Home address: 1816 Trail Ridge Ln

2021 Taxable Value: $411,288 

Recent Sales Price: $320,000 – Over-taxed by 29%

Appraisal district errors in setting assessed values cause Denton County owners to pay extra taxes. Appraisal districts are flexible on market value appeals given the large number of houses they value and that are protested. Unequal appraisal is a powerful tool to reduce property taxes, but many homeowners are not aware of it and don’t use it. It is difficult to persuade property owners to protest their property taxes.  But 60 to 80% of those who do are successful. 

Some property owners do not appeal due to a concern the appraisal district will want to inspect their house.  However, the appraisal district is MUCH too busy during the appeal season to even think about asking to inspect a property.  Assessors do not visit houses because of appeals. One reason it is difficult for appraisal districts to correctly value homes is they are not homogenous.  Some have been remodeled and some haven’t. Appraisal districts usually settle appeals at the informal hearing since it costs less and takes fewer resources. Property taxes are the largest tax most Texans face. But it is a stealth tax hidden in the mortgage payment, disguising the size of property taxes paid.