Hays Property Tax Protests - By Value, Property Type, and Number

34.18% of all parcels were protested in Hays County in 2023. This is one of the highest percentages in Texas, demonstrating both the value of property on the line and the overzealous taxation of the Hays County Central Appraisal District (Hays CAD). $31.42 billion in value was protested, representing a ton of savings returning to the rightful pockets of tax protestors. Enroll in O’Connor’s Property Tax Protection Program(TM) today and get the most out of your Hays County property tax appeal. There are never any hidden fees or upfront costs, and you will only pay if you lower your property taxes. Enroll, relax, and save.

Total Parcels and Total Protests Hays CADSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.

	Thousands
	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Total Parcels	83.55	86.39	89.17	92.32	102.20	99.46	103.15	107.78	114.47	121.41	126.76
Total Protests Filed	8.68	10.66	11.90	14.36	18.33	21.85	26.40	23.98	33.78	41.49	43.78

Texas property owners should protest annually since Mass appraisal used by appraisal districts includes many errors based on limited resources. About 500 appraisers value all 20 million Texas tax parcels; about 40,000 per appraiser. Another 1,500 appraisers measure new construction.

Hays County Property Tax Protests

Property taxes in Hays County are some of the most protested in Texas, with one-third of all properties being appealed in some way in 2023. Thanks to aggressive and inaccurate valuations from the Hays County Central Appraisal District (Hays CAD), this staggering number is sure to rise. Property tax protests are the only way to defend from rising taxes and are incredibly effective when used properly.

The best way to launch a protest is to have a strong patron backing you every step of the way. O’Connor is that patron, and they are one of the biggest firms dedicated to property tax relief in America. Founded and based in Texas, O’Connor knows all of the secrets that Hays CAD will use to try and keep their claws on every last dollar.

Total Parcels in Hays Central Appraisal District

From homes and businesses to factories and minerals, all real property in Texas is bound together in units called parcels. It is from these parcels that Hays CAD is able to assess and eventually issue taxes. Hays County is blessed with 121,410 parcels, a good step above the Texas average of 90,622 parcels. While not a huge area, Hays County is filled with value, making each one of those parcels worth more than the average across Texas. There were 41,490 protested parcels in 2023, the highest in the county’s history.

Total Protests Hays CountySource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.

	Thousands
	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Total Protests	8.68	10.66	11.90	14.36	18.33	21.85	26.40	23.98	33.78	41.49	43.78
Single Family Home Protests	2.81	5.75	4.80	7.90	9.08	10.63	13.43	11.85	18.70	23.02	24.49
Commercial / Other Protests	5.87	4.91	7.10	6.46	9.25	11.22	12.97	12.12	15.07	18.48	19.29

Texas property owners should protest annually since It is their right.

Total Protests

While property tax protests are up across Texas, they are mostly seen in high-dollar counties and their suburbs. Hays County is quickly becoming a hotspot for properties and this can be seen in the sharp growth of protests. These protests are especially key for those who are longtime residents and have been thriving in Hays County for decades before the thunderous ascension of Austin and the surrounding area.

41,490 protests were launched in 2023, the most Hays County had seen up to that point. These protests are more than quadruple what they were a decade ago, and each year only sees them grow further. While businesses and single family homes battle for dominance, residential property currently has the edge in total protests. 23,090 single family homes were protested compared to 18,480 commercial and related properties.

% of Parcels Protested Hays CountySource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.

	Percent
	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Percent Protested	10.39%	12.34%	13.35%	15.56%	17.94%	21.97%	25.6%	22.24%	29.51%	34.18%	34.54%

Texas property owners should protest annually since About 60% of appeals are successful.

Hays CAD Percent Parcels Protested

13.57% of parcels across Texas are protested each year, which is currently the highest rate seen as of 2023. Hays County more than doubled this number with 34.18%. Over one-third of all parcels in Hays County were protested, an incredible amount. This puts Hays on the same level as Travis or Fort Bend Counties, two of the most expensive in Texas. These high numbers reflect the fact that Hays CAD is assessing for beyond the scope of reality, and that taxpayers are sick of it.

Protests by Property Type Hays CountySource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.

	Thousands
	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Total Number	8.68	10.66	11.90	14.36	18.33	21.85	26.40	23.98	33.78	41.49	43.78
Single Family	2.81	5.75	4.80	7.90	9.08	10.63	13.43	11.85	18.70	23.02	24.49
Multi-Family Res	0.18	0.23	0.20	0.25	0.35	0.45	0.61	0.53	0.61	0.68	0.84
Commercial	0.51	0.75	0.77	0.80	1.05	1.46	2.22	1.93	1.67	1.98	2.66
All Other	5.18	3.92	6.13	5.41	7.85	9.31	10.14	9.67	12.79	15.82	15.78

Texas property owners should protest annually since Correcting an error in the appraisal district’s description of your property can reap savings in future years.

Hays County Protests by Property Type

Thanks to their overwhelming numbers, single family homes made up over half of protested properties in 2023. It is common for single family homes to make up over 50% of protests, so this is not a shocking twist. 23,018 total homes were protested in 2023, up from 18,703 in 2022. With the exception of 2021, the number of homes protested has increased every year in the past decade.

While homes were leading the pack, a somewhat unusual classification staked its claim to second place. 15,820 industrial, utility, and related properties took home a significant number of protests. Often commercial properties take the second spot easily, though this is not the case in Hays County. Only 1,976 commercial properties were protested in 2023, along with 680 multi family homes.

Value of Property Protested by TypeSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.

	Billions of $
	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Value Protested Total	7.49	5.09	5.93	6.81	9.09	11.41	15.28	15.28	25.22	31.42	35.30
Single Family	2.95	1.34	1.22	2.34	2.79	3.49	4.72	4.75	10.17	14.08	14.17
Multi-Family Res	0.99	1.03	1.35	1.42	1.69	1.98	2.31	2.49	3.22	3.52	4.03
Commercial	0.94	0.99	1.12	1.34	1.52	2.33	3.64	3.38	4.10	4.79	5.91
All Other	2.60	1.74	2.24	1.72	3.09	3.61	4.61	4.67	7.72	9.03	11.18

Hays County Value of Property Protested by Type

The amount of expensive property on the line is easily illustrated by looking at the $31.42 billion in value that was protested in 2023. Single family homes once again took the gold, this time with $14.08 billion or 44.81% of the total value. Due to the individual value of business properties, commercial real estate and the like will usually overtake homes in value. That was certainly not the case in Hays County, nor has it been historically.

Industrial and related properties managed to keep their spot in second place as well, though it was not as lopsided when looked at by pure value. $9.03 billion of these properties were protested. Commercial land had a better showing, with $4.79 billion. Multi family homes also showed their increasing worth by notching $3.52 billion in contested value.