Sec. 25.19. NOTICE OF APPRAISED VALUE.
(a) By April 1 or as soon thereafter as practicable if the property is a single-family residence that qualifies for an exemption under Section 11.13, or by May 1 or as soon thereafter as practicable in connection with any other property, the chief appraiser shall deliver a clear and understandable written notice to a property owner of the appraised value of the property owner’s property if:
(1) the appraised value of the property is greater than it was in the preceding year;
(2) the appraised value of the property is greater than the value rendered by the property owner;
(3) the property was not on the appraisal roll in the preceding year; or
(4) an exemption or partial exemption approved for the property for the preceding year was canceled or reduced for the current year.
(b) The chief appraiser shall separate real from personal property and include in the notice for each:
(1) a list of the taxing units in which the property is taxable;
(2) the appraised value of the property in the preceding year;
(3) the taxable value of the property in the preceding year for each taxing unit taxing the property;
(4) the appraised value of the property for the current year, the kind and amount of each exemption and partial exemption, if any, approved for the property for the current year and for the preceding year, and, if an exemption or partial exemption that was approved for the preceding year was canceled or reduced for the current year, the amount of the exemption or partial exemption canceled or reduced;
(5) in italic typeface, the following statement: “The Texas Legislature does not set the amount of your local taxes. Your property tax burden is decided by your locally elected officials, and all inquiries concerning your taxes should be directed to those officials”;
(6) a detailed explanation of the time and procedure for protesting the value;
(7) the date and place the appraisal review board will begin hearing protests;
(8) an explanation of the availability and purpose of an informal conference with the appraisal office before a hearing on a protest; and
(9) a brief explanation that the governing body of each taxing unit decides whether or not taxes on the property will increase and the appraisal district only determines the value of the property.
(b-1) For real property, in addition to the information required by Subsection (b), the chief appraiser shall state in a notice required to be delivered under Subsection (a), the difference, expressed as a percent increase or decrease, as applicable, in the appraised value of the property for the current tax year as compared to the fifth tax year before the current tax year.
(b-2) Repealed by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 944 (S.B. 2), Sec. 91(4), eff. January 1, 2020.
(b-3) This subsection applies only to an appraisal district described by Section 6.41(b-2). In addition to the information required by Subsection (b), the chief appraiser shall state in a notice of appraised value of property described by Section 6.425(b) that the property owner has the right to have a protest relating to the property heard by a special panel of the appraisal review board.
(b-4) Subsection (b)(5) applies only to a notice of appraised value required to be delivered by the chief appraiser of an appraisal district established in a county with a population of less than 120,000. This subsection expires January 1, 2022.
(c) In the case of the residence homestead of a person 65 years of age or older or disabled that is subject to the limitation on a tax increase over the preceding year for school tax purposes, the chief appraiser shall indicate on the notice that the preceding year’s taxes may not be increased.
(d) Failure to receive a notice required by this section does not affect the validity of the appraisal of the property, the imposition of any tax on the basis of the appraisal, the existence of any tax lien, the deadline for filing an application for a residence homestead exemption, or any proceeding instituted to collect the tax.
(e) The chief appraiser, with the approval of the appraisal district board of directors, may dispense with the notice required by Subsection (a)(1) if the amount of increase in appraised value is $1,000 or less.
(f) In the notice of appraised value for real property, the chief appraiser shall list separately:
(1) the market value of the land; and
(2) the total market value of the structures and other improvements on the property.
(g) By April 1 or as soon thereafter as practicable if the property is a single-family residence that qualifies for an exemption under Section 11.13, or by May 1 or as soon thereafter as practicable in connection with any other property, the chief appraiser shall deliver a written notice to the owner of each property not included in a notice required to be delivered under Subsection (a), if the property was reappraised in the current tax year, if the ownership of the property changed during the preceding year, or if the property owner or the agent of a property owner authorized under Section 1.111 makes a written request for the notice. The chief appraiser shall separate real from personal property and include in the notice for each property:
(1) the appraised value of the property in the preceding year;
(2) the appraised value of the property for the current year and the kind of each partial exemption, if any, approved for the current year;
(3) a detailed explanation of the time and procedure for protesting the value; and
(4) the date and place the appraisal review board will begin hearing protests.
(h) A notice required by Subsection (a) or (g) must be in the form of a letter.
