How to Protest Your Property Taxes in Tom Green County Before the May 15 Deadline

If you own a home in Tom Green County, this is the time of year to open your appraisal notice and actually look at it.

Many homeowners in San Angelo and across Tom Green County are seeing higher appraised values again this year. If your value looks too high, the good news is that you do have the right to protest it. Tom Green County Appraisal District is currently showing that the protest deadline for real property is May 15, 2026, and the Texas Comptroller says the general rule is May 15 or 30 days after the notice of appraised value is mailed, whichever is later. That means homeowners should check their actual notice carefully, but for many local property owners, May 15 is the date to keep front and center.

What a property tax protest actually means

A lot of people hear “protest your taxes” and assume it means arguing about the tax bill itself. That is not really what happens.

In Texas, you are usually protesting the appraised value assigned to your property or another issue in the appraisal record, such as an exemption problem, an incorrect property description, or unequal appraisal compared with similar properties. The Tom Green County Appraisal District protest materials also point owners to the Appraisal Review Board process for resolving those disputes.

Why Tom Green County homeowners should at least review their notice

Even if you are not sure whether you want to protest, it is smart to review your notice now. Once the deadline passes, your options become much more limited. The county specifically says you must file a protest before the deadline, and filing preserves your right to have the account reviewed.

For many homeowners, the real question is simple:

Does this appraised value look reasonable compared with what my home would actually sell for?

If the answer is no, it may be worth filing.

How to file a property tax protest in Tom Green County

Tom Green County Appraisal District says it prefers property owners to file protests online through its website, tomgreencad.com, rather than coming into the office or mailing a protest. The site has a dedicated Protest Process page with links for filing an online protest, informal review information, ARB hearing information, and evidence guidance.

Basic steps

1. Review your notice of appraised value
Look at the appraised value, exemptions, and property details. Also check the deadline printed on your specific notice. Texas says the usual deadline is May 15 or 30 days after the notice was mailed, whichever is later.

2. File your protest before the deadline
Tom Green CAD says protests can be filed online through its website, and that filing a protest allows appraisers to continue working with you beyond the protest deadline.

3. Include good contact information and your opinion of value
Tom Green CAD’s informal review procedure specifically says to provide good phone and email contact information and to include your opinion of value on the protest form.

4. Gather supporting evidence
The county’s own guidance lists examples such as a recent closing statement, fee appraisal, inspection report, repair estimates, photographs, a market analysis from a Realtor, or other useful information.

5. Watch for follow-up from the appraisal district
After filing, Tom Green CAD says property owners should keep checking their mailbox and email for correspondence, possible value adjustment offers, or hearing information if the protest is not resolved informally.

What evidence helps the most

The strongest protests usually focus on facts, not frustration.

Tom Green CAD specifically mentions evidence like:

• a recent purchase closing statement
• a recent refinance appraisal
• an inspection report
• repair estimates
• photos
• a Realtor CMA
• any other information relevant to value

That means a homeowner who can show needed repairs, deferred maintenance, functional issues, or comparable sales support often has a much stronger case than someone who simply says, “My taxes are too high.”

What happens after you file

Tom Green CAD outlines an informal review process first. Their published procedure says informal conferences are by written request, may be handled in person or by email, and may even occur directly before a scheduled ARB hearing. If the matter is not resolved, the Appraisal Review Board will contact you about a hearing.

For ARB hearings, the county says owners can generally participate in one of three ways:

• in person
• by telephone or videoconference
• by written affidavit

If you appear in person, Tom Green CAD says you should bring five copies of any evidence you want the ARB to consider. If you appear by phone, video, or written affidavit, the county says the affidavit and evidence must be submitted before the hearing begins, and it references Comptroller Form 50-283 for affidavit submissions.

A quick word for San Angelo homeowners

In our market, a lot of homeowners are surprised by appraisal values because they do not always line up neatly with what a buyer would pay today after considering condition, updates, needed repairs, and competing homes.

That is why it can help to compare your home to similar nearby properties and gather photos or documentation that show anything affecting value. A strong local market does not automatically mean every individual appraisal is correct. This is an inference from how protests are decided on evidence of market value and property-specific facts, not a quote from the county.

Where to start

Tom Green County homeowners can start at tomgreencad.com, where the county provides the protest process, online protest option, forms, and contact information. The appraisal district lists its office at 2302 Pulliam Street, San Angelo, TX 76905, with a phone number of 325-658-5575, office hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and protest-related contact information on the site.

Final reminder

If you think your appraised value is too high, do not wait until the last minute. Tom Green County Appraisal District is showing May 15, 2026 as the protest deadline for real property, and Texas generally uses May 15 or 30 days after the notice was mailed, whichever is later. File first, then work on strengthening your case. Missing the deadline can cost you the chance to have the value reviewed.