Good news for Tarrant and Collin County property owners: you have until June 1, 2025, to file a property tax protest and potentially save thousands on your 2025 tax bill! Despite the typical May 15 deadline, both counties have extended the protest period, offering a critical window to challenge overassessments, correct errors, or secure exemptions. This guide, informed by the Texas Comptroller’s Office, Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD), and Collin Central Appraisal District (CCAD), outlines how homeowners and business owners can act before June 1 to reduce taxes and prepare for 2026. As of May 17, 2025, time is ticking—don’t miss this chance to ensure a fair tax bill!
Why Property Tax Protests Matter
Property taxes are calculated as assessed value × local tax rate (e.g., 2.1% in Tarrant and Collin Counties, per 2023 data). An overassessment—due to errors, outdated comps, or misapplied valuation methods (e.g., sales comparison, income approach)—can inflate your bill. For example, a $50,000 overvaluation on a $400,000 property adds $1,050 yearly at 2.1%. Protesting before June 1, 2025, can:
- Lower Taxes: Correct errors or overvaluations to save hundreds annually.
- Ensure Fairness: Align your assessment with market value or similar properties, per IAAO standards.
- Compound Savings: A $40,000 reduction saves $840 yearly, or $8,400 over a decade.
Opportunities to Save Before June 1, 2025
Tarrant and Collin Counties extended the 2025 protest deadline to June 1 due to high demand and website updates (TAD, CCAD). Here’s how to maximize your 2025 savings.
1. File a Property Tax Protest
- Why It Matters: Protesting challenges unfair assessments, reducing your 2025 tax bill. The extended June 1 deadline applies to market value, unequal appraisal, errors, or exemptions (Texas Tax Code Section 41.41).
- Eligibility:
- Tarrant County: File by June 1, 2025, or 30 days after your appraisal notice, whichever is later (TAD). Notices were mailed April 14, 2025, on white paper via VariVerge for cost savings (TAD).
- Collin County: File by June 1, 2025, or 30 days after your notice (mailed April 15, 2025), whichever is later (CCAD). Use the eFile portal with your notice’s PIN.
- How to File:
- Online: Preferred for speed. Use TAD’s “My Dashboard” (tad.org) or CCAD’s e-Services Portal (efileprotest.collincad.org). Enter your account and PIN from your notice.
- Mail/In-Person: Submit Form 50-132 (Notice of Protest) to TAD (2500 Handley-Ederville Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76118) or CCAD (250 Eldorado Pkwy, McKinney, TX 75069). Tarrant offers a 24/7 drop-box; Collin locks at 5 PM.
- Evidence: Include 3–5 comps (recent sales within 6–12 months, half-mile), repair photos/estimates, or income data (commercial). Request the district’s evidence packet 14 days before your hearing (Texas Tax Code Section 41.461).
- Example: In Tarrant, three comps at $415,000–$425,000 reduce a $460,000 assessment to $430,000, saving $630 yearly at 2.1%. In Collin, a $15,000 repair estimate lowers a $450,000 assessment to $435,000, saving $315.
- Action: File by June 1, 2025. Tarrant encourages online filing (tad.org); Collin offers extended hours (until 7 PM on May 21, 28, and June 1) for in-person help (CCAD).
2. Correct Appraisal Errors
- Why It Matters: Errors (e.g., wrong square footage) inflate assessments but can be fixed year-round, impacting 2025 taxes.
- Common Errors:
- Incorrect data (e.g., 2,600 sq ft vs. 2,400 sq ft).
- Misclassified properties (e.g., residential as commercial).
- Unrecorded issues (e.g., foundation cracks).
- How to Fix:
- File a Motion to Correct under Texas Tax Code Section 25.25 for clerical errors (e.g., data mistakes) or substantial errors (value 1/3 above market).
- Submit evidence (e.g., surveys, blueprints, photos) online, by mail, or in-person to TAD or CCAD.
- No ARB hearing is typically needed for clerical fixes.
- Example: In Collin, a blueprint corrects 2,500 sq ft to 2,300 sq ft, reducing a $440,000 assessment by $30,000, saving $630 yearly. In Tarrant, a lot size correction (0.3 to 0.25 acres) saves $420 yearly.
- Action: Review your 2025 notice for errors and submit corrections by June 1 for fastest impact. Contact TAD (817-284-0024) or CCAD (469-742-9200).
3. Apply for Exemptions
- Why It Matters: Exemptions lower taxable value, reducing 2025 taxes, and some can be applied late or retroactively.
- Key Exemptions (Texas Tax Code Section 11):
- Homestead: Cuts $50,000–$100,000 (varies by county) for primary residences. Tarrant offers a new online application (tad.org); Collin accepts late filings with residency proof.
