KeepTheCut

Harris County · HCAD · Houston

Harris County property-tax protest packet

Harris County homeowners protest with Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD) in Houston — not with KeepTheCut and not with the Harris County Tax Office. We sell a $99/year DIY evidence packet. You file. We do not represent you, negotiate, attend, or file for you.

Get my packet — $99/year

Same $99/year packet. You file with HCAD.

What this is

A $99/year DIY packet. The owner files.

KeepTheCut sells a document packet so you can protest Harris County yourself. We are not a registered property-tax consultant under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1152. We do not represent you, negotiate with HCAD, attend informal conferences or ARB hearings, take a power of attorney, or file Form 50-132 for you. We do not guarantee a reduction. County appraisal districts — not KeepTheCut — set the values on notices and bills.

Official HCAD

File with Harris Central Appraisal District.

HCAD’s owner path is the iFile / iSettle portal. Look up the account on the official HCAD site, then file at the owner portal or mail Form 50-132 to the district. Do not send the protest to the Texas Comptroller.

  • Appraisal district

    Harris Central Appraisal District

    HCAD · Houston

    Official HCAD website

  • Comptroller forms

    Form 50-132, Property Owner’s Notice of Protest

    Use Form 50-132 in counties with a population greater than 120,000, and Form 50-132-A where the county is under that line. On the 2020 census, Trinity County (13,602), Tyler County (19,798), Colorado County (20,557), Llano County (21,243), Lampasas County (21,627), Houston County (22,066), Panola County (22,491), Shelby County (24,022), Fayette County (24,435), Gillespie County (26,725), Palo Pinto County (28,409), Cass County (28,454), Grimes County (29,268), Austin County (30,167), Titus County (31,247), Jasper County (32,980), Fannin County (35,662), Washington County (35,805), Hill County (35,874), Matagorda County (36,255), Hopkins County (36,787), Brown County (38,095), Jim Wells County (38,891), Upshur County (40,892), Wharton County (41,570), Erath County (42,545), Kendall County (44,279), Wood County (44,843), Caldwell County (45,883), Chambers County (46,571), Atascosa County (48,981), Burnet County (49,130), Wilson County (49,753), Lamar County (50,088), Polk County (50,123), Cherokee County (50,412), Medina County (50,748), Rusk County (52,214), Kerr County (52,598), Navarro County (52,624), Hardin County (56,231), Waller County (56,794), Anderson County (57,922), Van Zandt County (59,541), Hood County (61,598), Nacogdoches County (64,653), Wise County (68,632), San Patricio County (68,755), Harrison County (68,839), Walker County (76,400), Henderson County (82,150), Coryell County (83,093), Orange County (84,808), Angelina County (86,395), Victoria County (91,319), Liberty County (91,628), Bowie County (92,893), Bastrop County (97,216), Hunt County (99,956), Rockwall County (107,819), and Potter County (118,525) are under 120,000; the other KeepTheCut launch counties are over it. Tom Green County’s 2020 count is 120,003, which is over that line. Randall County’s 2020 count is 140,753, which is over that line, so the Randall paper form is Form 50-132 even though Potter County, served by the same district, is under it. The Census Bureau’s July 1, 2025 estimate for Liberty County is 121,364, so confirm the form Liberty CAD posts. Bastrop CAD’s 2026 protest instructions post Form 50-132. Waller CAD, Liberty CAD, Walker CAD, Victoria CAD, Orange CAD, Wise CAD, Hood CAD, Kerr CAD, Kendall AD, Henderson CAD, Angelina CAD, Coryell CAD, San Pat CAD, Naco CAD, Chambers CAD, Navarro CAD, Caldwell CAD, Burnet CAD, and Atascosa CAD link Form 50-132-A as the Notice of Protest. Medina CAD’s forms page links Notice of Protest Form to a 50-132-a PDF. That file’s first page is titled for counties with populations less than 120,000. Wharton CAD’s portal form catalog names Form 50-132-A for a county under 120,000. Bowie CAD’s portal form catalog names Form 50-132-A, and that entry was not marked published. Harrison CAD’s portal form catalog names Notice of Protest Form. That entry was not marked published, and the file’s subject metadata is 50-132. Van Zandt CAD’s portal form