taxesProperty Tax Assistance

About Us

The Property Tax Assistance Division (PTAD) conducts and publishes four major property value studies and reviews of school districts and appraisal districts required by Texas law. These studies are designed to ensure consistent appraisal standards and an equitable school finance system.

• The School District Property Value Study (SDPVS) is a biennial, independent estimate of taxable value in each school district. The values determined in this study are certified to the commissioner of education for use in determining equitable funding among Texas school districts. The SDPVS is a study of taxable values from the preceding tax year and does not have a direct impact on local values.
• The Appraisal District Ratio Study (ADRS) is a biennial, independent study of local values to evaluate the performance of appraisal districts in the preceding tax year. This study measures the degree of uniformity of and median level of appraisals by the appraisal district within each major category of property.
• The Methods and Assistance Program (MAP) is a biennial review of appraisal district governance, taxpayer assistance, operating and appraisal standards, procedures and methodologies. PTAD provides the results of the MAP reviews to the appraisal districts to assist them in remaining compliant with all applicable laws, rules and generally accepted appraisal standards.
• The Targeted Appraisal Review Program (TARP) is a review of an appraisal district that is targeted to determine why values in a school district in that appraisal district continue to be found statistically invalid. This review is triggered when a school district receives three consecutive invalid findings in the SDPVS.

PTAD provides training for appraisal review board (ARB) members and provides information to the public, responding to telephone, email and written requests for information. It also administers the statewide binding arbitration and limited binding arbitration programs for property owners who qualify for limited or regular binding arbitration and the local government relief program for cities and counties that qualify for disabled veteran assistance payments under Local Government Code Section 140.011.

PTAD approves educational materials for property tax professionals registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and prepares and maintains publications, forms, online videos, website information and other educational tools.

Neither the Comptroller's office nor PTAD has any direct jurisdiction over appraisal districts or ARBs and can only act in a technical assistance role.

Contact PTAD

The Comptroller's office cannot provide legal advice. Legal advice means interpreting or applying the law to a particular situation. You should contact an attorney if you need assistance interpreting or applying the law concerning property tax issues.

Most questions about your property appraisal or property tax should be addressed to your county's appraisal district or tax office.

The Comptroller's Property Tax Assistance Division (PTAD) is primarily limited to education, advising and monitoring services. Select a property tax topic below to access additional information.

• Appraisal District Ratio Study
• Appraisal Review Board Training
• Binding Arbitration
• Data Security and Analysis
• Education Approval
• Electronic Appraisal Roll Submissions
• Electronic Property Transaction System
• Limited Binding Arbitration
• Local Government Relief for Disabled Veterans Exemption Program
• General Property Tax Information
• Methods and Assistance Program
• Online Videos
• Property Tax Forms and Publications
• School District Property Value Study
• Records Requests
• School District Audits

You can contact PTAD by phone at:

• 512-305-9999; or
• 800-252-9121
• press 1 for school district audits and electronic appraisal roll submissions
• press 2 for arbitration
• press 3 for all other property tax matters
• press 4 for the agency directory

You can contact PTAD by mail at:

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Attn: Property Tax Assistance Division
P.O. Box 13528
Austin, Texas 78711-9939

PTAD Complaint Procedures

PTAD staff strives to perform each of its functions according to law and procedures. Tax Code Section 5.14 provides that the Comptroller's office may resolve written complaints concerning matters over which the Comptroller's office has authority. Only those matters may be considered by the Comptroller's office. The Comptroller's office does not have any direct jurisdiction over appraisal districts or ARBs and can only act in a technical assistance role.

If you contend that law or procedures concerning issues over which the Comptroller has authority were not followed, you may follow PTAD's complaint procedures to file a written complaint. Complaints over which the Comptroller has authority will be reviewed and investigated in the order they are received. All other complaints will be dismissed.

Additional Resources

• PTAD Complaint Procedures

Customer Service

PTAD strives to offer assistance on property tax matters and is interested in your opinion of our services. Please take a moment to respond to a short survey regarding the following PTAD services: website, telephone assistance, email assistance, publications and continuing education videos.

Additional Resources

• Customer Service Survey