Washington County Property Tax Protest, Texas

Step 1: Review your Notice of Appraised Value immediately upon receipt in April and identify the assessed value, deadline date, and eFile PIN printed on the notice.

Step 2: Gather supporting evidence including recent comparable sales of similar properties in your area, photographs documenting property condition issues, repair estimates for any defects, and documentation of property-specific factors that may affect value.

Step 3: File your Property Owner's Notice of Protest by May 15, 2026 (or 30 days from notice mailing date, whichever is later) through the Washington CAD online portal at washingtoncad.org/OnlineAppeals, by mail to P.O. Box 681, Brenham TX 77834-0681, or in person at 1301 Niebuhr Street. Specify your grounds for protest (market value too high, unequal appraisal, or both).

Step 4: Attend an informal review with a Washington CAD appraiser if offered - this meeting often resolves protests faster without needing a formal hearing and can result in value adjustments based on your evidence.

Step 5: If the informal review does not resolve your protest satisfactorily, proceed to a formal hearing before the Appraisal Review Board (ARB). Present your evidence, including comparable sales data, photographs, and repair estimates. The ARB will issue a written decision typically within a few weeks.

Step 6: If you disagree with the ARB decision, file an appeal to binding arbitration (for properties under $3 million appraised value) within 60 days of receiving the ARB order, or file a lawsuit in district court within 60 days.

Step 7: For further appeals beyond district court, you may appeal adverse judgments to the Texas Court of Appeals, following all applicable deadlines and procedural requirements under Texas Tax Code Chapter 42.