Protests due by May 15 deadline

Wylie property owners who disagree with their appraised value have a limited window to file a formal protest with the Collin Central Appraisal District.

Under the Texas Property Tax Code, property owners must submit a written protest by May 15 or within 30 days of the date the appraisal notice was mailed, whichever is later. If the deadline falls on a weekend or legal holiday, it is extended to the next business day.

A valid protest must identify the property owner, the property and the reason for dissatisfaction. Protests may be filed by mail, in person, by drop box or online through the district’s eFile system using the personal identification number printed on the appraisal notice.

Once a protest is filed, the case is scheduled for a hearing before the Appraisal Review Board, or ARB. Property owners must receive at least 15 days’ notice of the hearing date, time and location.

Hearings for residential and commercial properties are typically conducted from mid-May through early July at the appraisal district’s offices in McKinney. Panels of one or three ARB members hear each case while both the property owner and appraisal district staff may present evidence, including comparable sales, repair estimates or independent appraisals. The panel then issues a decision based on the evidence presented.

After the hearing, the ARB sends a written order outlining its determination and explaining additional appeal options. By July 20, the ARB must complete most hearings and approve the appraisal records.

Once the appraisal roll is certified, options for challenging a value become more limited. State law does allow certain post-certification remedies, including protests involving failure to receive required notice, clerical errors, ownership disputes or substantial valuation errors under specific conditions. However, many of those remedies are unavailable if the property has already been the subject of an ARB hearing or settlement agreement.

Additional forms and information about the protest process are available through the Collin ARB website.

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