By TX3DNews Staff | April 22, 2025
Welcome to spring in Texas—where the bluebonnets bloom, the allergies rage, and your property appraisal shows up with all the subtlety of a flaming bag on the porch.
If you live in Princeton, Allen, McKinney, Frisco, or Plano, you’ve likely received that familiar letter from the Collin Central Appraisal District (or Denton CAD, for a few Frisco folks) notifying you that your suburban driveway is suddenly priced like it comes with valet service. Congratulations?
But before you resign yourself to a higher tax bill, know this: you can protest your appraisal—and many North Texans do it successfully every year.
The Deadline is Ticking
Let’s start with the most important fact: the deadline to file a protest is May 15, or 30 days after your notice of appraised value was mailed, whichever is later. Miss that deadline, and your chance to argue goes out the window until next year—when your home will probably be valued as a small castle with a moat and a Tesla charging station.
To file a protest, you’ll need to submit a Notice of Protest to your local appraisal district. That’s typically done with Form 50-132, which you can fill out and either mail, drop off, or—thankfully—submit online through the district’s website. Most homeowners just click through the online portal at CollinCAD.org or DentonCAD.com, depending on where your home is located.
When you file, you’ll need to include your name, property address or account number, the reason for your protest, and your opinion of the home’s actual value. After that, you’ll likely be contacted to schedule either an informal meeting or a formal hearing with the Appraisal Review Board.
Who Do You Call?
For most TX-03 residents, your appraisal district is the Collin Central Appraisal District (CCAD), located in McKinney. If you’re in the Denton County slice of Frisco, you’ll be dealing with Denton CAD instead. These are the folks who determine your home’s taxable value—not your city, not the school district, not your HOA.
Here’s where to reach them:
- Collin CAD: collincad.org | 250 Eldorado Pkwy, McKinney | (469) 742-9200
- Denton CAD: dentoncad.com | 3911 Morse St, Denton | (940) 349-3800
Both have online portals where you can file your protest—and yes, they do actually work (most of the time).
Why Protest?
The simple answer: because your home’s new appraised value might be too high, and that affects how much you’ll owe in property taxes this year. If your home’s value jumped more than your neighborhood’s, if it’s in worse shape than the CAD thinks, or if you spot errors in their record (like phantom granite countertops or an imaginary extra bedroom), you might have a case.
And you don’t need to be a real estate attorney to make your case. You just need a few facts, maybe a few photos, and some patience.
What Happens Next?
Once you file, you’ll likely be scheduled for an informal meeting with an appraiser. Sometimes you can resolve everything there. If not, you’ll go before the Appraisal Review Board (ARB)—a panel of local citizens who hear your argument and make the final decision.
You can also appeal the ARB’s ruling through binding arbitration or district court, but let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.
The Bottom Line
Texas doesn’t have a state income tax, which means property taxes do a lot of heavy lifting. But that doesn’t mean you should pay more than your fair share just because someone at the CAD thinks your roof looks new from a satellite image.
So if your appraisal notice has you rubbing your eyes or checking Zillow in disbelief, take action—because this is one case where arguing with the government might actually work in your favor.
Disclaimer:
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Property tax procedures and deadlines may vary slightly by jurisdiction. Homeowners are encouraged to consult their local appraisal district or a qualified professional for specific guidance.