is on your Notice of Appraised Value if you file online. On your property's page, click the link on the left titled 'uFile Online Protest' to access the system. The online system allows you to submit evidence and your opinion of value to potentially receive an informal settlement offer.
What is the homestead exemption worth in Dallas County?
The general homestead exemption for school districts is $140,000 as of 2023. Dallas County homeowners also receive 20% exemption from the City of Dallas, 20% exemption from Dallas County, 20% exemption from Dallas College, and 20% exemption from Parkland Hospital District. For homeowners 65 or older, the City of Dallas increased the exemption from $153,400 to $175,000 as of 2024. Senior homeowners also qualify for an additional $60,000 school district exemption. These combined exemptions can save homeowners thousands of dollars annually on their property tax bills.
What happens at an ARB hearing in Dallas County?
You can represent yourself at the ARB hearing. Similar to the informal hearing, you'll need to submit evidence before your hearing or when the hearing starts. DCAD recommends submitting the evidence five days before the hearing. You can also request the evidence that the appraisal district may introduce at the hearing. Both parties may not introduce any new evidence during the hearing. The Appraisal Review Board typically designates Saturdays in June for weekend protest hearings, with five Saturdays tentatively designated for 2026: June 6, 13, 20, 27, and July 11. Following the ARB hearing, you'll receive the ARB's decision by certified mail.
How much can I save by protesting my property taxes in Dallas County?
In 2024, the average successful protester saved over $1,000 on their annual tax bill. DCAD regularly reduces values by 10% to 15% for homeowners when you bring a good case with evidence. On a $400,000 home at a 1.73% tax rate, a 15% reduction saves you over $1,000 annually. NTPTS clients in Dallas County received an average reduction of $112,432 on their property value in 2026. The savings also compound, because a lower assessed value this year becomes the baseline for future years. The $1,000 you save now could mean $10,000+ over the next decade.
What evidence do I need for a Dallas County property tax protest?
Essential evidence includes photos, repair estimates, sales data for comparable properties, and any other relevant information that demonstrates your property's market value is less than the assessed value. Common reasons for protesting include if DCAD's proposed market value is higher than recent final selling prices of comparable homes, or if your property value is higher than comparable properties. You should also check for errors in DCAD data, such as incorrect number of bedrooms or other characteristics. If you wish to receive an informal settlement offer from the county, you must upload a document of some sort. Evidence could include documentation of hidden defects, cracked foundations, inadequate plumbing, or other issues the Appraisal District does not know about.
Can I protest if I didn't receive my Notice of Appraised Value?
Even if you do not receive a notice, you are still responsible for knowing the deadline. If you are unable to locate or did not receive a Notice of Appraised Value, you may request a copy of your PIN through the uFile system by selecting the Request PIN to be sent by Email option. To request your PIN, simply click the box next to 'Request PIN to be sent by Email'. If you don't receive an email within two minutes, check your spam or junk mail folders. The protest deadline remains May 15, 2026, regardless of when or if you receive your notice, so it's important to proactively check your property value on the DCAD website.
What is the success rate for property tax protests in Dallas County?
The 2024 Dallas County protest statistics show an 84% informal success rate, meaning more than eight out of ten homeowners who challenge their assessment walk away with a reduction. However, only about 24% of Dallas County property owners filed a protest. Dallas County residents had the greatest year-over-year market value difference between protestors and non-protestors in 2023 (5.36%) and 2024 (6.46%) among seven populous counties. These statistics demonstrate that protesting your property taxes in Dallas County has a very high likelihood of success, yet most homeowners don't take advantage of this opportunity.

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

Bell County (Killeen)Bexar County (San Antonio)Brazoria County (Pearland)Brazos County (Bryan)Cameron County (Brownsville)Collin County (McKinney)
← All Texas property tax protest info

Sources: https://www.dallascad.org/Forms/Protest_Process.pdf | https://www.ownwell.com/trends/texas/dallas-county | https://www.dallascounty.org/departments/tax/exemptions.php | https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/exemptions/

Last verified: 2026-02-15