Protesting the value of your property and homestead exemption
Published | Posted by Sonia Comisarenco
If you are a homeowner and are not aware of the homestead exemption or why and how to protest the value of your home, this article is for you.
Protesting the assessed value of your home should be done every year!
Now, when it comes to the homestead exemption, this is done once time, as soon as you purchase the property and per a new law, any time the appraisal district requests it, as per the information obtained, not more often than every 5 years.
The homestead exemption reduces the taxable value of your primary residence, helping you pay less in property taxes.
Key parts:
~General Homestead Exemption:
The state requires school districts to deduct $100,000 from your home’s appraised value.
Some counties, cities, and special districts offer optional exemptions (usually a percentage of value — e.g., 20%).
10% Appraisal Cap:
Even if your market value jumps, the taxable value (called the net appraised value) can only go up 10% per year (plus any new improvements), if the homestead exemption is in place.
~Using Sample Numbers:
Year Market (Appraised) Value Net Appraised Value (Taxable)
2024 $528,721 $454,698
2025 $482,686 (down) $482,686 (up)
So even though the market value decreased from $528K to $482K, your taxable value went up — why? Because of the 10% cap rule:
In 2024, your taxable value was $454,698.
In 2025, the appraisal district raised it by less than 10% (which is allowed) to $482,686.
That’s legal under the cap, even if the market value dropped. The net appraised value can still go up until it "catches up" to the lower market value.
~What Happens If You Protest?
If you protest the 2025 value, you're challenging the market value ($482,686), not the capped taxable value.
Possible Outcomes:
If you're successful, the market value might drop further (say, to $460,000).
If that happens, your net appraised value (for tax purposes) would also drop — but only if it ends up below the capped amount.
~Example:
New appraised market value after protest: $460,000
Then your taxable value could match that lower amount ($460,000) if it’s under the 10% cap amount.
Important: If your protest isn't successful, the current values stay. But protesting doesn’t risk increasing your value — only lowering or keeping it the same.
~Bottom Line:
You benefit from the homestead exemption via the 10% cap and reduced school tax burden.
Even if market value falls, your taxable value might still rise if it’s “catching up” from previous capped years.
Protesting can help lower your taxes if the market value seems inflated or doesn’t reflect the condition of your property.
Looking for more information or searching for a home to purchase? Click this link and search on my website: sonia.teamprice.com
Sonia Comisarenco, Realtor®
Email: sonia@teamprice.com
Address: 7320 N. Mopac Ste 305, Austin, TX 78731
Sonia Comisarenco, Realtor®
Email: sonia@teamprice.com
Address: 7320 N. Mopac Ste 305, Austin, TX 78731
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