(i) Delivery with a notice required by Subsection (a) or (g) of a copy of the pamphlet published by the comptroller under Section 5.06 or a copy of the notice published by the chief appraiser under Section 41.70 is sufficient to comply with the requirement that the notice include the information specified by Subsection (b)(6) or (g)(3), as applicable.
(j) The chief appraiser shall include with a notice required by Subsection (a) or (g):
(1) a copy of a notice of protest form as prescribed by the comptroller under Section 41.44(d); and
(2) instructions for completing and mailing the form to the appraisal review board and requesting a hearing on the protest.
(k) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the chief appraiser may not deliver a written notice concerning property that is required to be rendered or reported under Chapter 22 until after the applicable deadline for filing the rendition statement or property report.
(l) In addition to the information required by Subsection (b), the chief appraiser shall include with a notice required by Subsection (a) a brief explanation of each total or partial exemption of property from taxation required or authorized by this title that is available to:
(1) a disabled veteran or the veteran’s surviving spouse or child;
(2) an individual who is 65 years of age or older or the individual’s surviving spouse;
(3) an individual who is disabled or the individual’s surviving spouse;
(4) the surviving spouse of a member of the armed services of the United States who is killed in action; or
(5) the surviving spouse of a first responder who is killed or fatally injured in the line of duty.
Text of subsection as added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 209 (H.B. 2723), Sec. 2
(m) A notice required by Subsection (a) or (g) must include the following statement: “Beginning August 7th, visit Texas.gov/PropertyTaxes to find a link to your local property tax database on which you can easily access information regarding your property taxes, including information regarding the amount of taxes that each entity that taxes your property will impose if the entity adopts its proposed tax rate. Your local property tax database will be updated regularly during August and September as local elected officials propose and adopt the property tax rates that will determine how much you pay in property taxes.”
Text of subsection as added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 644 (H.B. 988), Sec. 12
(m) The chief appraiser may not deliver a corrected or amended notice of appraised value later than June 1 for property for which a person files a rendition statement or property report as required by Chapter 22 unless the purpose of the notice is to:
(1) include omitted property; or
(2) correct a clerical error.
(n) As soon as practicable after delivering a notice required by this section to a property owner, the chief appraiser shall post the notice on the appraisal district’s Internet website, if the appraisal district maintains a website, as part of the appraisal record pertaining to the property.
Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2274, ch. 841, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1982. Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., 1st C.S., p. 159, ch. 13, Sec. 107, 162, eff. Jan. 1, 1982; Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 185, Sec. 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1987; Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 947, Sec. 11, eff. Jan. 1, 1988; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 745, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 784, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 796, Sec. 24, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1990, 71st Leg., 6th C.S., ch. 12, Sec. 2(32), eff. Sept. 6, 1990; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 836, Sec. 2.1, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1039, Sec. 24, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1358, Sec. 4, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1517, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1173, Sec. 10, eff. Jan. 1, 2004.
Amended by:
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 412 (S.B. 1652), Sec. 11, eff. September 1, 2005.
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 412 (S.B. 1652), Sec. 12, eff. September 1, 2005.
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1255 (H.B. 1984), Sec. 1, eff. January 1, 2006.
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1106 (H.B. 3496), Sec. 1, eff. January 1, 2008.
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1112 (H.B. 3630), Sec. 4, eff. January 1, 2008.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 632 (S.B. 1420), Sec. 1, eff. January 1, 2016.
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 672 (S.B. 2060), Sec. 1, eff. January 1, 2020.
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 944 (S.B. 2), Sec. 29, eff. January 1, 2022.
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 944 (S.B. 2), Sec. 29, eff. January 1, 2021.
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 944 (S.B. 2), Sec. 91(4), eff. January 1, 2020.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 209 (H.B. 2723), Sec. 2, eff. June 3, 2021.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 644 (H.B. 988), Sec. 11, eff. January 1, 2022.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 644 (H.B. 988), Sec. 12, eff. January 1, 2022.
Sec. 25.192. NOTICE OF RESIDENCE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION ELIGIBILITY. (a) This section applies only to residential property that has not qualified for a residence homestead exemption in the current tax year.
