Most property homeowners in Harris County have till subsequent Thursday, Could 15, to protest the appraised values of their houses, companies and land, which helps decide how a lot they should pay in taxes.
Roland Altinger, the chief appraiser for the Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD), stated in recent times it has settled greater than 500,000 protests on an annual foundation. The appraisal district assesses about 1.9 million parcels of property in Houston and surrounding areas, utilizing market values as of Jan. 1 of a given 12 months.
“The aim of the appraisal is to allocate the tax burden pretty amongst all homeowners of taxable property,” Altinger stated in a information launch.
Appraised values, coupled with tax charges set by authorities entities akin to cities, counties, college districts and municipal utility districts, decide how a lot property homeowners should pay in taxes.
Property homeowners in Harris County have till 5 p.m. Could 15 — or 30 days after they obtain worth notices from HCAD — to file protests in an try and decrease their appraised values. Some homeowners might have acquired worth notices after April 15, in line with HCAD, which stated there additionally could also be property homeowners who haven’t but acquired worth notices.
Protests may be filed in individual on the HCAD workplace, 13013 Northwest Fwy., or by mailing protest kinds to P.O. Field 9222004, Houston, TX 77292-2004, with a postmark date no later than Could 15. “Discover of Protest” kinds can be found on the HCAD web site.
Protests additionally may be submitted on-line, utilizing the iFile system on the HCAD web site. Supporting documentation akin to closing statements, deeds and pictures may be uploaded. These utilizing the iFile system may be capable to settle values via HCAD’s iSettle system.
“An actual simple means is to protest electronically utilizing our iFile system,” Altinger stated. “Every worth discover has a private, confidential, iFile quantity, which can be utilized to file your protest and add your proof supporting your opinion of worth.”
Main as much as the Could 15 protest deadline, HCAD and the Harris County Tax Workplace are holding a collection of property tax workshops to elucidate how the method works. A digital workshop is scheduled for 1 p.m. Could 14, and there are in-person workshops scheduled for the mornings of Could 12, Could 13 and Could 15.
“A method owners can be taught extra in regards to the protest course of and find out how to put together is by attending one of many free property tax workshops,” Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Annette Ramirez stated.
