One Katy quirk worth knowing
Katy sits at the corner of three counties, so your protest goes to whichever appraisal district covers your home: Harris County (HCAD), Fort Bend County (FBCAD), or Waller County (WCAD). Your appraisal notice tells you which one owns your file, and each has an online portal where much of this can be handled without a hearing.
Before you protest: the homestead exemption
If the home is your primary residence and you haven't filed the general residence homestead exemption, stop and do that first. It's free, it's a one-time filing with your appraisal district, it reduces your taxable value every year, and it caps how fast your assessed value can climb annually. It routinely saves more than a protest does, and plenty of new homeowners simply never file it. If you bought recently and aren't sure, text me and I'll help you check in two minutes.
The protest, step by step
- Read your notice. It shows the district's proposed value. The question isn't "did it go up," it's "could I sell my house for this number?" If not, protest.
- File before the deadline. Online through your district's portal is easiest. Generally May 15 or 30 days after the notice arrives, whichever is later.
- Try the informal settlement first. The districts' online tools often present a settlement offer, and many protests end right there with a few clicks.
- Bring real evidence if it goes to a hearing. The Appraisal Review Board responds to substance: closed comparable sales, photos of condition issues, repair bids, and an unequal-appraisal comparison against similar homes' assessments.
The evidence that actually moves the number
- Closed comps, not listings. What similar homes actually sold for around January 1 of the tax year. This is exactly the data agents have and most homeowners don't, and it's what I send you.
- Condition, documented. The district assumes average condition. Foundation issues, an original 20-year-old roof, a dated interior: photograph it, get bids, bring both.
- Unequal appraisal. Texas lets you argue your home is assessed higher than comparable homes are assessed, even if your market value is defensible. It's a second bite at the apple most DIY filers never take.
My standing offer to Katy-area homeowners
Every spring I pull protest comps for homeowners at no charge, whether or not you've ever worked with me. It costs me minutes, it saves you real money, and yes, it means when you eventually do sell, you'll know an agent. Everyone wins honestly. Text 515-631-2378 with your address when your notice lands.
Curious what your home is actually worth on the market, which is a different number than the tax roll? Get the real valuation here.
Full-time REALTOR® with eXp Realty in Katy, TX (TREC License #788889). Rated 4.98/5 across 40 verified HAR client surveys and 5.0 on Google. Read the reviews or call or text 515-631-2378.
This guide is educational, not legal, tax, or lending advice, and every situation is different. Verify anything that matters to your purchase or sale with your agent, lender, CPA, or attorney.