(b) If the records of the appraisal district indicate that the address of the property is also the address of the owner of the property, the chief appraiser must send to the property owner a notice that contains:
(1) the following statement in boldfaced 18-point type at the top of the first page of the notice: “NOTICE: A residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation is NOT currently being allowed on the property listed below. However, our records show that this property may qualify for a residence homestead exemption, which will reduce your taxes.”;
(2) following the statement described by Subdivision (1), the following statement in 12-point type: “According to the records of the appraisal district, the property described in this notice may be your primary residence and may qualify for a residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation. If the property is your home and you occupy it as your primary residence, the property likely qualifies for one or more residence homestead exemptions, which will reduce the amount of taxes imposed on the property. The form needed to apply for a residence homestead exemption is enclosed. Although the form may state that the deadline for filing an application for a residence homestead exemption is April 30, a late application for a residence homestead exemption will be accepted if filed before February 1, (insert year application must be filed). There is no fee or charge for filing an application or a late application for a residence homestead exemption.”; and
(3) following the statement described by Subdivision (2), the address to which the notice is sent.
(c) The notice required by this section must be accompanied by an application form for a residence homestead exemption.
(d) If a property owner has elected to receive notices by e-mail as provided by Section 1.086, the notice required by this section must be sent in that manner separately from any other notice sent to the property owner by the chief appraiser.
Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 944 (S.B. 2), Sec. 30, eff. January 1, 2020.
Sec. 25.193. NOTICE OF CERTAIN CANCELED OR REDUCED EXEMPTIONS. (a) By April 1 or as soon thereafter as practicable if the property is a single-family residence that qualifies for an exemption under Section 11.13, or by May 1 or as soon thereafter as practicable in connection with residential property that does not qualify for an exemption under Section 11.13, the chief appraiser shall deliver a clear and understandable written notice to a property owner if an exemption or partial exemption that was approved for the preceding year was canceled or reduced for the current year.
(b) If a property owner has elected to receive notices by e-mail as provided by Section 1.086, the notice required by this section must be sent in that manner regardless of whether the information was also included in a notice under Section 25.19 and must be sent separately from any other notice sent to the property owner by the chief appraiser.
Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 944 (S.B. 2), Sec. 30, eff. January 1, 2020.
Amended by:
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 533 (S.B. 63), Sec. 14, eff. September 1, 2021.
Sec. 25.195. INSPECTION BY PROPERTY OWNER. (a) After the chief appraiser has submitted the appraisal records to the appraisal review board as provided by Section 25.22(a), a property owner or the owner’s designated agent is entitled to inspect and copy the appraisal records relating to property of the property owner, together with supporting data, schedules, and, except as provided by Subsection (b), any other material or information held by the chief appraiser or required by Section 25.01(c) to be provided to the appraisal district under a contract for appraisal services, including material or information obtained under Section 22.27, that is obtained or used in making appraisals for the appraisal records relating to that property.
(b) The owner of property other than vacant land or real property used for residential purposes or the owner’s agent may not inspect any material or information obtained under Section 22.27.
(c) A property owner or the designated agent of an owner whose property is appraised by a private appraisal firm under a contract for appraisal services with an appraisal district is entitled to inspect and copy, at the office of that firm, all information pertaining to the property that the firm considered in appraising the property, including information showing each method of appraisal used to determine the value of the property and all calculations, personal notes, correspondence, and working papers used in appraising the property. This subsection does not apply to information made confidential by Section 22.27, except that the property owner or agent is entitled to inspect and copy any information relating to the owner’s property, including otherwise confidential information.
(d) The appraisal firm shall make information covered by Subsection (c) available for inspection and copying by the owner or agent not later than the 15th day after the date the owner or agent delivers a written request to inspect the information, unless the owner or agent agrees in writing to a later date.
(e) If an owner or agent states under oath in a document filed with an appraisal review board in connection with a proceeding initiated under Section 25.25 or Chapter 41 that the applicable appraisal firm has not complied with a request for inspection or copying under Subsection (c) related to the property that is the subject of the proceeding, the board may not conduct a hearing on the merits of any claim relating to that property and may not approve the appraisal records relating to that property until the board determines in a hearing that:
(1) the appraisal firm has made the information available for inspection and copying as required by Subsection (c); or
(2) the owner or agent has withdrawn the motion or protest that initiated the proceeding.
Added by Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 5079, ch. 920, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 29, 1983. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 38, Sec. 1, eff. April 29, 1987; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1039, Sec. 25, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 372, Sec. 1, eff. May 26, 2001.