catalog names Notice of Protest Form. That entry was not marked published. Caldwell CAD’s forms page links Notice of Protest to a 50-132-a PDF. Burnet CAD’s forms page links Notice of Protest to a 50-132-a PDF. Atascosa CAD’s forms page links Notice of Protest Form to a 50-132-a PDF. Each of those files’ first page is titled for counties with populations less than 120,000. Wilson CAD’s forms page links Notice of Protest Form to a 50-132 PDF. That file’s first page is titled for counties with populations greater than 120,000. Hardin CAD’s forms page links Notice of Protest Form to a PDF named FORM-50-132-A.pdf. That file’s metadata title is “Scanned Image.” Rusk CAD’s forms page links Property Owner’s Notice of Protest to a 50-132-a PDF. Polk CAD’s forms page links Property Appraisal Notice of Protest to the Comptroller’s 50-132-a PDF. Each of those Rusk and Polk files’ first page is titled for counties with populations less than 120,000. Anderson CAD’s portal form catalog names “Property Owner’s Notice of Protest | 50-132-a” and points at the Comptroller’s 50-132-a PDF. That entry was not marked published. Lamar CAD’s forms page and Hill CAD’s forms page each link Notice of Protest Form to the same 50-132-a PDF on bisfiles.co. That file’s first page is titled for counties with populations less than 120,000. Its metadata title is “Property Owner’s Notice of Protest.” Cherokee CAD’s forms page links Notice of Protest to a 50-132-a PDF. That file’s metadata title is “Property Owner’s Notice of Protest for Counties with Populations Less than 120,000,” and its keywords metadata is 50-132. Wood CAD’s ARB/Protest page links 2026 Property Owner’s Notice of Protest to a PDF. That file’s first page says Form 50-132 for counties with populations greater than 120,000. Its metadata title is “Property Owner’s Notice of Protest,” and its subject metadata is 50-132. Cass CAD’s forms page links Notice of Protest to the Comptroller’s 50-132-a PDF. That file’s first page says Form 50-132-A for counties with populations less than 120,000. Its metadata title is “Property Owner’s Notice of Protest,” and its subject metadata is 50-132. Panola CAD’s forms page links Notice of Protest Form < 120,000 to a 50-132-a PDF. A ~/images/formpdf href on that page did not open. The GetDocument link did. That file’s first page says Form 50-132-A for counties with populations less than 120,000, and it matches the Comptroller’s 50-132-a PDF. Jasper CAD’s forms page links Notice of Protest to a 50-132-a PDF on bisfiles.co. The link is http and that address returned an error. The https path opened, and it matches the Comptroller’s 50-132-a PDF. That file’s first page says Form 50-132-A for counties with populations less than 120,000. Its metadata title is “Property Owner’s Notice of Protest,” and its subject metadata is 50-132. Hopkins CAD’s downloads page does not link a notice of protest. The homepage Tax Forms link opens the Comptroller forms page. Titus CAD’s forms page links Notice of Protest Form to a 50-132-a PDF on bisfiles.co. That https file matches the Comptroller’s 50-132-a PDF. Upshur CAD’s forms page links Notice of Protest Form to a 50-132-a PDF on bisfiles.co. The link is http and that address timed out. The https path opened, and it matches the Comptroller’s 50-132-a PDF. Matagorda CAD’s forms page links Notice of Protest to the Comptroller’s 50-132-a PDF. That shared file’s first page says Form 50-132-A for counties with populations less than 120,000. Its metadata title is “Property Owner’s Notice of Protest,” and its subject metadata is 50-132. Shelby CAD’s forms page links Notice of Protest to a PDF on shelbycad.com. That file’s first page says “Property Owner’s Notice of Protest,” then “for Counties with Populations Less than 120,000.” The footer says “Form 50-132-A.” Its metadata title is “Property Owner’s Notice of Protest,” and its subject metadata is 50-132. It is not the same file as the Comptroller’s 50-132-a PDF. Houston CAD’s forms page links Notice of Protest Form to a GetDocument file named 50-132-a.pdf. A commented ~/images/formpdf href on that page is not the live link. The GetDocument file matches the Comptroller’s 50-132-a PDF. Trinity CAD’s forms page links Notice of Protest to a 50-132-a PDF on bisfiles.co. The link is http and that address timed out. The