Dallas County Property Tax Protest Facts
The Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD) is responsible for assessing and collecting taxes in Dallas and the surrounding metroplex. Due to the huge sprawl of Dallas County, they must use old data, computer models, and inaccurate guesstimates to figure out the value of real property. With property valued at $568.91 billion in 2024, it is imperative that DFW taxpayers protest their property taxes, as it allows them to pay their fair share. Join O’Connor’s Property Tax Protection Program™ to be set for 2026 and beyond. You never pay hidden fees, upfront costs, or sneaky charges. You only pay from your savings if your taxes are cut. Enroll, relax, and save.
Total Market Value Dallas CountySource: 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 | |
| $ Total Market Value | 228.559 | 246.585 | 270.823 | 292.071 | 321.944 | 351.454 | 375.123 | 392.082 | 459.958 | 511.687 | 568.905 |
| Single Family | 102.126 | 109.840 | 123.016 | 134.426 | 150.487 | 163.723 | 172.432 | 180.680 | 221.165 | 246.061 | 280.220 |
| Multi-family | 20.200 | 22.907 | 25.712 | 28.689 | 35.112 | 38.713 | 44.163 | 47.487 | 56.865 | 64.418 | 70.381 |
| Commercial | 86.248 | 93.429 | 101.514 | 108.145 | 114.424 | 125.665 | 133.480 | 138.111 | 153.342 | 169.995 | 185.667 |
| All Other | 19.986 | 20.410 | 20.581 | 20.811 | 21.921 | 23.353 | 25.048 | 25.805 | 28.586 | 31.212 | 32.637 |
Texas property owners should protest annually As part of maintaining their property, like a HVAC checkup.
Dallas County Property Tax Trends
Dallas County is the second-largest county in Texas, only behind rival Harris County. The heart of the metroplex and a driver of culture, the county is a true destination for visitors and residents alike. With such a massive size also comes massive property taxes, and the only way to cut them is to protest. O’Connor is a Texas-based property tax consulting that is laser-focused on the issues of taxes. With over 50 years in the business, O’Connor knows how to outfox the appraisal districts and get you every tax you deserve.
Total Market Value of Property in Dallas County
The Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD) controls property taxes. Throughout all of the county, DCAD bundles real property into parcels, assesses it, taxes it, and then collects and distributes the taxes. Like all of Texas, there is no income tax, so the majority of funding for statewide programs and services comes from taxes. MUDs, school districts, and the county itself are all taxing entities that divide the taxes.
DCAD estimated that in 2024, the county’s real estate was worth a combined $568.91 billion. $280.22 billion for single family homes and $185.67 billion for commercial properties. The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is divided among many counties, most notably Tarrant, so the value of the outskirts and suburbs is truly massive.
Property Value Reduction By Type of Appeal Source: 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 | |
| Total | 9.808 | 10.085 | 15.943 | 20.710 | 19.654 | 22.930 | 27.113 | 28.462 | 43.700 | 47.455 | 54.81 |
| Informal Appeal | 3.276 | 2.820 | 5.186 | 3.568 | 5.751 | 6.483 | 10.087 | 13.691 | 21.052 | 21.686 | 16.629 |
| Formal ARB Determination | 4.4290 | 4.6270 | 7.3650 | 13.9250 | 10.5740 | 13.0250 | 13.6500 | 10.8680 | 18.8300 | 19.4130 | 27.5630 |
| Judicial Appeal | 2.1030 | 2.6370 | 3.3920 | 3.2160 | 3.3280 | 3.4220 | 3.3750 | 3.9030 | 3.8190 | 6.3560 | 10.6210 |
Texas property owners should protest annually since Texas law requires property owners to protest to get information on their property and comparable sales in the area. This information is free and available upon request via U.S. mail (once you file a protest).
DCAD Value Reduction by Appeal Type
Every Texan has the right to appeal their taxes, and they should always use it. Dallas County is too large and spread out to be accurately measured by DCAD. Instead, estimates, computer models, and general history are used to fill in the gaps. This, of course, means that county taxpayers are stuck with bills far larger than they should be. There are several appeals that can be made to get the correct amount owned.
Property taxes can be disputed in a number of ways, each escalating in complexity. Informal appeals happen first, followed by formal hearings, and finally judicial reviews. These three pillars of appeals reduced $54.81 billion in market value in 2024. Informal appeals accounted for $16.63 billion, formal hearings $27.56 billion, and $10.62 billion for judicial appeals. In 2024, formal hearings surpassed informal ones for the first time since 2020. This indicates that a second step is becoming more common when it comes to trying for a reduction. Harris and Tarrant counties have likewise seen this trend.
Total Property Tax Savings All Protests and AppealsSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Millions of $ | |||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| All Property Types | 205.97 | 211.78 | 334.80 | 434.91 | 412.73 | 481.53 | 569.38 | 597.71 | 917.70 | 996.56 | 1,151.09 |
| Single Family | 12.18 | 12.49 | 19.99 | 19.16 | 30.19 | 34.41 | 43.18 | 35.06 | 84.08 | 74.43 | 92.81 |
| Commercial / All other | 193.79 | 199.29 | 314.81 | 415.75 | 382.54 | 447.12 | 526.20 | 562.65 | 833.62 | 922.13 | 1,058.28 |
Texas property owners should protest annually since Because it is the surest way to reduce property taxes.
Total DCAD Savings by Property Type
$1.15 billion in tax savings was awarded in 2024 due to tax protesting. This was achieved by reducing appraised value and real market value through appeals and lawsuits. $1.06 billion was won for commercial properties combined with multi family homes. This is typical for Texas, as commercial properties are worth far more on average than residential real estate. This was a record savings for both businesses and the county as a whole.
Single family homes were responsible for $92.81 million in savings, likewise the most seen in the history of the area. Dallas County property tax savings skewed far more toward commercial and related business types than the rest of Texas on average. Due to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex being divided between many counties, Dallas has more commercial real estate and fewer residential homes compared to contemporaries like Harris County. DFW has traditionally used less appeals than the Austin or Houston areas, but that trend is slowly reversing. Tarrant, Dallas, Denton, and Collin counties all saw surprising levels of participation in 2024.