The May 15 protest deadline, and what happens if you miss it

Texas Tax Code §41.44 sets the default protest deadline at May 15, or 30 days after your appraisal notice was delivered, whichever date is later. For most homeowners on a normal notice schedule, that means May 15. It is not, however, a universal rule.

Where the date can move

A late-mailed notice, a supplemental appraisal, or certain property types can shift the real deadline later in the year. The only date that legally applies to your account is the one printed on your notice.

What happens if it passes

Once the window closes, the appraised value for that tax year is generally locked in, with narrow exceptions under provisions like §25.25 for specific factual errors. That's a materially higher bar than a standard protest, and it doesn't cover disagreement with the value itself, only certain kinds of errors.

• Confirm the exact deadline printed on your notice, not a general date
• File before the deadline even if you're still gathering evidence, most districts allow evidence to follow
• If the deadline has already passed, ask whether a §25.25 correction could apply instead

The short version: mark the date on your specific notice, not the date you remember from last year.