How to Protest Your CCAD Property Tax Assessment
Collin County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas, and the Collin Central Appraisal District (CCAD) appraises roughly 479,000 properties each year. Rapid development in cities like Plano, Frisco, McKinney, and Allen means values can spike significantly year over year. Filing a protest is free, straightforward, and the most reliable way to keep your assessment in line with reality.
Can I Protest My CCAD Assessment?
Absolutely. Every property owner in Collin County has the legal right to protest their appraised value. You do not need to hire a tax consultant or attorney. CCAD handles thousands of homeowner protests each year through a process designed for non-experts.
When Is the Deadline?
The protest deadline is May 15 each year, or 30 days after your notice of appraised value is mailed — whichever is later. CCAD typically mails notices in mid-April.
If May 15 falls on a weekend, the deadline shifts to the next business day. Mail-in protests must be postmarked by midnight on the deadline date.
Look up your property and notice date at collincad.org.
Step 1: Review Your CCAD Assessment
Start by looking up your property on Collin Value to see your appraised value, comparable properties, and potential savings. Then verify the details on CCAD's website — check your square footage, year built, room count, and property condition. Collin County's rapid new construction means CCAD sometimes applies mass appraisal adjustments that overshoot individual property values.
Step 2: Gather Your Evidence
The two most effective protest strategies in Collin County:
- Unequal appraisal (equity): Show that similar properties in your neighborhood are appraised at lower values per square foot. Under Texas Property Tax Code Section 41.43(b), your appraised value should not exceed the median appraised value of comparable properties. This is powerful because the ARB must rule in your favor unless CCAD proves otherwise.
- Market value: Show that recent sales of comparable homes indicate your property is worth less than CCAD's appraised value. Include sale dates, addresses, and prices for homes similar to yours that sold in the last 6-12 months.
Collin Value generates both types of evidence automatically using CCAD's own appraisal data and recent comparable sales.
Step 3: File Your Protest
CCAD offers an online protest portal through their website. You can also file by mail or in person. To file online:
- Go to collincad.org and navigate to the "Protest" section
- Log in using your property account number and the PIN printed on your Notice of Appraised Value
- Select the protest reasons — "Value is over market value" and/or "Value is unequal compared to similar properties"
- Upload supporting evidence (comparable property data, photos, repair estimates)
- Submit your protest before the deadline
To file by mail, send a completed Texas Comptroller Form 50-132 to CCAD at 250 Eldorado Pkwy, McKinney, TX 75069. You can also call CCAD at 469-742-9200 with questions about the filing process.
Step 4: Informal Review
After filing, CCAD will schedule an informal meeting with an appraiser. This is where most protests are resolved — the appraiser reviews your evidence and may offer a reduced value on the spot. Collin County's informal process is generally efficient, and homeowners who bring organized evidence frequently walk away with a reduction.
Step 5: Accept or Proceed to ARB
If the informal offer meets your target, accept it and you're done. If not, your case moves to a formal hearing with the Appraisal Review Board (ARB). You'll receive a hearing date at least 15 days in advance.
Tips for Collin County Protests
- Collin County's growth means new subdivisions often have wide valuation swings — check comps carefully
- Focus on 3-5 strong comparable properties with lower $/sqft assessments
- Check for data errors — wrong square footage, incorrect year built, or missing condition adjustments
- You can protest every year with no penalty; even a small reduction saves money over time
- If your value jumped more than 10% in a single year, that alone is worth protesting
- Call CCAD at 469-742-9200 if you need help navigating the process
Sources and evidence for Collin County
Prepared by Collin Value. Filing resources checked September 4, 2026.
Start with the Collin Central Appraisal District property record and your current notice. Our property pages organize imported public assessment records and available comparable evidence. Check the tax year and data dates shown on each page: a prior-year record is useful history, but does not establish the value on a new notice.
Comparable homes are candidates for review. Verify their size, age, condition, location, and sale details before using them. Value per square foot helps screen candidates; it does not account for every difference. Estimated savings depend on the final assessment, exemptions, assessment limits, and applicable tax rates.
Texas filing and valuation checks
For 2026, the ordinary May 15 filing date has passed. A notice mailed later can have a later deadline. Confirm the date on your notice and the CCAD filing instructions. Review Texas Comptroller protest guidance for procedures and owner rights.
Separate a market-value argument from unequal appraisal, and compare the same tax year. A homestead cap or exemption can make taxable value differ from market value; lowering market value may not change the bill immediately. Texas sales coverage is incomplete because sale prices are not universally disclosed.
Check the source before filing
Collin Value is an independent research tool. Verify the current procedure with Collin Central Appraisal District, save a copy of your evidence, and retain your filing confirmation. The appraisal authority or review board decides the outcome.