https path opened, and it matches the Comptroller’s 50-132-a PDF. Tyler CAD’s forms page links Notice of Protest to that same http address on bisfiles.co. That http address timed out. The https path opened, and it matches the Comptroller’s 50-132-a PDF. That shared file’s first page says Form 50-132-A for counties with populations less than 120,000. Its metadata title is “Property Owner’s Notice of Protest,” and its subject metadata is 50-132. Grimes CAD’s forms page links 2026 Notice of Protest to a PDF on grimescad.org. That file’s first page says Form 50-132-A for counties with populations less than 120,000. The footer says “50-132-A • 03-26/28.” Its metadata title is “Property Owner’s Notice of Protest,” and its subject metadata is 50-132. It is not the same file as the Comptroller’s 50-132-a PDF. The File an Online Protest page links Notice of Protest Form to a 2024 PDF. That address returned 404. Austin CAD’s forms page links Notice of Protest Form to a 50-132-a PDF on austincad.org. That file’s first page says Form 50-132-A for counties with populations less than 120,000. The footer says “50-132-A • 1-24/25.” Its metadata title is “Property Owner’s Notice of Protest for Counties with Populations Less than 120,000,” and its keywords metadata is 50-132. It is not the same file as the Comptroller’s current 50-132-a PDF. Washington CAD’s forms page links Protest Form to a PDF. That file matches the Comptroller’s 50-132-a PDF. The file-an-online-protest page links Notice of Protest Form to a 2024 PDF. That address returned 404. Fayette CAD’s forms page links Notice of Protest Form to a 50-132-a PDF on bisfiles.co. The link is http and that address timed out. The https path opened, and it matches the Comptroller’s 50-132-a PDF. That shared file’s first page says Form 50-132-A for counties with populations less than 120,000. Its metadata title is “Property Owner’s Notice of Protest,” and its subject metadata is 50-132. Colorado CAD’s forms page links Notice of Protest to https://bisfiles.co/sites/shared/forms/50-132-a.pdf. That file matches the Comptroller’s 50-132-a PDF. Its first page says Form 50-132-A for counties with populations less than 120,000. The footer says “50-132-A • 03-26/28.” Its metadata title is “Property Owner’s Notice of Protest.” Jim Wells CAD’s homepage does not link a notice-of-protest PDF. Erath CAD’s forms page links Notice of Protest Form to http://bisfiles.co/sites/shared/forms/50-132-A.pdf. That http address did not connect. https://bisfiles.co/sites/shared/forms/50-132-A.pdf opened, and that file matches the Comptroller’s 50-132-a PDF. Palo Pinto Appraisal District’s downloads page links PROTEST_FORM_50-132-A.pdf. That file’s first page says Form 50-132-A for counties with populations less than 120,000. The footer says “50-132-A • 1-24/25.” Its metadata title is “Property Owner’s Notice of Protest for Counties with Populations Less than 120,000,” and its keywords metadata is 50-132. It is not the same file as the Comptroller’s current 50-132-a PDF. The protest-process page links Protest Form to a 2025 PDF. That file’s first page also says Form 50-132-A. The footer says “50-132-A • 1-24/25.” Its metadata title is “Property Owner’s Notice of Protest.” Gillespie CAD’s forms page links Notice of Protest to https://bisfiles.co/sites/shared/forms/50-132-a.pdf. That file matches the Comptroller’s 50-132-a PDF. Its first page says Form 50-132-A for counties with populations less than 120,000. The footer says “50-132-A • 03-26/28.” Its metadata title is “Property Owner’s Notice of Protest,” and its subject metadata is 50-132. Brown CAD’s forms page links Notice of Protest to http://bisfiles.co/sites/shared/forms/50-132-a.pdf. That http address timed out. https://bisfiles.co/sites/shared/forms/50-132-a.pdf opened, and that file matches the Comptroller’s 50-132-a PDF. Lampasas CAD’s protests page links Property Owner’s Notice of Protest to https://bisfiles.co/sites/shared/forms/50-132-a.pdf. That file is the same Comptroller 50-132-a PDF. Llano CAD’s forms page links Notice of Protest Form to http://bisfiles.co/sites/shared/forms/50-132-a.pdf. That http address timed out. The https path opened, and it matches the Comptroller’s 50-132-a PDF. Confirm the form your CAD posts. File with the appraisal district, never with the Comptroller.

