Webb Property Tax Appeals Save $113+ Million Per Year
One mostly reserved for the wealthy and business, even working counties like Webb are embracing property tax protests at a record rate. This is because the Webb County Appraisal District (WCAD) continues to overappraise both homes and businesses. Taxpayers have had enough and are seeing better results with appeals than ever before, knocking off $113 million in taxes in 2024 thanks to appeals and litigation. Join this growing movement when you join O’Connor’s Property Tax Protection Program™ today. No upfront cost, and you only pay if you win. Enroll, relax, and save.
Total Value Reduction, Informal HearingsSource: 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 | |
| $ Total Value Reduction | 159.66 | 118.35 | 220.53 | 268.03 | 315.52 | 560.45 | 974.51 | 826.63 | 2,868.92 | 4,911.21 | 4,504.91 |
| Single Family Residential Reduction | 4.77 | 5.09 | 6.69 | 16.34 | 26.00 | 24.70 | 7.60 | 20.74 | 39.59 | 58.43 | 34.35 |
| Commercial / Other | 154.89 | 113.26 | 213.84 | 251.68 | 289.53 | 535.74 | 966.92 | 805.89 | 2,829.33 | 4,852.78 | 4,470.56 |
Texas property owners should protest annually since The value cannot be raised during the protest, based on 2019 legislation.
Webb County Property Tax Savings from Administrative Appeals
When taxpayers look to fight their values, there are several options. While exemptions are a solid foundation, property tax protests are an equalizer that is seeing more use every year. These come in administrative appeals, which are informal and formal protests, and litigation like binding arbitration and judicial appeals. While it takes a legal team to pursue litigation, anyone can file an administrative appeal. While it does take evidence to win, a dedicated taxpayer can defend themselves against WCAD.
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Webb County property tax protests for home owners accounted for 3% of the tax assessment reductions in informal hearings while commercial / other properties accounted for 97% of the reductions in informal hearings.
WCAD Informal Hearings
Informal protests are how even the most ambitious tax reduction campaign begins. These hearings are with a representative of WCAD, where the taxpayer will try and negotiate a settlement. These are the most common form of appeal in Webb County, which fits a county filled with working families and first-generation Americans. These protests reduced taxable value by $4.50 billion in 2024, the second-most ever. This was spearheaded by businesses, which managed to knock $4.47 billion from their rolls. Residential real estate got a reduction of $34.50 million.
Total Value Reduction, Formal ARB HearingsSource: 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 Value Reduction | 0.034 | 0.028 | 0.021 | 0.029 | 0.041 | 0.053 | 0.080 | 0.108 | 0.254 | 0.400 | 0.841 |
| Single Family Residential Reduction | 0.002 | 0.001 | 0.001 | 0.002 | 0.004 | 0.005 | 0.006 | 0.007 | 0.011 | 0.015 | 0.018 |
| Commercial / Other | 0.033 | 0.026 | 0.020 | 0.027 | 0.037 | 0.047 | 0.074 | 0.101 | 0.243 | 0.384 | 0.823 |
Texas property owners should protest annually since You can’t evaluate the strength of your appeal until you obtain the hearing evidence file. You have to protest to obtain the hearing evidence file (available free upon request via U.S. mail).
WCAD Formal ARB Hearings
Formal hearings take place with the appraisal review board (ARB), which is a neutral trio of experts that rule on the case based on evidence. Traditionally, they have not been a big factor in the county’s tax process, but that has changed in recent years. 2024 saw $841 million in value reduced formally, double that of 2023. Businesses managed to land a reduction of $823 million, while homes set a new record with $18 million.
Tax Savings, Informal HearingsSource: 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 | |
| $ Total Value Reduction | 3.35 | 2.49 | 4.63 | 5.63 | 6.63 | 11.77 | 20.46 | 17.36 | 60.25 | 103.14 | 94.60 |
| Single Family Residential Reduction | 0.10 | 0.11 | 0.14 | 0.34 | 0.55 | 0.52 | 0.16 | 0.44 | 0.83 | 1.23 | 0.72 |
| Commercial / Other | 3.25 | 2.38 | 4.49 | 5.29 | 6.08 | 11.25 | 20.31 | 16.92 | 59.42 | 101.91 | 93.88 |
Texas property owners should protest annually since Not appealing is used against property owners in the subsequent years since “you agreed to the value” (by not protesting).
Estimated Total Property Tax Informal Savings
The simplicity of informal protests should never undermine their effectiveness. Many simple issues can be easily resolved at this level, such as missing exemptions, incorrect square footage, the wrong classification, or the wrong owner being listed on the appraisal. They are still great at challenging value, be it for overappraisal or for unequal appraisal.
Taxpayers managed to claw back $94.60 million in taxes in 2024 thanks to informal protests. While this was below the 2023 record of $103.14 million, it was still the second-most ever. This was thanks to bountiful returns for commercial real estate, which netted a return of $93.88 million. Homes scored a reduction of $721,000. The success of these initial challenges helps keep WCAD honest, which benefits the whole county.
Tax Savings, Formal ARB HearingsSource: 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 | |
| $ Total Value Reduction | 0.72 | 0.58 | 0.44 | 0.62 | 0.86 | 1.11 | 1.69 | 2.27 | 5.33 | 8.39 | 17.67 |
| Single Family Residential Reduction | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.05 | 0.08 | 0.11 | 0.13 | 0.15 | 0.24 | 0.32 | 0.39 |
| Commercial / Other | 0.68 | 0.55 | 0.42 | 0.57 | 0.78 | 1.00 | 1.56 | 2.12 | 5.09 | 8.07 | 17.28 |
Tax Savings, Formal ARB Hearings
While informal hearings had a small downturn, the same was certainly not true for ARB hearings. These formal protests had their best year yet in 2024, bringing in $17.67 million in tax cuts, double the previous year’s success. This was driven by businesses, which managed to trim $17.67 million from their bills. Homes did well also, bringing in a record $390,000. While small compared to informal savings, these second-level protests are vital for more expensive properties.
Total Tax Savings (Informal & Formal)Source: 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 | |
| $ Total Value Reduction | 4.07 | 3.07 | 5.07 | 6.25 | 7.49 | 12.88 | 22.15 | 19.63 | 65.58 | 111.53 | 112.27 |
| Single Family Residential Reduction | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.17 | 0.39 | 0.63 | 0.63 | 0.29 | 0.59 | 1.07 | 1.55 | 1.11 |
| Commercial / Other | 3.93 | 2.93 | 4.91 | 5.86 | 6.86 | 12.25 | 21.87 | 19.04 | 64.51 | 109.98 | 111.16 |
Total Tax Savings (Informal & Formal)
Thanks to the success of ARB appeals, 2024 saw the most taxes ever returned to the people of Laredo and the surrounding area. $112.27 million in total was brought back, slightly over 2023’s $111.53 million. Homes managed to save $1.11 million, while businesses nabbed a strong $111.16 million. While businesses usually save more, it is rare in Texas for them to bring it 10 times more than residential properties. This means there is plenty of potential for residential challenges in the future.