2023
In property tax battle, some Texas appraisal districts don’t publicize protest deadline
2022
Once again, Denton County homeowners are angry. Their appraisal district is in turmoil
Dear Californians and other Texas newcomers: Here’s the skinny on your tax bill
Have a Texas property tax question? As the protest deadline looms, we ask Glenn
How to find a property tax consultant to handle your appraisal protest
Watch this video see to how to file an appraisal protest
The 2022 strategy to win your property tax protest without going to a hearing. Ask for your info!
Property tax time: Get ready to play Godzilla to your appraisal district’s King Kong
2021
With apologies to Ripley, the Texas property tax system is one big believe it or not scheme.
How to protest your 2021 Texas property tax appraisal, why you should and what’s new in 2021?
Read the FULL TRANSCRIPT of the 2020 seminar here.
Read The Watchdog’s 2020 Primer on Your Property Tax/Appraisal Protest here.
VIDEO: Welcome to The Watchdog’s 2020 Property Tax Seminar loaded with the latest information from two of the best property tax consultants in Texas. This program was recorded on May 1, 2020 and sponsored by The Dallas Morning News Rewards program. The Watchdog’s guest experts are Glenn Goodrich of propertytax.io and Will Wiggins of North Texas Property Tax Services.
BONUS: In these stories below, you’ll learn from Dave Lieber, The Watchdog, how to protest your property appraisal leading to your property tax -- and why you should.
And let’s not forget that Dave is the only columnist in America with his own flag. It’s his philosophy. It’s radical, yes, but thousands have tried and many have won. They’ve lowered their property values which in turn can lower your annual tax bill!
2020
“2020 is going to be an ugly year for property taxes,” Dave says. “You’ve got a thick new Senate Bill 2 property tax law that goes into effect. You’ve got a devastated economy that won’t be reflected in 2020 tax appraisals because a property’s condition on Jan. 1, 2020 is what matters.
"You’ve got cities and counties trying to force their way through a loophole that may let them double their tax increases, even thought it’s not allowed under the new law, " Lieber says. "And you’ve got the uncertainty about whether in-person meetings to protest during this coronavirus epoch are even possible. That’s a lot of baggage on a system that is already rigged and unfair,” Lieber says.
Another warning: If you don’t receive an appraisal notice in the mail one month before your county deadline, go to your county’s appraisal district website and look up your property online. The law says they don’t have to send you a notice if your property doesn’t increase in appraised value by more than $1,000. This is a dirty trick. Without a notice, you won’t get a reminder that you can protest. You can protest if your property appraisal is lower, the same or higher than the year before. But not getting a notice cuts down on that, to the benefit of the government, not you.
So you must check your property online at your appraisal district’s website. It’s very important! Some counties’ data are already loaded, but others, such as Dallas DCAD won’t be sending notices out until around May 15 so their website may not be up to date until then.
Here’s a collection of some of Dave Lieber’s recent stories. He’ll be writing many more, so check out his columns. New ones appear on Fridays and Sundays in the print newspaper and always at https://www.dallasnews.com/watchdog.
To read stories below, click on the headlines. And if you run into our pay wall, please spend a few bucks. This is worth it. Spend a few to learn how to possibly save thousands. That’s a good ROI.
Oh, and because some of these stories are old, things might have changed. The more recent stories are likely more accurate.
Full transcript of the 2020 property tax/appraisal protest with host Dave Lieber and guest experts Recommended
The Watchdog’s 2020 Primer on Your Property Tax/Appraisal Protest Recommended
Why fighting your property tax is so hard: Texas hides sales numbers from public view
O’Connor & Associates is the biggest property tax firm but at a cost to its workers and customers
Tax study shows that if homeowners get help on how to protest they will
If you think your property tax bill will drop this year, think again. Here’s how you can fight an increase. Recommended
The Watchdog breaks it down: This is how the new Texas property tax law affects you Recommended
Take this quick quiz and see how much you know about the new Texas property tax law
2019
This is how Texas lawmakers avoided true property tax reform and instead gave us fluff and stuff
Can Texas fix its broken property tax system? These lawmakers’ ideas might not have a chance.
I took my property tax protest to the end. Would the appraisal district surrender? Recommended
Why paying your property tax without a protest is a sucker’s game Recommended
How you and your neighbors can lower your property tax Recommended
Meet this property tax consultant and hear his advice about how to win a tax protest, He’s a shark.
Seniors think they get a property tax deferral -- until a surprise tax bill comes
2018
Frequently asked questions about your 2018 property tax protest
This is how the state of Texas confuses you about the cost of your property taxes
What does ‘land value mean for your property taxes?
Here’s a new and inexpensive way to get help protesting your property tax
2017
Biggest scam in Texas is when elected officials pretend to lower your tax but actually raise it. Recommended
Here’s what you’re saying about your 2017 property tax protest hearings
Here’s how one homeowner knocked $13,000 off her property tax appraisal in 30 minutes Recommended
Ironically, the leader of this year’s property tax protest campaign fails at his own Recommended
2015
Watchdog: My guide to protesting your property tax
2014
My guide to lowering our 2014 property taxes (Part One)
How to file an online property tax protest (Part Two)
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