El Paso Lawsuit Property Tax Savings went Over $15 Million in 2024
El Paso County set records for judicial appeals in 2022, disputing a total value of $4.5 billion. In 2024, that number was left in the dust thanks to a contested value of $7.46 billion. These lawsuits targeted at the El Paso Central Appraisal District (EPCAD) helped the most expensive properties in the county save millions in taxes, stacking with previous appeal victories and exemptions to bring home truly epic savings. If you are thinking about exploring a judicial appeal for your business, apartment complex, or even a luxury home, be sure to join O’Connor’s Property Tax Protection Program™ today. O’Connor will spearhead your lawsuit for you, paying for all legal fees and court costs. You will only pay if your lawsuit is won, and you are able to lower your property taxes. Enroll, relax, and save.
Judicial Appeals by Property Type El Paso CountySource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Judicial Appeals | ||||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||
| Total Number of lawsuits | 319 | 462 | 484 | 526 | 463 | 523 | 539 | 554 | 581 | 576 | 885 | |
| Single Family Residential | 28 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 13 | 22 | 37 | |
| Multi Family Residential | 33 | 107 | 142 | 174 | 104 | 83 | 98 | 112 | 169 | 100 | 221 | |
| Commercial real and personal property | 251 | 301 | 293 | 300 | 296 | 345 | 368 | 391 | 382 | 415 | 576 | |
| All Other | 7 | 52 | 39 | 43 | 37 | 71 | 49 | 27 | 17 | 39 | 51 | |
Texas property owners should protest annually since You can’t evaluate the strength of your appeal until you obtain the hearing evidence file. You have to protest to obtain the hearing evidence file (available free upon request via U.S. mail).
El Paso County Judicial Appeals After Formal Hearings
The final tool in the toolbox for any elite property tax protest is the judicial appeal. Not every protest is justified in going to this step, as it is usually only reserved for multi-million-dollar business properties or the odd luxury home. These lawsuits against the El Paso Central Appraisal District (EPCAD) cut through the false numbers set forth by appraisers and ensure that the premier properties of Texas are only paying their fair share. They are also key in lowering taxes that the appraisal review board (ARB) has already cut, putting the final touch on a successful campaign.
While other parts of the protest process are DIY, judicial appeals certainly are not. You need an expert team of lawyers, witnesses, and researchers on your side. O’Connor will provide all of these at no cost, while leading the lawsuit in your stead. As one of the largest property tax firms in the nation, O’Connor has the stable of talent needed to get you the best results possible. You will only pay if your lawsuit is successful, which means you are not on the hook for legal fees, attorney fees, or court costs.
El Paso County Judicial Appeals Filed by Property Type
Judicial lawsuits are usually filed for commercial properties, be they traditional businesses or multi family homes like apartments. While some residential properties may seek this remedy, it is usually only the most expensive properties in El Paso County that are worth the effort. 885 lawsuits were filed in El Paso in 2024, with 576 of them being for commercial properties, while an additional 221 were for multifamily housing. 37 single family homes made the cut as well, representing truly luxurious residences.
Value Involved in Judicial Appeals - El Paso CountySource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Billions of $ | ||||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||
| Value of All Judicial Appeals | 2.829 | 3.136 | 3.322 | 2.631 | 2.294 | 2.641 | 2.807 | 2.973 | 4.5 | 3.519 | 7.461 | |
| Single Family Res | 0.026 | 0.001 | 0.005 | 0.005 | 0.047 | 0.037 | 0.042 | 0.047 | 0.023 | 0.029 | 0.072 | |
| Multi Family Res | 0.719 | 0.763 | 0.906 | 1.059 | 0.588 | 0.403 | 0.572 | 0.741 | 1.495 | 0.726 | 2.185 | |
| Commercial | 1.85 | 1.833 | 1.919 | 1.499 | 1.491 | 2.048 | 2.069 | 2.089 | 2.861 | 2.575 | 4.824 | |
| All Other | 0.234 | 0.538 | 0.492 | 0.067 | 0.168 | 0.154 | 0.125 | 0.096 | 0.121 | 0.189 | 0.38 | |
Texas property owners should protest annually since An annual appeal minimizes property taxes, sometimes well below market value.
El Paso County Value Involved in Judicial Appeals
While the number of property tax lawsuits pales in comparison to other forms of protests, they make up for it by being individually far more valuable. Of the limited number of lawsuits in 2024, the grand total of value disputed was $7.46 billion. 2022 has been the previous record holder with $4.5 billion, though 2023 saw a retreat. Judicial appeals had waned in popularity after 2018, but since 2022 they have come back in a big way. This means that more property owners than ever before are taking their fight to the highest level possible in El Paso.
The biggest contributor to the total was commercial properties, which is not surprising. $4.82 billion came from traditional businesses, and while they ran away with the lead, it was not a disproportionate race. Apartments and other multi family homes came in second with $2.19 billion. These had been $726 million in 2023, and this is the primary reason that the total jumped so high. $72 million in value came from single family homes, which exceeded the $29 million for residential properties from 2023. It should be noted that lawsuits can take years to work their way through the courts, meaning these record lawsuits over the past few years could take a while to bear fruit.