Travis County ARB Hearing: What to Expect at TCAD
The Travis Appraisal Review Board hears unresolved property appraisal protests. The board considers the owner’s evidence and TCAD’s evidence. Prepare a short explanation of the issue, your requested value, and the documents supporting it.
Before the hearing
Read the hearing notice for the date, attendance options, and submission instructions. Check the TCAD protest resources for the current process. An informal discussion is separate from the formal ARB hearing; do not assume a conversation or pending offer changes a scheduled hearing.
Request the appraisal district’s evidence and review it early. The Texas Comptroller’s protest guidance explains the owner’s rights and ARB procedures. Compare TCAD’s property facts and comparables with your own packet, and make a note of any factual disagreement.
What to bring
- Your property account, notice, hearing notice, and requested value.
- A concise table of comparable properties, source dates, and reasons each is relevant.
- Sale documents for a market-value argument, or adjusted appraisal comparisons for an unequal-appraisal argument.
- Photos, measurements, or repair estimates for specific errors or condition issues.
Present the evidence clearly
Start with the value you are requesting. Explain the strongest issue first, identify the supporting document, and connect it to the January 1 valuation date. Address differences between your home and each comparable. Rising tax bills or difficulty paying are not, on their own, evidence of an incorrect appraisal.
After the hearing
Keep the written determination and record the date you receive it. Further review has separate eligibility rules and deadlines; consult the instructions with the order and the Comptroller’s official guidance promptly if you disagree.
Review the Travis County filing checklist and compare evidence types.
Sources and evidence for Travis County
Prepared by Travis Value. Filing resources checked September 4, 2026.
Start with the Travis Central Appraisal District property record and your current notice. Our property pages organize imported public assessment records and available comparable evidence. Check the tax year and data dates shown on each page: a prior-year record is useful history, but does not establish the value on a new notice.
Comparable homes are candidates for review. Verify their size, age, condition, location, and sale details before using them. Value per square foot helps screen candidates; it does not account for every difference. Estimated savings depend on the final assessment, exemptions, assessment limits, and applicable tax rates.
Texas filing and valuation checks
For 2026, the ordinary May 15 filing date has passed. A notice mailed later can have a later deadline. Confirm the date on your notice and the TCAD filing instructions. Review Texas Comptroller protest guidance for procedures and owner rights.
Separate a market-value argument from unequal appraisal, and compare the same tax year. A homestead cap or exemption can make taxable value differ from market value; lowering market value may not change the bill immediately. Texas sales coverage is incomplete because sale prices are not universally disclosed.
Check the source before filing
Travis Value is an independent research tool. Verify the current procedure with Travis Central Appraisal District, save a copy of your evidence, and retain your filing confirmation. The appraisal authority or review board decides the outcome.