Suggestions for Protesting Property Tax on Recently Purchased Investment

[Kelly Stanton]

We purchased a significantly distressed rental property in Austin October of 2023 and were hit with a huge (3x) property tax bill at the end of the year. The previous owner had an "over 65" exemption. We submitted a protest with TCAD in January of 2024, but it was denied because it was "late." We were told that we needed to submit the protest in May of 2023, but we didn't even own the house then... Does anyone have any suggestions? This seems a little outrages.