El Paso Property Tax Protest ARB Tax Savings over $20 MM in 2023
Informal appeals managed to be gangbusters for the taxpayers of El Paso County, succeeding at a rate of over 70%, along with an outstanding 92% for homeowners. When it came to the next step; however, things came up short. Formal hearings in front of the Appraisal Review Board (ARB) were a harder row to toe, with only 58% of cases ending in a reduction. Business properties had an abysmal 43% chance of a reduction. These numbers show why you need the help of a professional if you are going to pursue a formal appeal. Enroll in O’Connor’s Property Tax Protection Program™ and get all the support you need. From informal appeals, ARB hearings, to lawsuits, O’Connor will have your back. No hidden fees, and you only pay if you lower your taxes. Enroll, relax, and save.
Protests with Written ARB DeterminationSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Thousands | ||||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||
| Total protests | 4.938 | 5.149 | 4.556 | 4.744 | 8.074 | 7.629 | 10.023 | 12.417 | 14.351 | 14.347 | 14.372 | |
| Protests single family residential | 1.013 | 1.004 | 0.726 | 1.265 | 4.457 | 3.511 | 4.966 | 6.421 | 8.908 | 7.408 | 6.704 | |
| Protests with all other | 3.925 | 4.145 | 3.830 | 3.479 | 3.617 | 4.118 | 5.057 | 5.996 | 5.443 | 6.939 | 7.668 | |
Texas property owners should protest annually since Hearing results depend on the appraiser assigned or the ARB; results vary widely. You do not know the appraiser or ARB panel prior to appealing.
El Paso County Protests with Written ARB Determination
Like many other counties built around working families and first-generation Americans, El Paso County favors resolving property tax disputes at the informal level. These simple hearings allow any taxpayer with evidence to appear before the El Paso Central Appraisal District (EPCAD) and attempt to get a reduction. Over 70% of informal appeals were successful in 2023, while over 92% of single family homes that were appealed saw a reduction. Still, if a reduction is not possible at the informal level or it was found to be inadequate, then the next step is a formal appeal with the Appraisal Review Board (ARB).
Formal appeals take more evidence, time, and expertise to pull off. While you could do it all yourself, O’Connor is here to offer to be your representative. With over 50 years in the business of property tax appeals, O’Connor has seen and done it all, taking care of 185,000 clients in 2024 alone. Let O’Connor take on EPCAD in your stead and get you the best savings possible. .
EPCAD Protests by Property Type
Informal appeals may be the favored choice when dealing with protests in El Paso County, but ARB hearings are still occurring at record numbers. There were 14,347 formal appeals in 2023, a total that was only surpassed by 14,351 in 2022. Combined with the success rate of informal appeals mentioned earlier, the implication is that many are rejecting their informal settlements for great rewards at the ARB level. This means that appeals across El Paso County are getting more sophisticated.
Single family homes, like with informal appeals, have been the driving force behind the increase in ARB hearings. 7,408 single family homes were protested to the ARB in 2023. While this was lower than the 8,908 in 2022, it is still a large number. The biggest improvement was seen in commercial properties, which totaled 6,939 in 2023, the highest total seen for that type. Commercial properties are worth much more individually, and it is common to see more of them than residential properties in ARB hearings across Texas.
El Paso County ARB Decisions with a ReductionSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Thousands | ||||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||
| Total | 2.132 | 3.034 | 2.491 | 2.172 | 3.949 | 3.662 | 5.569 | 7.475 | 8.185 | 8.313 | 8.779 | |
| Single Family Residential | 0.555 | 0.672 | 0.513 | 0.708 | 2.801 | 2.056 | 3.559 | 5.061 | 5.814 | 5.325 | 5.051 | |
| Commercial / All Other | 1.577 | 2.362 | 1.978 | 1.464 | 1.148 | 1.606 | 2.010 | 2.414 | 2.371 | 2.988 | 3.728 | |
Texas property owners should protest annually since An annual appeal is an insurance policy to avoid major increases.
El Paso County ARB Decisions with a Reduction
It is harder to get a reduction through ARB hearings. There is more evidence required, and the taxpayer must take on EPCAD in front of a panel of three experts. The requirements for a successful ARB appeal are much narrower as well. With this in mind, there were still a record 8,313 formal appeals with a reduction in 2023. 5,325 homes and 2,988 businesses were able to reduce their taxable value. While the total number of successful residential properties was down from 2022, commercial properties logged their best year ever.
Percent That Resulted in A ReductionSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Percent | ||||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||
| Total Reduction | 43% | 59% | 55% | 46% | 49% | 48% | 56% | 60% | 57% | 58% | 61% | |
| Single Family Residential | 55% | 67% | 71% | 56% | 63% | 59% | 72% | 79% | 65% | 72% | 75% | |
| Commercial / All Other | 40% | 57% | 52% | 42% | 32% | 39% | 40% | 40% | 44% | 43% | 49% | |
Texas property owners should protest annually since To ensure their property taxes are at the lowest possible level.
Percent That Resulted in A Reduction
With the stringent rules in place, taxpayers found it harder to win their formal appeals. The ARB sided with taxpayers 58% of the time, which is below the 70% statewide average. Single family homes managed to win 72% of their cases, which is also below the Texas average of 75%. The widest margin was for commercial and business properties, which won a reduction 43% of the time, compared to the typical rate of 59% seen across Texas. It should be noted that El Paso County has some of the highest percentages of lawsuits filed, which is the only remedy to a lost ARB hearing.
Value Reduction From Written ARB DeterminationsSource: 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 $ 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 | 0.081 | 0.066 | 0.066 | 0.058 | 0.141 | 0.081 | 0.022 | 0.075 | 0.128 | 0.160 | 0.155 | |
| Commercial / All 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 Unequal appraisal allows protests based on neighbors having a better tax assessment.
Dollar Value Reduction from El Paso ARB Hearings
The number of ARB hearings might be at an all-time high, but the value of reductions is near its lowest point in the past decade. $961 million in value was reduced through formal appeals, the third lowest in a decade. The drop in value is due to commercial properties doing so poorly, with them only netting $802 million in 2023. The only year with a lower commercial total was 2022. Single family homes were a bright spot; however, getting a record $160 million in value reductions.