Residential Property Tax Protest
Texas homeowners have the legal right to challenge their appraisal, and Vanguard makes the process completely hands-off for you.
Texas Home Prices Are Rising. Your Taxes Don't Have to Rise With Them.
Texas effective property tax rates range from 1.5% to 2.5% of assessed market value, among the highest in the nation. With no state income tax, local governments rely heavily on property taxes for funding.
When appraisal districts reassess your home each spring, their valuations often overshoot actual market value. Rising comparable sales, algorithmic mass appraisals, and limited appeals by homeowners all contribute to over-taxation.
The good news: protesting your assessment is a legal right guaranteed by the Texas Property Tax Code, and the worst outcome is that your value stays the same. There is literally no downside to filing.
On a $500,000 home, that's $7,500 to $12,500 per year in property taxes.
Even a modest $20,000 reduction saves ~$500/year. That's $2,500 over five years.
All Residential Property Types Welcome
Single-Family Homes
Primary residences, homestead exemptions, and all market value ranges.
Condos & Townhomes
Urban and suburban condominiums and attached townhome communities.
Rental Properties
Investment properties, duplexes, and income-producing residential assets.
Second Homes
Vacation properties and secondary residences in any Texas county.
Key Exemptions for Texas Homeowners
Beyond the protest itself, Vanguard helps you identify every exemption you may qualify for. Stacking exemptions with a successful protest produces the maximum possible tax reduction.
- Homestead Exemption: $140,000 mandatory school tax reduction for your primary residence.
- Over-65 Exemption: An additional $60,000 school tax exemption plus a school tax freeze that can't increase while you own the home.
- Disabled Person Exemption: Similar to the over-65 exemption with comparable benefits.
- 10% Annual Cap: Homestead properties cannot be reassessed more than 10% above the prior year's value.
- 100% Disabled Veteran: Full exemption from all Texas property taxes.
- Agricultural / Wildlife Exemption: Land taxed on productivity value rather than market value.
The 10% Homestead Cap, Explained
Once you have an active homestead exemption, your property's taxable assessed value cannot increase by more than 10% per year, regardless of how much the actual market value rose.
This cap does not apply to properties that recently changed ownership or new construction, making it especially important to protest in your first year of ownership before the cap is established.
Note: The cap applies to the assessed value used for taxation, not the appraised market value set by the district. Protesting reduces both figures downstream.
Your Protest, Handled Start to Finish
You never appear at a hearing or track a deadline. We take it from here.
Sign Our Authorization Form
A brief online form authorizes Vanguard to represent your property. No cost, no commitment beyond that.
We Analyze Your Property
We pull comparable sales, review the appraisal district's methodology, and identify the strongest arguments for reduction before the May 15 protest deadline.
We Negotiate on Your Behalf
We file the protest and attend the informal hearing with the appraisal district. If negotiations produce a satisfactory result, we're done. If not, we proceed to the ARB.
You Receive Your Savings Report
We notify you of the final result and the calculated savings. You pay our contingency fee only if we achieved a reduction, and then we automatically re-enroll you for next year.
Real Results, Real People
"Patrick way exceeded my expectations and made the whole experience pleasant. It's refreshing to work with such genuine people."
"He helped me understand what was driving the sudden increase and carefully explored all available options. He put my best interest first."
"RECOMMENDED!! Patrick walked through everything so I could understand what I was paying for and how I could save. He has incredible insight on the DFW market."
Find your county
Deadlines, how the protest works with your appraisal district, and local answers for each county we serve.
Ready to Lower Your Property Tax Bill?
Sign up in minutes. We handle everything from analysis to hearings. You pay only when we win.