FAQ

1. What is Property Tax Consulting?

A Property Tax Consultant:

A. Prepares renditions or property reports for another person

B. Represents another person in a protest under the Tax Code.

C. Negotiates with an appraisal district on behalf of another person concerning an action that is or may be part of a protest.

D. Acts as an agent of the property owner in accordance with the Tax Code.

2. What is Property Tax Arbitration?

If a property owner is not satisfied with the result of the ARB hearing, the owner may elect binding arbitration instead of going to court. The case is then decided by an independent neutral third party at a hearing where both sides are allowed to present their cases. Within 20 days from the date of the hearing, the arbitrator will determine the "award".

3. How do I file a Tax Protest?

Protests to the ARB must be written. The Appraisal District has forms for protesting, but an official form is not necessary. Any written notice of protest will be acceptable as long as it identifies the owner, the property that is the subject of the protest and indicates apparent dissatisfaction with an action or decision taken by the Appraisal District. Click here for a protest form.

4. When is the deadline for filing a protest?

The deadline for filing your protest, for most counties, is May 31 or thirty (30) days after your Notice of Proposed Value was mailed by your Central Appraisal District, whichever comes later. Some Central Appraisal Districts have later filing deadlines if they mailed their Notices after May 1.

5. What is HB201?

Sec. 41.461 of the Property Tax Code.

l At least 14 days before a hearing on a protest, the chief appraiser shall:

l(1) deliver a copy of the pamphlet prepared by the comptroller under Section 5.06(a) to the property owner initiating the protest if the owner is representing himself, or to an agent representing the owner if requested by the agent;

l(2) inform the property owner that the owner or the agent of the owner may inspect and may obtain a copy of the data, schedules, formulas, and all other information the chief appraiser plans to introduce at the hearing to establish any matter at issue; and l(3) deliver a copy of the hearing procedures established by the appraisal review board under Section 41.66 to the property owner.

6. What if I have already filed, can you still represent me?

We can represent you even though you filed your own application to the CAD. It is preferable if you give us enough lead time, 15 days before the hearing date is our recommendation, however we have represented clients with as little as two days lead time.

7. I've already had my ARB hearing. Is there any thing else I can do?

If you have gone to the formal ARB hearing and are still not satisfied with the outcome there are two appeal processes which are mutually exclusive, they are 1. Appeal to District Court or 2. Appeal through Binding Arbitration.

8. What is Binding Arbitration?

Binding Arbitration is the resolution of a dispute subject to the decision of neutral third party. Decision is binding and there is a narrow right to appeal. Binding arbitration is usually quicker, less formal, less costly and more private than litigation.

9. What is a Webinar?

A webinar is an acronym for Web Based Seminar. Attending a webinar is like attending any seminar except that you do not have to go to the seminar, it comes to you. Instead of meeting in a conference room, we will meet in a virtual conference room on the web. Joining a meeting does not take long – just follow the instructions, which you will receive from us shortly after you have registered. Once you have logged in you can sit back and listen to the presentation on the phone while watching it on your screen. If you wish to ask a question you can raise your hand by clicking on the hand symbol which will appear on your screen. So what is required to participate? Basically a phone and PC with access to the web is all you need. No special software is required to participate. Click here too register for one of our webinars.

consultant under this chapter.

Dennis Sposato

Licensed Property Tax Consultant

Registered Property Tax Arbitrator