- Senior (Over-65): Freezes school taxes and adds exemptions (e.g., $10,000+), retroactive in some cases.
- Disabled Veteran: Partial/full exemptions based on disability rating, often retroactive.
- How to Apply:
- Download Form 50-114 (homestead) from tad.org or collincad.org.
- Submit with proof (e.g., driver’s license, veteran ID) online, by mail, or in-person.
- Check retroactive eligibility (e.g., homestead up to two years back).
- Example: A $50,000 homestead exemption in Tarrant saves $1,050 yearly at 2.1% on a $400,000 home. In Collin, a senior exemption saves $840 yearly.
- Action: Apply by June 1, 2025, or confirm late-filing options. Tarrant’s online portal simplifies applications; Collin’s extended hours help (CCAD).
4. Prepare for an ARB Hearing
- Why It Matters: A strong case at an Appraisal Review Board (ARB) hearing can secure significant reductions before June 1 filings are processed.
- Steps:
- Gather Evidence: Collect 3–5 comps, repair photos/estimates, or income data (commercial). Avoid Zillow (PropertyClub); use MLS or county records.
- Organize: Create a binder with a one-page summary (e.g., “I request $425,000 based on comps”), tables (comps, errors), and visuals (photos, maps).
- Present: Deliver a 5–7 minute pitch at the hearing (in-person, phone, or video). Focus on data, not emotions (e.g., “Three comps average $420,000”).
- Submit Early: Provide evidence 14 days before the hearing (Texas Tax Code Section 41.67). Bring 4–5 copies or upload for virtual hearings.
- Example: In Tarrant, a homeowner with three comps and a $12,000 repair estimate lowers a $445,000 assessment to $420,000, saving $525 yearly. In Collin, a commercial owner uses income data to cut a $1 million assessment by $150,000, saving $3,150.
- Action: Start collecting evidence now for June hearings. Visit tad.org or collinarb.org for ARB rules and virtual hearing tips.
Plan Ahead for 2026 Savings
Missed the June 1 deadline or want bigger savings? Start preparing for 2026 now:
- Review Your Notice: Check 2025 data (value, errors) to target 2026 protests.
- Collect Evidence: Save comps, document issues (e.g., photos), or gather income data (commercial).
- Learn ARB Rules: Study procedures at tad.org, collinarb.org, or the Texas Comptroller’s ARB Training page.
Real-World Success Story
Sarah, a Collin County homeowner, saw her $470,000 home overassessed in 2025:
- Action: She filed a protest by May 30, 2025, with three comps ($425,000–$435,000) and a $10,000 HVAC repair estimate, leveraging CCAD’s extended June 1 deadline.
- ARB Hearing: Her 6-minute pitch and binder convinced the ARB to lower her assessment to $430,000, saving $840 yearly at 2.1%.
- Exemption: Sarah applied a $50,000 homestead exemption, saving another $1,050, totaling $1,890 yearly.
- 2026 Prep: She’s collecting comps now for next year.
- Lesson: Acting before June 1 and preparing thoroughly maximized 2025 savings and set up future wins.
Why Act Before June 1, 2025?
Filing by June 1 in Tarrant and Collin Counties:
- Saves Money: A $50,000 reduction saves $1,050 yearly at 2.1%, or $10,500 over a decade.
- Corrects Errors: Ensures fair assessments, per the Texas Comptroller’s guidelines.
- Builds Confidence: Prepares you for annual protests to keep taxes low.
- Leverages Extensions: Takes advantage of TAD and CCAD’s extended deadlines, driven by website upgrades and high protest volumes (TAD saved $750 million in 2023).
Take Action Today
Maximize your 2025 savings in Tarrant and Collin Counties:
- File a Protest: Submit by June 1, 2025, online (tad.org, efileprotest.collincad.org), by mail, or in-person. Include comps or repair estimates.
- Correct Errors: File a Motion to Correct with surveys or blueprints to fix 2025 assessments.
- Apply Exemptions: Submit homestead or senior exemption forms for 2025 savings, using TAD’s online portal or CCAD’s extended hours.
- Prepare for ARB: Gather evidence and practice your pitch for hearings in June–July 2025.
- Plan for 2026: Start collecting comps and studying ARB rules now.
- Get Help: Contact TAD (817-284-0024) or CCAD (469-742-9200) for guidance
Don’t overpay—act before June 1, 2025, to save thousands and ensure fair taxes in Tarrant and Collin Counties!
Disclaimer: Property tax laws and deadlines vary by county. Verify rules with TAD, CCAD, or a professional. This guide is informational and not legal advice.
