El Paso Property Tax Appeals Save $44+ Million Per Year
Homeowners and commercial property owners are standing up to the inflated values of the El Paso Central Appraisal District (EPCAD) in record numbers. As property values and taxes reach new heights, this trend is sure to continue. $44.38 million in total taxes were refunded to the hard-working people of El Paso County, including $10.4 million for homeowners alone. Get the odds in your favor when you join O’Connor’s Property Tax Protection Program™ today. Your taxes will be protested annually, making sure that you are always paying what you should and not a penny more. There are no upfront costs, and you will only pay if your taxes are lowered. Enroll, relax, and save.
Total Value Reduction, Informal HearingsSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Millions of $ | |||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| $ Total Value Reduction | 444.16 | 674.84 | 664.01 | 664.84 | 564.64 | 559.71 | 503.06 | 754.39 | 725.95 | 1,166.18 | 1,411.48 |
| Single Family Residential Reduction | 42.40 | 48.65 | 51.15 | 40.85 | 89.88 | 90.08 | 20.04 | 185.84 | 198.34 | 335.18 | 424.09 |
| Commercial / Other | 401.77 | 626.19 | 612.86 | 623.99 | 474.76 | 469.62 | 483.02 | 568.56 | 527.62 | 831.00 | 987.39 |
Texas property owners should protest annually since The value cannot be raised during the protest, based on 2019 legislation.
El Paso County Property Tax Savings from Administrative Appeals
Property tax protests are the only recourse that Texans have to oppose overzealous or unfair taxes handed down by organizations like the El Paso Central Appraisal District (EPCAD). All Texans deserve fairness and equality in their property taxes, while also providing the funding key to keeping the great state running. Successful property tax protests can help save a home or add a bit of cash flow to a business, with the added benefit of keeping EPCAD honest.
One of the best ways to land your property tax appeal is with a sage expert by your side. O’Connor has over 50 years of experience taking on appraisal districts across Texas and the nation. With lawyers, researchers, agents, and appraisers boasting decades of experience, O’Connor knows the in-and-outs of every district in Texas and knows how to get you the best deal. As one of the largest property tax specialists in the nation, O’Connor can call upon plenty of resources to help you on your path to victory.
EPCAD Informal Hearings
No matter the final destination of a property tax protest, it starts as an informal appeal. This is a protest directly to EPCAD itself, where the taxpayer can bring evidence of unfair or inaccurate taxation. In many cases, this is enough to earn a settlement, especially if the taxpayer is well-prepared. Informal appeals saw the most reductions out of any property tax protest type in El Paso County. $1.17 billion in value was reduced in 2023 thanks to informal appeals. $831 million in commercial property was taken off the books, while single family residences cut a strong $335.18 million.
Total Value Reduction, Formal ARB HearingsSource: 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 | |
| $ Total Value Reduction | 1.342 | 1.608 | 1.330 | 1.151 | 0.871 | 0.989 | 1.107 | 1.007 | 0.908 | 0.961 | 2.352 |
| Single Family Residential Reduction | 0.081 | 0.066 | 0.066 | 0.058 | 0.141 | 0.081 | 0.022 | 0.075 | 0.128 | 0.160 | 0.155 |
| Commercial / Other | 1.262 | 1.542 | 1.264 | 1.093 | 0.730 | 0.908 | 1.085 | 0.932 | 0.779 | 0.802 | 2.197 |
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).
EPCAD Formal ARB Hearings
Formal hearings are the next step in the property tax journey. These hearings see the taxpayer and EPCAD present their case before the appraisal review board (ARB). The ARB is a three-person panel of experts that act as mediators and judges between the two parties. Appeals reach this stage if they were unsuccessful at the informal stage or if the formal settlements were insufficient. $961 million in value was reduced in 2023, with commercial properties getting the lion's share of $802 million. Single family homes are increasingly pushing for formal appeals and got a record $160 million reduction in 2023.
