FAQs Archive | Page 8 of 12 | Travis Central Appraisal District

Q: Can I get a copy of the appraisal roll?

Yes, an electronic copy of the entire appraisal roll data is made available free of charge on the appraisal district website. Upon a request the Appraisal District can provide PDF copies of the appraisal roll by property type, subdivision, zip code, and several other predefined criteria. The cost for PDF appraisal rolls are $5. Please contact the Records Coordinator for a list of predefined criteria. Additional criteria for PDF creation may be requested but will incur programming and manipulation charges.

Q: Can I get electronic shape files?

Taxpayers may also purchase a copy of our GIS shape file that include all of Travis County. You must have GIS or ESRI to use the GIS shape file. This information can be put onto a CD or transferred to an FTP site. The cost is $25.

Q: Can I get a list of sales to help me in my protest?

Per Section 22.27 of the Texas Property Tax Code, the Appraisal District is prohibited from disclosing sales information gathered from a private source. Taxpayers who have protested his or her property value are entitled to the sales used to value his or her property, but no other sales information.

Q: Can someone else represent me during my protest?

Yes. If you have hired a license property tax consultant, they will obtain written authorization from you giving them permission to represent you in a hearing. If your representative is an attorney, they will be allowed to swear, under oath, that they are your authorized representative. If your representative is a family member or friend, you must provide written authorization, signed by you, naming the person to represent you. This can be done by completing the Comptroller’s Authorization of Agent form or showing another piece of appropriate documentation, such as a power of attorney. The person you select should be able to discuss the property from personal knowledge and should file the documentation as soon as possible. At the very least, the person must bring the appropriate documentation to the ARB hearing. You may bring someone with you to the hearing that can speak during the hearing. However, in this circumstance, you must be present to identify on the record that the person is speaking on your behalf.

Q: When will I receive the evidence related to my protest?

All property owners who file a protest will have access to TCAD's evidence packet via the online portal. To access this evidence, you must have an online account using the property owner ID and pin number on your Notice of Appraised Value. Property owners may inspect and/or make copies of the evidence at the appraisal district's office 14 days prior to their scheduled hearing during normal business hours by informing staff at the Customer Service department that they wish to inspect their evidence and providing staff with the account number(s) for the property protested. The evidence packets for ARB hearings are not the same as information requested under the Public Information Act.

Q: Why does my property have an assessed value?

Your property’s “assessed” value is not the same as its “market” value. The market value of your property may increase or decrease by any amount year-to-year. If you have a residential homestead exemption on your property, the increase in your assessed value is limited from year-to-year to 10% so long as changes have not been made that add “new value” (such as an “addition”).

Q: I purchased a property that has been split. When will my name be shown as the owner?

If you purchased a property that will be split after January 1st, then the ownership will not be updated until the following calendar year.