Texas Property Tax Law Tilts in Favor of Property Owner in Hearings
Texas Property Code 2023 Chapter 41 Subchapter D
Texas property tax law puts burden of proof on appraisal district in appraisal review board hearings. Texas also requires the appraisal district to provide the hearing evidence to the property owner upon request at no cost to owner. Property owners win about 60 to 65% of tax appeal hearings.
Texas Property Tax Code
2023 Edition
The statutes available on this website are current through the 88th 4th Called Legislative Session, 2023. The constitutional provisions found on this website are current through the amendments approved by voters in November 2023.
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
The Texas Property Tax Code available on this website are current through the Regular Session of the 87th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2021. The Texas Constitution is current through the amendments approved by voters in November 2019.
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TITLE 1. PROPERTY TAX CODE
SUBTITLE F. REMEDIES
CHAPTER 41. LOCAL REVIEW
SUBCHAPTER D. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
Sec. 41.61. ISSUANCE OF SUBPOENA. (a) If reasonably necessary in the course of a protest provided by this chapter, the appraisal review board on its own motion or at the written request of a party to the protest, may subpoena witnesses or books, records, or other documents of the property owner or appraisal district that relate to the protest.
(b) On the written request of a party to a protest provided by this chapter, the appraisal review board shall issue a subpoena if the requesting party:
(1) shows good cause for issuing the subpoena; and
(2) deposits with the board a sum the board determines is reasonably sufficient to insure payment of the costs estimated to accrue for issuance and service of the subpoena and for compensation of the individual to whom it is directed.
(c) An appraisal review board may not issue a subpoena under this section unless the board holds a hearing at which the board determines that good cause exists for the issuance of the subpoena. The appraisal review board before which a good cause hearing is scheduled shall deliver written notice to the party being subpoenaed and parties to the protest of the date, time, and place of the hearing. The board shall deliver the notice not later than the 5th day before the date of the good cause hearing. The party being subpoenaed must have an opportunity to be heard at the good cause hearing.
Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2307, ch. 841, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1982. Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., 1st C.S., p. 172, ch. 13, Sec. 141, eff. Jan. 1, 1982; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 796, Sec. 38, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 828, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Sec. 41.62. SERVICE AND ENFORCEMENT OF SUBPOENA. (a) A sheriff or constable shall serve a subpoena issued as provided by this subchapter.
(b) If the person to whom a subpoena is directed fails to comply, the issuing board or the party requesting the subpoena may bring suit in the district court to enforce the subpoena. If the district court determines that good cause exists for issuance of the subpoena, the court shall order compliance. The district court may modify the requirements of a subpoena that the court determines are unreasonable. Failure to obey the order of the district court is punishable as contempt.
(c) The county attorney or, if there is no county attorney, the district attorney shall represent the board in a suit to enforce a subpoena.
Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2307, ch. 841, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1982. Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., 1st C.S., p. 172, ch. 13, Sec. 142, eff. Jan. 1, 1982.
Sec. 41.63. COMPENSATION FOR SUBPOENAED WITNESS. (a) An individual who is not a party to the proceeding and who complies with a subpoena issued as provided by this subchapter is entitled to:
(1) the reasonable costs of producing the documents;
(2) mileage of 15 cents a mile for going to and returning from the place of the proceeding; and
(3) a fee of $10 a day for each whole or partial day that the individual is necessarily present at the proceedings.
(b) The appraisal review board by rule may prescribe greater mileage or fee, but an increase is not effective unless uniformly applicable to all individuals who are entitled to mileage or fee as provided by Subsection (a) of this section.
(c) Compensation authorized as provided by this section is paid by the appraisal office if the subpoena is issued on the motion of the appraisal review board or by the party requesting the subpoena.
(d) Compensation is not payable unless the amount claimed is approved by the appraisal review board that issued the subpoena.
Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2307, ch. 841, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1982. Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., 1st C.S., p. 173, ch. 13, Sec. 143, eff. Jan. 1, 1982.
Sec. 41.64. INSPECTION OF TAX RECORDS. The appraisal review board may inspect the records or other materials of the appraisal office that are not made confidential under this code. On demand of the board, the chief appraiser shall produce the materials as soon as practicable.
Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2308, ch. 841, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1982. Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., 1st C.S., p. 173, ch. 13, Sec. 144, eff. Jan. 1, 1982.
Sec. 41.65. REQUEST FOR STATE ASSISTANCE. The appraisal review board may request the comptroller to assist in determining the accuracy of appraisals by the appraisal office or to provide other professional assistance. The appraisal office shall reimburse the costs of providing assistance if the comptroller requests reimbursement.
Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2308, ch. 841, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1982. Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., 1st C.S., p. 173, ch. 13, Sec. 144, eff. Jan. 1, 1982; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., 2nd C.S., ch. 6, Sec. 51, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.
Sec. 41.66. HEARING PROCEDURES. (a) The appraisal review board shall conduct hearings in accordance with the hearing procedures adopted by the appraisal review board under Section 41.01(c). On request made by a property owner in the owner’s notice of protest or in a separate writing delivered to the appraisal review board on or before the date the notice of protest is filed, the property owner is entitled to a copy of the hearing procedures. The copy of the hearing procedures shall be delivered to the property owner not later than the 10th day before the date the hearing on the protest begins and may be delivered with the notice of the protest hearing required under Section 41.46(a). The notice of protest form prescribed by the comptroller under Section 41.44(d) or any other notice of protest form made available to a property owner by the appraisal review board or the appraisal office shall provide the property owner an opportunity to make or decline to make a request under this subsection.
(b) Hearing procedures to the greatest extent practicable shall be informal. Each party to a hearing is entitled to offer evidence, examine or cross-examine witnesses or other parties, and present argument on the matters subject to the hearing. A property owner who is a party to a protest is entitled to elect to present the owner’s case at a hearing on the protest either before or after the appraisal district presents the district’s case.
(c) A property owner who is entitled as provided by this chapter to appear at a hearing may appear by himself or by his agent. A taxing unit may appear by a designated agent.
(d) Except as provided by Subsection (d-1), hearings conducted as provided by this chapter are open to the public.
(d-1) Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, the appraisal review board shall conduct a hearing that is closed to the public if the property owner or the chief appraiser intends to disclose proprietary or confidential information at the hearing that will assist the review board in determining the protest. The review board may hold a closed hearing under this subsection only on a joint motion by the property owner and the chief appraiser.
(d-2) Information described by Subsection (d-1) is considered information obtained under Section 22.27.
(e) The appraisal review board may not consider any appraisal district information on a protest that was not presented to the appraisal review board during the protest hearing.
(f) A member of the appraisal review board may not communicate with another person concerning:
(1) the evidence, argument, facts, merits, or any other matters related to an owner’s protest, except during the hearing on the protest; or
(2) a property that is the subject of the protest, except during a hearing on another protest or other proceeding before the board at which the property is compared to other property or used in a sample of properties.
(g) At the beginning of a hearing on a protest, each member of the appraisal review board hearing the protest must sign an affidavit stating that the board member has not communicated with another person in violation of Subsection (f). If a board member has communicated with another person in violation of Subsection (f), the member must be recused from the proceeding and may not hear, deliberate on, or vote on the determination of the protest. The board of directors of the appraisal district shall adopt and implement a policy concerning the temporary replacement of an appraisal review board member who has communicated with another person in violation of Subsection (f).
(h) The appraisal review board shall postpone a hearing on a protest if the property owner or the designated agent of the owner requests additional time to prepare for the hearing and establishes to the board that the chief appraiser failed to comply with Section 41.461. The board is not required to postpone a hearing more than one time under this subsection.
(i) A hearing on a protest filed by a property owner or the designated agent of the owner shall be set for a time and date certain. If the hearing is not commenced within two hours of the time set for the hearing, the appraisal review board shall postpone the hearing on the request of the property owner or the designated agent of the owner.
(j) On the request of a property owner or the designated agent of the owner, an appraisal review board shall schedule hearings on protests concerning up to 20 designated properties to be held consecutively on the same day. The designated properties must be identified in the same notice of protest, and the notice must contain in boldfaced type the statement “request for same-day protest hearings.” A property owner or the designated agent of the owner may file more than one request under this subsection with the appraisal review board in the same tax year. The appraisal review board may schedule hearings on protests concerning more than 20 properties filed by the same property owner or the designated agent of the owner and may use different panels to conduct the hearings based on the board’s customary scheduling. The appraisal review board may follow the practices customarily used by the board in the scheduling of hearings under this subsection.
(j-1) An appraisal review board may schedule the hearings on all protests filed by a property owner or the designated agent of the owner to be held consecutively. The notice of the hearings must state the date and time that the first hearing will begin, state the date the last hearing will end, and list the order in which the hearings will be held. The order of the hearings listed in the notice may not be changed without the agreement of the property owner or the designated agent of the owner, the chief appraiser, and the appraisal review board. The board may not reschedule a hearing for which notice is given under this subsection to a date earlier than the seventh day after the date the last hearing was scheduled to end unless agreed to by the property owner or the designated agent of the owner, the chief appraiser, and the appraisal review board. Unless agreed to by the parties, the board must provide written notice of the date and time of the rescheduled hearing to the property owner or the designated agent of the owner not later than the seventh day before the date of the hearing.
