Property taxes in Rowlett — just got my appraisal and I'm protesting. Here's how.

My 2026 property tax appraisal just arrived. My house in Waterview was appraised at $412,000 — up from $378,000 last year. That is a $34,000 increase, which translates to roughly $850 more in property taxes.

I am protesting. You should too. Here is exactly how.

Step 1: Know which appraisal district you are in.

• If your house is on the Rockwall County side of Rowlett: Rockwall Central Appraisal District (rockwallcad.com)
• If your house is on the Dallas County side of Rowlett: Dallas Central Appraisal District (dallascad.org)
• Not sure? Check your previous tax bill or search your address on both sites.

Step 2: File a protest by the deadline.

• Deadline is typically May 15 or 30 days after the appraisal notice is mailed, whichever is later.
• File online through your appraisal district's website. It takes 5 minutes.
• You do NOT need a reason beyond "I believe the value is incorrect." Check the box and submit.

Step 3: Gather your evidence.

• Comparable sales: Find 3-5 homes in your neighborhood that sold in the last 12 months for less than your appraised value. Use Zillow, Realtor.com, or Redfin. Focus on same square footage, same age, same neighborhood.
• Condition issues: If your house has a roof that is 15 years old, foundation issues, or deferred maintenance, document it with photos. The appraisal assumes average condition.
• Equity argument: If similar homes on your street are appraised lower than yours, that is an equity argument. Pull the appraisal values of 3-5 nearby homes from the appraisal district's website.

Step 4: Attend the hearing.

• You will get a hearing date via mail.
• Bring printed copies of your comparable sales and photos.
• Be polite. The appraisers are doing their job. Present facts, not emotions.
• The informal hearing (first round) resolves most cases. If it does not, you can go to the ARB (Appraisal Review Board) for a formal hearing.

Step 5: Consider hiring a protest company.

• Companies like North Texas Property Tax Consultants and Gill & Associates will protest on your behalf for a percentage of the savings (usually 33-40% of the tax reduction, only if successful).
• If you do not want to deal with the process, this is worth it. They know the system, they have comps databases, and they win most cases.

My results last year: I protested my 2025 appraisal. Original value: $378,000. I presented 4 comparable sales ranging from $350K-$365K. The appraiser agreed to reduce to $362,000 at the informal hearing. That saved me approximately $400 in property taxes.

The big picture: Rowlett property taxes are high — approximately $2.40-2.50 per $100 of assessed value when you combine city, county, school district, and special districts. On a $400K house, that is roughly $10,000 per year. Every dollar you can reduce your appraised value by saves you about $2.50 per year in taxes.

Protest every year. Even if you only get a $10K reduction, that is $250 annually. Over 10 years of ownership, that adds up to $2,500 in savings for an hour of work.