End-of-Year Checklist: What Texas Property Owners Should Do Now to Prepare for 2026 Valuations

Here’s what you need to know about the end-of-year checklist for your property taxes:

• While the 2026 property tax protest deadline isn’t until May 15, the best time to start preparing is now.
• First, verify all your contact information on file with the County Appraisal District (CAD) is correct and set up alerts for your Notice of Appraised Value.
• Review all existing property tax exemptions and confirm your eligibility for new exemptions passed by recent legislation.
• Gather documentation to build a strong case that supports your argument for a lower valuation.
• Monitor the real estate market, making note of comparable homes that sold for less than your property’s estimated valuation.
• Start working with a professional protest company like Gill, Denson & Company now to ensure you don’t miss the deadline and can achieve the highest possible reduction.

Why Now Is the Perfect Time to Prep for 2026 Property Taxes

The Texas property tax landscape has undergone significant changes recently. Many new benefits, including massive homestead exemption increases, are effective as of the 2026 tax year. While you might not see your 2026 Notice of Appraised Value until spring, the critical date for that valuation is January 1st.

If you want to ensure your property taxes are fairly assessed and that you maximize every available exemption, the time to prepare is now, before the new year officially begins. You’ll only have until May 15 to file your protest to argue your valuation. So, your proactive work in the next few weeks is the foundation of a successful property tax protest next year.

Your End-of-Year Checklist for Property Tax Prep

If you want to get ahead of next year’s tax bill, there are several steps you can take to get started now. Here is your essential, end-of-year checklist to prepare for the 2026 property tax valuations.

Step 1: Verify Your Info & Set Up Alerts

The most important step is ensuring your contact information on file with your local Central Appraisal District (CAD) is correct. This is how you’ll receive any communications from them, including your Notice of Appraised Value.

• Update Contact Info: Visit your local CAD’s website and confirm that your mailing address, phone number, and email address are up to date.
• Sign Up for E-Alerts: If your county offers electronic communication, sign up. This prevents the late mailing or loss of your 2026 Notice of Appraised Value, typically sent around mid-April.

Step 2: Review & Confirm Your Exemptions

Next, you’ll want to ensure the CAD has you flagged for every exemption you qualify for. Most CADs now offer online portals where homeowners can view their appraisal information. Find your local district’s website and search for your property to verify your current homestead exemption status. Pay special attention to these recent increases and new exemptions available:

• Standard Homestead Exemption: Verify that your home has a Residence Homestead Exemption on file. The statewide exemption for school district taxes is now up to $140,000.
• Aged 65 or Older or with Disabilities Exemption: If you are 65 or older or disabled, confirm you have filed for this additional exemption. The additional school district exemption amount has increased significantly to $60,000 of your home’s market value.
• Surviving Spouses of Veterans: If you are the unmarried surviving spouse of a veteran, gather documentation to support a service-connected cause of death (even if presumed, per the expanded law).
• Business Owners: Prepare for the increased $125,000 Business Personal Property (BPP) exemption by having inventory and equipment records organized for the mandatory BPP rendition filing by April 15.
• Temporary Fire Loss Exemption: If your primary home was a total loss due to fire, collect fire reports and insurance documentation. This allows you to apply for a temporary property tax exemption during the rebuilding process.

Step 3: Build Your Evidence File

A successful property tax protest is all about presenting clear evidence to support your claim for a lower valuation. The strongest evidence is gathered when you are not under pressure of a looming deadline. Here are some examples of documentation you may want to organize, depending on your protest strategy:

• Collect All Receipts and Estimates: Gather every invoice, receipt, and estimate for major repairs you have already completed or, more importantly, major repairs you have postponed (deferred maintenance).
• Get Bids for Upcoming Work: If your roof is old or your foundation needs work, get written bids from licensed contractors now. These bids can help prove that a reduction in current market value is warranted.
• Take Dated Photos of Property Condition: Take dated, high-quality photos focusing on negative attributes, such as outdated fixtures, visible roof wear, foundation cracks, drainage issues, peeling paint, or any interior damage. These photos prove the property’s condition before the assessment date, which is crucial evidence if you decide to protest.

• Locate Your 2025 Records: Find your 2025 Notice of Appraised Value and your 2025 Tax Statement. These documents establish the legal starting point for the 10% annual appraisal cap calculation for 2026 for residential homesteads, or the 20% circuit breaker cap for commercial properties.
• Check Property Details: Look closely at the details of your property on the CAD’s website (if available). Is the square footage correct? The number of bathrooms? The year built? Correcting these clerical errors is often the easiest way to lower your value.
• Commercial Income Data: Commercial property owners protesting under the income approach to valuation should prepare detailed financial data. This includes your 2025 P&L statement and a current Rent Roll for the month of January 2026, if applicable, to demonstrate market income and expenses.

Step 4: Monitor the Market

The most valuable evidence for a protest is the sales data of homes comparable to yours. The January 1st valuation date means the CAD will look at sales that occurred primarily in the year prior (2025). Here are some tips for gathering that data on your own:

• Track Recent Sales: Look for sales in your neighborhood that finalized in the last quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026.
• Find Your Comps: Identify comparable homes that sold for less than your likely assessed value, or find homes that are objectively superior (e.g., fully remodeled) that sold for the same price or less. This is the foundation of an “Unequal Appraisal” protest.

Partner with a Property Tax Specialist

Navigating new exemptions, property caps, and complex Appraisal Review Board (ARB) hearings is challenging, especially for busy property owners. The 2026 tax year is not just another cycle; it integrates several constitutional amendments that require specific knowledge to utilize them correctly. A property tax specialist, like the experts at Gill, Denson & Company, can:

• Ensure your protest is filed early and correctly, preserving your right to appeal.
• Handle complex evidence, such as leveraging proprietary sales data to identify the strongest comparable sales that may be less readily available to the public.
• Navigate the new laws to ensure you receive every dollar of benefit from the new exemption increases.
• Manage the complex BPP renditions for business properties.

Don’t leave potential savings on the table. Our team is ready to analyze your property’s situation and build your 2026 protest strategy now, ensuring you’re ready before the May 15 protest deadline rolls around.

Use the downloadable end-of-year checklist we’ve provided to make sure you have everything organized on time. If you’re ready to take the next step, contact us today to get started on your 2026 property tax protest and ensure you maximize your tax savings.