(j-2) An appraisal review board must schedule a hearing on a protest filed by a property owner who is 65 years of age or older, disabled, a military service member, a military veteran, or the spouse of a military service member or military veteran before scheduling a hearing on a protest filed by a designated agent of a property owner.
(k) This subsection does not apply to a special panel established under Section 6.425. If an appraisal review board sits in panels to conduct protest hearings, protests shall be randomly assigned to panels, except that the board may consider the type of property subject to the protest or the ground of the protest for the purpose of using the expertise of a particular panel in hearing protests regarding particular types of property or based on particular grounds. If a protest is scheduled to be heard by a particular panel, the protest may not be reassigned to another panel without the consent of the property owner or the designated agent of the owner. If the appraisal review board has cause to reassign a protest to another panel, a property owner or the designated agent of the owner may agree to reassignment of the protest or may request that the hearing on the protest be postponed. The board shall postpone the hearing on that request. A change of members of a panel because of a conflict of interest, illness, or inability to continue participating in hearings for the remainder of the day does not constitute reassignment of a protest to another panel.
(k-1) On the request of a property owner or the designated agent of the owner, an appraisal review board to which Section 6.425 applies shall assign a protest relating to property described by Section 6.425(b) to a special panel. In addition, the chairman of the appraisal review board may assign a protest relating to property not described by Section 6.425(b) to a special panel as authorized by Section 6.425(f), but only if the assignment is requested or consented to by the property owner or the designated agent of the owner. Protests assigned to special panels shall be randomly assigned to those panels. If a protest is scheduled to be heard by a particular special panel, the protest may not be reassigned to another special panel without the consent of the property owner or the designated agent of the owner. If the board has cause to reassign a protest to another special panel, a property owner or the designated agent of the owner may agree to reassignment of the protest or may request that the hearing on the protest be postponed. The board shall postpone the hearing on that request. A change of members of a special panel because of a conflict of interest, illness, or inability to continue participating in hearings for the remainder of the day does not constitute reassignment of a protest to another special panel.
(l) A property owner, attorney, or agent offering evidence or argument in support of a protest brought under Section 41.41(a)(1) or (2) of this code is not subject to Chapter 1103, Occupations Code, unless the person offering the evidence or argument states that the person is offering evidence or argument as a person holding a license or certificate under Chapter 1103, Occupations Code. A person holding a license or certificate under Chapter 1103, Occupations Code, shall state the capacity in which the person is appearing before the appraisal review board.
(m) An appraisal district or appraisal review board may not make decisions with regard to membership on a panel or chairmanship of a panel based on a member’s voting record in previous protests.
(n) A request for postponement of a hearing must contain the mailing address and e-mail address of the person requesting the postponement. An appraisal review board shall respond in writing or by e-mail to a request for postponement of a hearing not later than the seventh day after the date of receipt of the request.
(o) The chairman of an appraisal review board or a member designated by the chairman may make decisions with regard to the scheduling or postponement of a hearing. The chief appraiser or a person designated by the chief appraiser may agree to a postponement of an appraisal review board hearing.
(p) At the end of a hearing on a protest, the appraisal review board shall provide the property owner or the designated agent of the owner one or more documents indicating that the members of the board hearing the protest signed the affidavit required by Subsection (g).
(q) A person who owns property in an appraisal district or the chief appraiser of an appraisal district may file a complaint with the taxpayer liaison officer for the appraisal district alleging that the appraisal review board established for the appraisal district has adopted or is implementing hearing procedures that are not in compliance with the model hearing procedures prepared by the comptroller under Section 5.103 or is not complying with procedural requirements under this chapter. The taxpayer liaison officer shall investigate the complaint and report the findings of the investigation to the board of directors of the appraisal district. The board of directors shall direct the chairman of the appraisal review board to take remedial action if, after reviewing the taxpayer liaison officer’s report, the board of directors determines that the allegations contained in the complaint are true. The board of directors may remove the member of the appraisal review board serving as chairman of the appraisal review board from that member’s position as chairman if the board determines that the chairman has failed to take the actions necessary to bring the appraisal review board into compliance with Section 5.103(d) or this chapter, as applicable.
Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2308, ch. 841, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1982. Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., 1st C.S., p. 173, ch. 13, Sec. 145, eff. Jan. 1, 1982; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 796, Sec. 39, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 364, Sec. 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 836, Sec. 3.2, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., 1st C.S., ch. 14, Sec. 8.01(23), eff. Nov. 12, 1991.