Tax Savings, Informal HearingsSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Millions of $ | |||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| $ Total Value Reduction | 9.33 | 14.17 | 13.94 | 13.96 | 11.86 | 11.75 | 10.56 | 15.84 | 15.25 | 24.49 | 29.64 |
| Single Family Residential Reduction | 0.89 | 1.02 | 1.07 | 0.86 | 1.89 | 1.89 | 0.42 | 3.90 | 4.17 | 7.04 | 8.91 |
| Commercial / Other | 8.44 | 13.15 | 12.87 | 13.10 | 9.97 | 9.86 | 10.14 | 11.94 | 11.08 | 17.45 | 20.74 |
Texas property owners should protest annually since Not appealing is used against property owners in the subsequent years since “you agreed to the value” (by not protesting).
Estimated Total Property Tax Informal Savings
Informal appeals fill a vital role in the community of El Pason County and Texas at large. They allow the average Texan to have their voice heard and give them the potential to take their taxes into their own hands. There is no other such option for Texans. It also opens the door for more complex options up the chain, which can potentially hand out even more savings. The efficacy of informal appeals can be seen in the $7.04 million in direct tax savings that homeowners in El Paso County were able to achieve in 2023. Informal appeals were over seven times more effective in 2023 than they were in 2014.
Tax savings for commercial properties also have high stakes. While it might not mean keeping a house, tax savings can keep a business afloat or create more opportunities to grow cash flow. This is especially true for small businesses that operate on tight margins. Informal appeals are becoming more effective for El Paso businesses, as they are seeing more results from these types of appeals than traditional ARB hearings. Commercial properties saved a record $17.45 million in 2023.
Tax Savings, Formal ARB HearingsSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Millions of $ | |||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| $ Total Value Reduction | 28.19 | 33.77 | 27.92 | 24.17 | 18.29 | 20.76 | 23.24 | 21.15 | 19.06 | 20.19 | 49.38 |
| Single Family Residential Reduction | 1.69 | 1.39 | 1.39 | 1.22 | 2.96 | 1.71 | 0.46 | 1.58 | 2.70 | 3.36 | 3.25 |
| Commercial / Other | 26.50 | 32.38 | 26.54 | 22.95 | 15.34 | 19.06 | 22.78 | 19.57 | 16.36 | 16.83 | 46.13 |
Tax Savings, Formal ARB Hearings
ARB hearings have fallen a bit out of favor in recent years, at least for commercial properties. This is partially because businesses are seeing more success in the informal process, and they are pushing for more lawsuits and judicial appeals. Still, commercial properties saved an estimated $16.83 million thanks to ARB hearings. Residential properties are saving more with formal appeals than ever before and notched $3.36 million in savings.
Total Tax Savings (Informal & Formal)Source: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Millions of $ | |||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| $ Total Value Reduction | 37.52 | 47.94 | 41.86 | 38.13 | 30.15 | 32.51 | 33.80 | 36.99 | 34.31 | 44.68 | 79.02 |
| Single Family Residential Reduction | 2.58 | 2.41 | 2.46 | 2.08 | 4.85 | 3.60 | 0.88 | 5.48 | 6.87 | 10.40 | 12.16 |
| Commercial / Other | 34.94 | 45.53 | 39.41 | 36.05 | 25.31 | 28.92 | 32.92 | 31.51 | 27.44 | 34.28 | 66.87 |
Total Tax Savings
Even without lawsuits or judicial appeals to consider, the people of El Paso County are winning against EPCAD at an amazing clip. Only 2015 saw a total in tax savings than the total of $44.68 million in 2023. The main takeaway is that single family homeowners are protesting and winning in a manner never seen before. Residential property owners managed to nab $10.4 million in total savings between formal and informal appeals. It is always good to see Texans practicing their rights to their fullest extent, and more homeowners are sure to follow suit. Commercial property owners saved around $34.28 million as well.