Rob Hartley
Founder, AppealDesk · February 18, 2026
Property Tax Appeal Success Rates: What the Data Shows
Updated February 2026 · 9 min read
About 62% of property tax appeals result in a reduction, according to National Taxpayers Union Foundation data. In some counties the success rate is dramatically higher: Hays County, TX reports 98.68% of protests resulting in a lower value, and Harris County, TX (Houston) reports 89.2%. The data is clear: property tax appeals work, and the odds are in your favor if you file with evidence.
National Success
~62%
result in reduction
Hays County, TX
98.68%
protests succeed
Harris County, TX
89.2%
protests succeed
Avg Savings
$1-3K
per year
Why Property Tax Appeal Success Rates Are So High
A 62% national success rate might seem surprisingly high. There are three structural reasons appeals succeed as often as they do:
Mass appraisal creates systematic errors
County assessors value thousands of properties at once using statistical models. These models cannot capture individual property conditions, deferred maintenance, neighborhood micro-trends, or unique features that reduce value. The National Taxpayers Union Foundation estimates 30-60% of properties are overassessed as a result.
Data errors are common
Wrong square footage, incorrect bedroom or bathroom counts, missing condition adjustments. Property record cards frequently contain factual mistakes that inflate assessed values. These are the easiest appeals to win because the error is objective.
Most homeowners never appeal
Fewer than 5% of homeowners file appeals in any given year. This means assessment offices face little pressure to correct overvaluations proactively. When homeowners do bring evidence, review boards often agree because the evidence is stronger than the mass appraisal model’s estimate.
Property Tax Appeal Success Rates by State and County
Success rates vary widely depending on where you live. Here is what the data shows across major jurisdictions:
| Jurisdiction | Success Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hays County, TX | 98.68% | Nearly all protests result in reduction |
| Harris County, TX (Houston) | 89.2% | Largest TX county by population |
| Travis County, TX (Austin) | ~80% | High growth area, frequent overassessment |
| Dallas County, TX | ~75% | Strong protest culture among homeowners |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | ~62% | Triennial reassessment cycle |
| King County, WA (Seattle) | ~55% | Board of Equalization process |
| National Average (NTUF) | ~62% | All jurisdictions combined |
Texas consistently leads the nation in appeal success rates. The state requires annual reassessment, and its protest system is designed to be accessible to homeowners. For a deeper look at the Texas process, see our property tax appeal statistics breakdown.
Counties with less accurate mass appraisal models and rapidly changing real estate markets tend to have the highest appeal success rates. When home values shift faster than the assessor can model, the gap between assessed value and market value widens, creating more opportunities for successful appeals.
Can Your Taxes Go Up if You Appeal?
This is the most common fear that stops homeowners from filing. The answer: in most states, no. Appeal boards and review panels can only lower your assessed value or leave it unchanged. Your assessment cannot increase as a result of your appeal.
A handful of states technically allow a review board to increase your assessment during the appeal process, but this is extremely rare in practice. Boards understand that raising values on appellants would discourage future filings and undermine the system. If you want to know exactly what happens during the review process, our guide on what happens at a property tax appeal hearing covers it step by step.
The bottom line: the downside risk of appealing is near zero. The upside is hundreds or thousands of dollars in annual savings. If you're weighing whether these odds justify the effort, read our analysis of whether appealing property taxes is worth it.
Five Factors That Affect Your Chances of Winning
1. Quality of comparable sales evidence
This is the single biggest factor. Recent sales of similar homes near yours that sold for less than your assessed value give the review board concrete proof of overassessment. Three to five strong comps are usually sufficient. Learn more about what evidence works best for property tax appeals.
2. Filing before the deadline
Late filings are rejected regardless of merit. Deadlines vary by state and county, often falling 30-90 days after assessment notices are mailed. Missing the window means waiting another year.
3. Local market conditions
Appeals are more likely to succeed in flat or declining markets where recent sales data supports a lower value. In rapidly appreciating markets, your assessed value may actually lag behind market value, making an appeal harder to justify.
4. Property record accuracy
If your property record card contains errors (wrong square footage, extra bedrooms, incorrect lot size), correcting them almost always results in a reduction. These are among the simplest and most successful appeals.
5. How you present your case
Organized, evidence-based presentations outperform emotional arguments. Review boards respond to data: comparable sales, assessment ratio analysis, and documented property conditions. A structured evidence packet makes a measurable difference in outcomes.
DIY vs. Professional Appeal Success Rates
The data consistently shows that professionally prepared appeals outperform DIY filings:
DIY Appeals
40-50%
success rate
Often filed without comps or with weak evidence
Professional Evidence
70-90%
success rate
Comps, ratio analysis, structured presentation
The gap comes down to evidence quality. DIY filers often rely on Zillow estimates or general market arguments that review boards find unpersuasive. Professionally prepared packets use MLS comparable sales data, assessment ratio analysis, and structured formats that align with what boards expect to see.
The good news: you do not need to hire a contingency-based firm that takes 25-35% of your savings. Services like AppealDesk provide the same caliber of evidence for a $49 flat fee, and you keep 100% of your savings.
Check Your Appeal Odds
Enter your address for a free overassessment analysis and see what evidence is available for your property.
The Math Favors Filing
Consider the numbers: a 62% chance of success, average savings of $1,000-3,000 per year, and near-zero downside risk. Even at the low end, a successful appeal paying $500/year in savings over 10 years is $5,000. Against a $49 evidence packet, the expected value is overwhelmingly positive.
AppealDesk generates evidence-backed property tax appeal packets for $49. Each packet includes comparable sales analysis, assessment ratio data, and county-specific filing instructions. You file the appeal yourself, present the evidence, and keep every dollar you save.
The data shows that appeals work. The only question is whether you file one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average property tax appeal success rate?
Can my property taxes go up if I appeal?
Why are property tax appeal success rates so high?
Do professional appeals have higher success rates?
What is the property tax protest success rate in Texas?
How much can I save from a successful appeal?
Sources: National Taxpayers Union Foundation, county appraisal district records (Hays, Harris, Travis, Dallas, Cook counties), Sanguine Strategic Advisors (appeal outcomes), industry data on professional vs. DIY success rates.