Home address: 619 E Nevada Ave

2021 Taxable Value: $204,135  

Recent Sales Price: $150,000 – Overtaxed by 36%

Appraisal district errors in setting assessed values cause El Paso County owners to pay extra taxes. One option to reduce your property taxes is to protest the market value. Unequal appraisal appeals compare the level of assessment of your house to comparable houses, typically on a per square foot basis. It is difficult to persuade property owners to protest their property taxes.  But 60 to 80% of those who do are successful. 

Owners are sometimes reluctant to protest property taxes due to a concern their value might be raised.  This can’t and does not happen.  Since 2019, neither the appraisal district or the appraisal review board can increase a property tax assessment during a protest. It is difficult for appraisal districts to accurately value houses due to limited staff. Appraisal districts aggressively settle appeals since they have only 65 days to settle most of the appeals. Property taxes are the largest tax most Texans face. But it is a stealth tax hidden in the mortgage payment, disguising the size of property taxes paid.