Covers Fort Bend Central Appraisal District · Last updated April 26, 2026 · Reviewed by Editorial Team
The 2026 property tax protest deadline in Fort Bend County is May 15, 2026 (or 30 days after your notice — whichever is later, per §41.44).
The homestead exemption is $140,000 (Prop 13, 2025).
FBCAD processes all protests — file Form 50-132 with both value grounds checked.
Fort Bend Central Appraisal District
Central Appraisal District · Fort Bend County, Texas
PROTEST DEADLINE (or 30 days after notice — whichever is later)
§41.44
14 days before hearing
CAD must deliver your evidence packet (HB201 request)
§41.461
60 days after ARB order
Deadline to appeal to district court or binding arbitration
§42.21
How to Protest Property Taxes in Fort Bend County (2026)
1
File Form 50-132 by May 15
Check BOTH "value over market" (§41.41(a)(1)) AND "value unequal" (§41.41(a)(2)) boxes. This preserves both protest grounds. File online at https://www.fbcad.org/protest for the fastest processing.
2
Request your HB201 evidence packet
Under §41.461(a)(2), once you file, submit a written request for all evidence the FBCAD plans to use at your hearing. They must deliver it at least 14 days before your hearing date. If they don't, their evidence is excluded at the ARB hearing (§41.67(d)) — a major advantage.
3
Attend the informal hearing
Most Fort Bend County protests begin with an informal meeting with a FBCAD appraiser. Bring printed comparable sales (3–5 within 6 months of Jan 1), photos of condition issues, and your unequal-appraisal analysis. Roughly 60–80% of residential cases settle here.
4
Present at the ARB hearing (if needed)
The Appraisal Review Board (ARB) is independent of the FBCAD. You present first. Testimony is sworn. Keep it data-focused — ARBs cannot consider tax burden arguments (that's a tax rate decision, not an appraisal question).
5
Appeal the ARB order (if warranted)
You have 60 days after the ARB Order of Determination to appeal. Options: district court (Ch. 42), binding arbitration for properties ≤$5M (Ch. 41A; filing fee $500–$1,500), or SOAH for commercial properties ≥$1M. The CAD must prove your value is correct at the clear-and-convincing standard if it lowered your value in a prior year (§41.43(a-3)).
Property Tax Exemptions in Fort Bend County
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Homestead exemption (school district): $140,000
Prop 13 / SB4, Nov 4, 2025 — retroactive to 2025 tax year. File Form 50-114.
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Senior / disabled additional school exemption: $60,000 extra ($200,000 combined)
Prop 11 / SB23, Nov 2025. Age 65+ or disabled homeowners.
✓
100% disabled veteran: Full residence exemption
§11.131 — complete exemption on residence homestead for 100% VA-rated disabled veterans.
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10% homestead appraisal cap: Max 10% annual increase
§23.23 — appraised value cannot rise more than 10%/yr while homestead exemption is active.
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20% non-homestead circuit-breaker: Max 20% annual increase (≤$5M)
§23.231 — sunsets Dec 31, 2026 unless extended by the 2027 Legislature.
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Fort Bend County is located in the Gulf Coast region of Texas, with the county seat in Richmond. The county is served by the Fort Bend Central Appraisal District (FBCAD), which appraises all real and personal property within its boundaries.
How Property Taxes Work in Fort Bend County
Under the Texas Tax Code, the January 1 valuation date (§23.01) governs all appraisals in Fort Bend County. The FBCAD uses mass appraisal methodology under USPAP Standard 6 to value all properties at their market value each year.
Homeowners in Fort Bend County benefit from the $140,000 homestead exemption enacted via Proposition 13 (November 4, 2025), retroactive to the 2025 tax year. Combined with the $60,000 additional senior/disabled school exemption (Prop 11, 2025), qualifying seniors and disabled homeowners may exclude $200,000 from taxable value on their school district taxes.
The 10% homestead appraisal cap (§23.23) limits annual increases in appraised value for homesteaded properties. For non-homestead properties valued at $5 million or less, the 20% circuit-breaker under §23.231 also applies — note this provision sunsets December 31, 2026 unless extended by the Legislature.
Protest Deadline
The standard protest deadline in Fort Bend County is May 15, 2026, or 30 days after the date your Notice of Appraised Value is mailed — whichever is later (Tax Code §41.44). Do not miss this deadline; late protests are not accepted except in limited circumstances.
Once you file, the FBCAD must deliver your evidence packet at least 14 days before your hearing under §41.461. If they fail to do so, their evidence is excluded at the hearing (§41.67(d)) — a significant advantage.
Tips for Fort Bend County Protests
The unequal appraisal argument (§41.43(b)(3)) is often the strongest ground in any Texas county. This requires the appraisal district to prove your property is appraised at or below the median appraised value of comparable properties — a burden they frequently cannot meet. Always check both “value over market” and “value unequal” boxes on Form 50-132 to preserve both grounds.
Gather 5–10 comparable sales within 6 months prior to January 1. Photograph any condition issues dated before January 1. Bring printed comparables to the informal hearing — roughly 60–80% of residential protests settle at this stage without ever reaching the ARB.
Fort Bend County Property Tax FAQ
The standard deadline is May 15, 2026, or 30 days after your Notice of Appraised Value is mailed, whichever is later (Tax Code §41.44).
File Form 50-132 with the FBCAD by the deadline. You can file online at the appraisal district portal, in person, or by mail or fax before midnight on the protest deadline.
The school district homestead exemption is $140,000 (Prop 13, Nov 2025). Seniors and disabled homeowners get an additional $60,000 school exemption — a combined $200,000. File Form 50-114 with FBCAD.
Contact the Fort Bend Central Appraisal District by phone at (281) 344-8623.
The strongest argument is typically unequal appraisal (§41.43(b)(3)): pull 5–10 comparable properties and show your per-sq-ft appraised value exceeds the median. Also gather recent comparable sales and document any property condition issues dated before January 1.
Yes. Reductions from prior protests do not automatically carry forward. If your value was lowered, the CAD bears a higher "clear and convincing" standard in future years (§41.43(a-3)), but you must still file a new protest each year to get any reduction.
For homesteaded properties (§23.23), the appraised value cannot increase more than 10% per year regardless of market value. This cap applies only while you have an active homestead exemption on the property.
Yes. The FBCAD offers an online protest portal at https://www.fbcad.org/protest.
This guide is for general information about Fort Bend County property taxes and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Deadlines and rules vary — verify with Fort Bend Central Appraisal District or a licensed professional before acting. Last updated: April 26, 2026; reviewed by Editorial Team.