    Form 50-132 how-toForm 50-132 (PDF)Form 50-132-A (PDF, counties under 120,000)Comptroller protest instructions

The math

Agents bill a cut of the save. We bill a document.

About 3.00 million Texas protests were filed in 2024 (3,004,940), from Comptroller figures compiled by O’Connor.[1] The market is real. The fee structure is the fight. These are other companies’ published figures, not KeepTheCut results.

Ownwell (their figures)

25%

of first-year savings in Texas, per Ownwell’s own cost-breakdown writing.[2] They market ~$774 average annual savings[3] and other Ownwell pages cite ~$606 median.[4]

25% of $606 is about $152 — more than $99.

O’Connor (their terms)

~50%

of first-year savings. O’Connor’s site: pay half of first-year property tax savings; they file and attend the hearing.[5]

Half of $606 is about $303.

KeepTheCut

$99/year

per property. You file. You keep 100% of any savings. SquareDeal DIY comps are $69[6] — we charge more because the packet includes the filing worksheet, county portal steps, and deadline-reminder workflow.

SquareDeal has published Harris County figures claiming a 2025 DIY median assessed-value reduction of $20,640 versus $13,202 for agent-represented protests. That is their claim from their dataset, not a KeepTheCut finding, and it is not a prediction for your house.[7] Longer comparisons: Ownwell alternative · O’Connor alternative · SquareDeal alternative.

Other launch counties

How to file yourself · Ownwell alternative · O’Connor alternative · SquareDeal alternative · October tax bill · Property tax bill · October bill-shock · Share pack

Get my packet — $99/year

Sources

We cite other companies’ published figures. We do not adopt them as our results.

  1. 1.About 3.00 million Texas property-tax protests filed in 2024 (3,004,940), from Texas Comptroller data compiled by O’Connor. Source
  2. 2.Ownwell markets a 25% contingency on first-year savings in Texas (rate can vary by region on Ownwell’s pricing materials). Source
  3. 3.Ownwell homepage markets “$774 avg annual savings” among its advertised customer results (not a prediction for your home). Source
  4. 4.Ownwell’s Texas protest guide cites an approximate $606 median annual savings for a typical successful protest in major metro counties. Source
  5. 5.O’Connor & Associates states clients pay half of first-year property-tax savings (about 50%). Source
  6. 6.SquareDeal DIY comps reports are priced at $69, with a money-back policy if there is no reduction (SquareDeal’s terms, not ours). Source
  7. 7.SquareDeal’s Harris County analysis claims a 2025 DIY median assessed-value reduction of $20,640 vs $13,202 for agent-represented protests. That is SquareDeal’s claim from their dataset, not a KeepTheCut finding. Source
  8. 8.Texas Comptroller: how to protest, Form 50-132, and typical May 15 / 30-days-after-notice deadline. Source
  9. 9.Texas Tax Code §41.47: the ARB generally may not set a protested appraised value higher than the value in the appraisal records submitted by the chief appraiser, unless the owner requests and agrees. Exceptions exist for certain exemption and special-appraisal disputes. Source
  10. 10.Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1152 regulates property-tax consultants. KeepTheCut is not a registered property-tax consultant and does not represent owners. Source