Dallas County Property Tax Formal Appeals Cut Billions in Tax Burden

Dallas County taxpayers are pushing for formal tax protests like never before and are seeing record savings. Thanks to 128,650 appraisal review board (ARB) appeals, $27.56 billion in taxable value was diminished in 2024. $24.76 billion in value savings for businesses and $2.81 billion for homeowners was achieved. However, only 67% of formal appeals were granted in Dallas County. With strict ARB rulings, you need an expert team to maximize your chances of both victory and a reduction. Enroll in O’Connor’s Property Tax Protection Program™ for 2026 and beyond and get the best property tax appeal support in Texas. No hidden fees, upfront costs, and only pay if your taxes are reduced. Enroll, relax, and save.

Protests with Written ARB DeterminationSource: 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	43.930	46.181	51.171	50.561	59.939	71.235	74.018	76.801	97.891	105.828	128.650
Protests single family residential	25.735	28.467	31.803	30.797	36.596	43.324	45.975	48.627	66.020	72.111	90.389
Protests with all other	18.195	17.714	19.368	19.764	23.373	27.911	28.042	28.174	31.871	33.717	38.261

Texas property owners should protest annually since Hearing results depend on the appraiser assigned or the ARB; results vary widely. You do not know the appraiser or ARB panel prior to appealing.

DCAD Formal Protests

The appraisal review board (ARB) is where Dallas County tax protests transition from informal to formal. If an informal appeal is inaccurate, insufficient, or not granted at all, then a formal hearing is the only way to go. The ARB is a neutral party that has been put in place in order to settle disputes between taxpayers and the Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD). Formal appeals are only behind informal appeals in granting savings to Dallas County taxpayers.

ARB hearings are a more complex step in your tax protest journey, and that means you might need an experienced guide to get you through the twists and turns to come. O’Connor is the paragon of property tax consulting in Texas and one of the biggest such firms in America. O’Connor is passionate about protecting the rights of Texans, particularly their ability to dispute taxes that could hurt their family budget. With over 50 years in the business, O’Connor has all the knowledge needed to get you what you deserve.

DCAD Formal Protests by Property Type

128,650 protests in 2024 transitioned from informal protests to formal appeals, the highest seen in the county’s history. 53,630 taxpayers took informal settlements, but far more tried to get a better deal with the board. Unlike informal appeals, which have declined over the past decade, ARB appeals have grown every year. Even the jump between 105,828 in 2023 and 128,650 in 2024 was significant. Formal appeals have grown by 192.85% since 2014.

90,389 single family homeowners took the plunge, representing the largest share of the pie. This type of appeal is improving every year, mostly because of surging home prices and valuations. Commercial and related properties accounted for 38,261 hearings, staying relatively even with growth. While homeowners flocking to formal hearings in great numbers is a new phenomenon, it has always been common for expensive businesses to go the formal route.

Dallas County ARB Decisions with a ReductionSource: 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	36.014	37.851	20.734	20.226	26.722	30.902	33.604	36.306	68.360	56.703	85.717
Single Family Residential	21.015	22.533	12.688	12.619	16.074	18.291	21.258	24.225	46.905	39.499	64.484
Commercial / All Other	14.999	15.318	8.046	7.607	10.648	12.611	12.346	12.081	21.455	17.204	21.233

Texas property owners should protest annually since An annual appeal is an insurance policy to avoid major increases.

DCAD ARB Decisions with a Reduction

85,717 ARB protests ended in a reduction in 2024. This was a sharp increase from 56,703 in 2023. 2023 was the only year since 2016 with a fall in reduction numbers, as hearings with a reduction had been growing quickly over the previous decade. 64,484 single family homeowners got a reduction, along with 21,233 business owners. Formal hearings have a much higher burden of proof compared to informal appeals. Property owners are also bringing more cases before the board than ever before.

Percent That Resulted in A ReductionSource: 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
Total Reduction	82%	82%	41%	40%	45%	43%	45%	47%	70%	54%	67%
Single Family Residential	82%	79%	40%	41%	44%	42%	46%	50%	71%	55%	71%
Commercial / All Other	82%	86%	42%	38%	46%	45%	44%	43%	67%	51%	55%

Texas property owners should protest annually since To ensure their property taxes are at the lowest possible level.

Percent That Resulted in A Reduction

Dallas County property tax disputes that reach ARB hearings have a slightly higher chance of succeeding than the Texas average. 66% is the average success rate for an ARB hearing in Texas, while Dallas County saw a rate of 67%. In 2023, 54% of appeals were approved across the board. 2024 was the second-best year since 2015. 71% of single family homes received a ruling in their favor, while 55% of commercial properties did.

Value Reduction From Written ARB DeterminationsSource: 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 $ Reduction	4.429	4.627	7.365	13.925	10.574	13.025	13.650	10.868	18.830	19.413	27.563
Single Family Residential	0.204	0.257	0.394	0.364	0.568	0.776	1.174	0.777	1.731	1.807	2.807
Commercial / All Other	4.225	4.370	6.971	13.561	10.006	12.249	12.476	10.091	17.099	17.607	24.757

Texas property owners should protest annually since Unequal appraisal allows protests based on neighbors having a better tax assessment.

DCAD Dollar Value Reduction from ARB Hearings

Both percentages and taxable value reductions are up across the county. $27.56 billion in value was reduced via ARB appeals in 2024, the best seen yet. This was driven by $24.76 billion in commercial and related property savings. $2.81 billion was accrued thanks to single family homes. The numbers imply that more properties than ever are being appealed, at higher dollar figures as well. With better support from industry professionals, taxpayers could see a major windfall in the years to come.