As property owners around the area and state review the rise in their property tax appraisals, concerns have been raised about the steep incline.
Values around the state were expected to go up as announced by the Texas Association of Appraisal Districts and Erath County Appraisal District in a March release, but landowners always have a right to protest their appraisals. The window is closing on that with a May 20deadline to file protests with the Appraisal Review Board (ARB).
Property owners have the right to protest actions concerning their property tax appraisals. You may follow these appeal procedures if you have a concern about:
■ the appraised (market) value of your property;
■ the unequal value of your property compared with other properties;
■ the inclusion of your property on the appraisal records;
■ any exemptions that may apply to you;
■ the qualification for an agricultural or timber appraisal;
■ the taxing units taxing your property;
■ the property ownership;
■ the change of use of land receiving special appraisal;
■ failure of the chief appraiser or appraisal review board (ARB) to send a required notice; or
■ any action taken by the chief appraiser, county appraisal district (CAD) or ARB that applies to and adversely affects you.
Informal reviews may be requested by Erath residents by mailing or calling the Erath County Appraisal District. (Contact information available at end of story.)
If you cannot resolve your problem informally with the CAD, you file a notice of protest requesting to have your case heard by the ARB.
The ARB is an independent board of citizens that hears and determines protests regarding property appraisals or other concerns listed above. It has the power to order the CAD to make the necessary changes based on evidence heard during the ARB hearing.
If you file a written request for an ARB hearing (notice of protest) before the deadline, the ARB will set your case for a hearing and send you a written notice of the time, date, place and subject of the hearing. If necessary, you may request a hearing in the evening or on a Saturday. You may use Comptroller Form 50-132, Property Appraisal - Notice of Protest, to file your written request for an ARB hearing.
Prior to your hearing, you may request a copy of the evidence the CAD plans to introduce at the hearing to establish any matter at issue. Before a hearing on a protest or immediately after the hearing begins, you or your agent and the CAD are required to provide each other with a copy of any materials (evidence) intended to be offered or submitted to the ARB at the hearing. Evidence may be submitted for any hearing type either in paper or on a small portable electronic device (such as a CD, USB flash drive or thumb drive) which will be kept by the ARB. Do NOT bring evidence on a smartphone. The ARB’s hearing procedures regarding all the requirements to properly submit evidence on a small portable electronic device must be reviewed.
The deadline to file a protest with the ARB is May 20.
To contact the CAD about an informal review or protest or to request more information call (254) 965- 5434 or visit or mail Erath County Appraisal District, 1195 W. South Loop, Stephenville, TX 76401.