Disclaimer: This tool is for informational purposes only. It does not provide legal or tax advice. Actual tax savings depend on your local jurisdiction, assessor's methodology, and comparable sales available. Always verify deadlines with your local county appraisal district.
📍 Step 1 — Your Property Details
Enter your property information exactly as it appears on your assessment notice.
📈 Step 2 — Add Comparable Sales (Comps)
Find 3–5 similar homes that sold recently for less than your assessed value. Find comps on Zillow, Redfin, or your county appraisal district's website. Look for similar size, age, and neighborhood, sold within the past 6–12 months.
🚀 Smart Comp Finder
Enter your address in Step 1 first — then click below to open pre-filtered searches in a new tab. Copy sale prices directly into the table.
💡 Pro tip: Filter for same zip code, ±20% sq ft of your home, sold in last 12 months. Pick homes with fewer upgrades than yours for the strongest case.
| # | Address | Sale Date | Sale Price ($) | Sq Ft | Beds/Baths | $/Sq Ft | Remove |
|---|
💰 Step 3 — Calculate Your Case & Generate Protest
We'll calculate your over-assessment, estimated savings, and generate a formal protest argument.
💡 How Property Tax Protests Work
A step-by-step guide to fighting your property tax assessment.
Get Your Assessment Notice
Your county sends an annual notice of appraised value, usually in April/May. It shows your home's assessed value, which determines your property tax bill.
Find Comparable Sales ("Comps")
Search Zillow, Redfin, or your county's website for homes similar to yours that sold in the past 12 months for less than your assessed value. These are your "comps." The more similar the home (size, age, location), the stronger your case.
File a Formal Protest
Submit a written protest to your county appraisal district (CAD) before the deadline (usually 30 days from the notice date in Texas, 30 days in Florida). Most counties now allow online filing.
Attend the Hearing
The appraisal review board (ARB) will schedule an informal or formal hearing. Bring printouts of all comps and your protest letter. Present your evidence calmly and professionally. Many protests are settled at the informal level.
Save Money
If successful, your assessed value is reduced and your tax bill drops immediately. Savings are permanent until the next re-assessment (typically annual). You keep 100% of the savings — no 25% consultant fee.
🆕 What Makes a Strong Protest Case
3+ comparable sales in the same neighborhood in the past 12 months at lower prices
Unequal appraisal: Neighbors with similar homes assessed lower (use county records to compare)
Condition issues not reflected in the assessment (foundation, roof, functional obsolescence)
Errors in the record (wrong sq footage, extra bathrooms that don't exist, wrong year built)
Recent purchase price lower than assessed value (strongest single piece of evidence)
External factors: proximity to busy roads, commercial areas, power lines, flight paths
🏭 Top 20 County Filing Portals
Direct links to online protest / appeal filing for the 20 most populous counties. These cover roughly 40% of all US homeowners. Click your county to go straight to the filing portal.
How to use: Find your county below → click the portal link → file online (most are free). Have your Property ID / Account Number from your assessment notice ready.
🔎 Can't find your county?
Use these search strategies to find your county's filing portal in under 2 minutes.
Google: "[Your County] appraisal district protest online" — the CAD website is almost always the top result
Go to your state's website (e.g. texas.gov, myflorida.com) and search "property tax protest"
Look at the bottom of your assessment notice — it almost always includes the filing website or mailing address
If online filing isn't available, mail your protest letter via certified mail with return receipt before the deadline
🏭 Property Tax Protest Deadlines by State
Key deadlines and processes for major states. Always verify with your specific county.
| State | Typical Protest Deadline | Where to File | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 Texas | May 15 or 30 days after notice (whichever is later) | County Appraisal District (CAD) — most have online portals | Can file online via iFile. Informal settlement available. ARB hearing if not settled. |
| 🇺🇸 Florida | 25 days after TRIM notice (sent in August) | County Value Adjustment Board (VAB) | $15 filing fee. Petition due in September. Hearing typically Nov–Jan. |
| 🇺🇸 Illinois | 30 days after assessment notice (County Board of Review) | County Board of Review | Cook County (Chicago) has own process. Triennial reassessment cycle. |
| 🇺🇸 California | November 30 (for most counties) | County Assessment Appeals Board (AAB) | Prop 13 limits annual increases to 2%. Appeals focus on purchase price vs. assessed value. |
| 🇺🇸 New York | Grievance Day (typically 3rd Tuesday of May in most towns) | Board of Assessment Review | NYC has different TAX and NYC Tax Commission process. File RP-524 form. |
| 🇺🇸 Ohio | March 31 of tax year (Board of Revision) | County Board of Revision (BOR) | File DTE Form 1. Can be filed every 3 years or after sale/change. |
| 🇺🇸 Georgia | 45 days after assessment notice | County Board of Assessors or Board of Equalization | Informal appeal with assessor first, then formal BOE hearing if needed. |