Amended by:
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 728 (H.B. 2018), Sec. 19.001, eff. September 1, 2005.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1035 (H.B. 2792), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2013.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1259 (H.B. 585), Sec. 22, eff. January 1, 2014.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 939 (S.B. 1767), Sec. 2, eff. January 1, 2018.
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 944 (S.B. 2), Sec. 66, eff. January 1, 2020.
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 944 (S.B. 2), Sec. 66, eff. September 1, 2020.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 644 (H.B. 988), Sec. 20, eff. June 15, 2021.
Sec. 41.67. EVIDENCE. (a) A member of the appraisal review board may swear witnesses who testify in proceedings under this chapter. All testimony must be given under oath.
(b) Documentary evidence may be admitted in the form of a copy if the appraisal review board conducting the proceeding determines that the original document is not readily available. A party is entitled to an opportunity to compare a copy with the original document on request.
(c) Official notice may be taken of any fact judicially cognizable. A party is entitled to an opportunity to contest facts officially noticed.
(d) Information that was previously requested under Section 41.461 by the protesting party that was not delivered to the protesting party at least 14 days before the scheduled or postponed hearing may not be used or offered in any form as evidence in the hearing, including as a document or through argument or testimony. This subsection does not apply to information offered to rebut evidence or argument presented at the hearing by the protesting party or that party’s designated agent.
(e) The chief appraiser may not offer evidence or argument at a hearing on a protest in support of a reason for modifying or denying an application other than a reason stated in a notice delivered to the applicant under Section 11.45(d) or (e), 23.44(d), 23.57(d), 23.79(d), 23.85(d), 23.95(d), or 23.9805(d) unless the chief appraiser:
(1) provides written notice to the property owner of the additional reason for modifying or denying the application not later than the 14th day before the date of the hearing; and
(2) establishes that the additional reason was not known to the chief appraiser at the time the chief appraiser delivered to the applicant the notice under Section 11.45(d) or (e), 23.44(d), 23.57(d), 23.79(d), 23.85(d), 23.95(d), or 23.9805(d).
Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2308, ch. 841, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1982. Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., 1st C.S., p. 173, ch. 13, Sec. 146, eff. Jan. 1, 1982; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 364, Sec. 3, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 463, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Amended by:
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 944 (S.B. 2), Sec. 67, eff. January 1, 2020.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 533 (S.B. 63), Sec. 19, eff. September 1, 2021.
Sec. 41.68. RECORD OF PROCEEDING. The appraisal review board shall keep a record of its proceedings in the form and manner prescribed by the comptroller.
Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2309, ch. 841, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1982. Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., 1st C.S., p. 173, ch. 13, Sec. 147, eff. Jan. 1, 1982; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., 2nd C.S., ch. 6, Sec. 51, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.
Sec. 41.69. CONFLICT OF INTEREST. A member of the appraisal review board may not participate in the determination of a taxpayer protest in which he is interested or in which he is related to a party by affinity within the second degree or by consanguinity within the third degree, as determined under Chapter 573, Government Code.
Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2309, ch. 841, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1982. Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., 1st C.S., p. 173, ch. 13, Sec. 147, eff. Jan. 1, 1982; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 561, Sec. 46, eff. Aug. 26, 1991; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 5.95(27), eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Sec. 41.70. PUBLIC NOTICE OF PROTEST AND APPEAL PROCEDURES. (a) On or after May 1 but not later than May 15, the chief appraiser shall publish notice of the manner in which a protest under this chapter may be brought by a property owner. The notice must describe how to initiate a protest and must describe the deadlines for filing a protest. The notice must also describe the manner in which an order of the appraisal review board may be appealed. The comptroller by rule shall adopt minimum standards for the form and content of the notice required by this section.
(b) The chief appraiser shall publish the notice in a newspaper having general circulation in the county for which the appraisal district is established. The notice may not be smaller than one-quarter page of a standard-size or tabloid-size newspaper, and may not be published in the part of the paper in which legal notices and classified advertisements appear.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 796, Sec. 40, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., 2nd C.S., ch. 6, Sec. 52, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.
Sec. 41.71. EVENING AND WEEKEND HEARINGS. (a) An appraisal review board by rule shall provide for hearings on protests on a Saturday or after 5 p.m. on a weekday.
(b) The board may not schedule:
(1) the first hearing on a protest held on a weekday evening to begin after 7 p.m.; or
(2) a hearing on a protest on a Sunday.
Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1039, Sec. 40, eff. Jan. 1, 1998.
Amended by:
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 944 (S.B. 2), Sec. 68, eff. January 1, 2020.
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