Webb Judicial Appeals Save $600,000
With businesses factoring so heavily into administrative appeals in Webb County, it is not surprising that lawsuits against the Webb County Appraisal District (WCAD) are becoming more commonplace. From simple binding arbitration to district court cases, these lawsuits are the ultimate arbiters of the most premium properties in the county. Let O’Connor build your legal team for you when you join the Property Tax Protection Program™ today. Enroll, relax, and save.
Number Appealed to Binding ArbitrationSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Appeals | ||||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||
| Number Determinations appealed | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 15 | 11 | 15 | 18 | 69 | |
Texas property owners should protest annually since Texas has one of the best systems for appeals for property owners.
Webb County Legal Appeals of ARB Hearing
While formal and informal appeals have been successful for taxpayers, especially businesses, sometimes more is needed. From a multi-billion-dollar industrial park to a mansion, the elite properties of Webb County can put the finishing touches on their tax protest journey by utilizing litigation. There are three types of lawsuits against WCAD, each meant for a certain tier of property.
O’Connor has 50 years of experience handling both property tax appeals and lawsuits, helping Texans secure every reduction they deserve. O’Connor can build your legal team for you, securing not only attorneys, but expert witnesses as well. With such a powerful team by your side, you will have every tool needed to succeed.
WCAD Binding Arbitration Cases
While it is hard to call any litigation simple, binding arbitration is relatively straightforward. An expert arbiter is retained by the taxpayer with a temporary bond. The taxpayer and WCAD show their evidence to the arbiter, who sides with the one with the most merit. If the taxpayer wins, the bond is returned. If they fail, the arbiter keeps the fee. This litigation is strictly for homes under $5 million, though homesteads have an unlimited cap. There were 69 cases of binding arbitration in 2024.
Appealed to State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH)Source: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Appeals | ||||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||
| Appealed to SOAH | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
Webb State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH)
With only around a decade of existence, State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) are still a rare occurrence in Texas. These are reserved for single family homes that are worth more than $1 million. Due to their exclusive nature, Webb County has seen only three of these lawsuits in the past decade. Many counties have never seen one at all.
Judicial AppealsSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Appeals | ||||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||
| Judicial Appeals | 13.00 | 16.00 | 17.00 | 18.00 | 18.00 | 13.00 | 18.00 | 22.00 | 25.00 | 72.00 | 118.00 | |
WCAD Judicial Appeals
When most people think of litigation, they are picturing judicial appeals. These are district court lawsuits that use all of the standard trial features. This includes a judge, witnesses, competing attorneys, and a showdown in an official court. Due to the cost involved, judicial appeals are reserved for the most elite of real estate, usually top-dollar businesses or the occasional ranch.
There was a record of 118 of these lawsuits filed in 2024. Thanks to being literal court cases, these appeals can take years to make their way to a judge, meaning the outcome could take years. Of course, due to their many demands, judicial appeals usually see the taxpayer at their strongest in this arena, and no appeal type has a better outcome for the taxpayer.