Protesting Property Taxes

[Sam White]

Hey there BP.  I am looking for some feedback on Property Taxes.

I live in Texas, as well does my portfolio.  I have multiple property tax raises this year. 

And I intend to protest all of them.   I had lunch with a very prominent businessman last week and he made the comment that he typically has a whole week in June, where he does nothing but go around to property tax protest hearings.  He protests his taxes every year and says he almost always comes out with a reduction.

I agree with this action and will be doing it this year.  Should have started last year, but better than never.

Especially after my acquisition of the self storage commercial property.  That county has raised my property valuation by 120%.  More than double.  And well over what I paid for it.  (in Texas, we do not have to report the sales price of commercial property).

SO...My question is to the investors out there, should I Protest my property taxes myself.  Or should I use a property tax firm to represent?  (I have received at least 10 letters this week from different firms)

I'm not nervous about going in and making my case to someone at the city.  I am just curious what other investors/landlords have experienced and succeeded with.

[Greg H.]

@Sam White

Most major counties allow protests to be filed on line.  I always recommend that you attend the informal hearing or in smaller counties call the appraiser directly an present your evidence and take any deal offered at that time.  Formal hearings, even when you have sufficient evidence, have a low level of success

I had a formal last year where the property had jumped from $50k to 80k and the appraiser agreed with me that is should be no more than $70k.  The board went against their appraiser and kept it at $80k

Texas is a non-disclosure state for all properties, not just commercial