HOUSTON – May 30, 2006 - Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt and Chief Appraiser Jim Robinson of the Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) are encouraging Harris County property owners to review their notice of appraised value sent by HCAD. The last day to file a protest for most taxpayers is tomorrow - Wednesday, May 31.

         “The property tax bill of an average Houston-area home has increased dramatically over the past eight years,” said Bettencourt. “A successful protest can save taxpayers hundreds of dollars a year just like a tax cut would and the entire process is free of charge. Remember to do your ‘homework’ before you go to your hearing.”

          A “How To Protest Your Property Appraisal” guideline is available on the Harris County Tax Office Web site at www.hctax.net. The Web site also includes detailed information and a link to HCAD’s online filing system IFile at www.hcad.org. IFile gives taxpayers the opportunity to file their appraised value protests electronically and the ability to view the evidence the appraisal district will use at the hearing once their protest is scheduled.

         “Although you can’t protest your property value just because your taxes are too high, you can protest because of an unequal appraisal or because the appraisal district has set the market value of your home too high in your opinion,” said Jim Robinson, HCAD’s Chief Appraiser.

         Bettencourt and Robinson are also advising taxpayers to ignore any reports or advertising claiming that appraised values of capped homesteads in Harris County could increase 20% next year if no value protest is filed this year. Because HCAD reviews residential values annually, the maximum annual increase on a capped homestead would be 10%, plus any value added by new improvements made before January 1 of the current year. This is a new HCAD policy implemented with their new appraisal system for 2006.

         “In Harris County, you don’t have to worry that your appraisal value of your capped homestead will go up by more than 10% in any year,” added Bettencourt and Robinson. “Don’t believe any advertising that says it can jump as much as 20% next year because you didn’t protest your value this year.”

         Harris County residents can get information on IFile at HCAD’s Web site at www.hcad.org, or get tips at www.hctax.net. Taxpayers also may call the Tax Office at 713-368-2000 or HCAD’s Information Center at 713-957-7800.

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