Step-by-Step Guide

How to Protest Your Collin County (CCAD) Property Taxes

A complete walkthrough of the CCAD protest process — from filing online to winning your informal hearing. Deadline: May 15, 2026.

File Online at collincad.org →Get My Evidence Packet — $59

Online Filing

collincad.org

Phone

(469) 742-9200

Office

250 Eldorado Pkwy, McKinney, TX 75069

Step-by-Step: Filing Your Protest

Check your appraisal notice

CCAD mails appraisal notices in April. Look for the green-and-white form labeled "Notice of Appraised Value." It shows your 2026 appraised value and the protest deadline (typically May 15 or 30 days from the notice date, whichever is later). If you don't receive a notice, look up your property at collincad.org — you can protest even without receiving a notice as long as you meet the deadline.

Gather your evidence

The strongest evidence for a Collin County protest is an unequal appraisal argument (Texas Tax Code §41.43): showing that similar homes in your neighborhood are appraised at a lower $/sqft than yours. You need:

A list of 3–5 comparable properties with their CCAD appraised values and $/sqft
Your subject property's appraisal data for comparison
Optionally: photos of deferred maintenance, condition issues, or neighborhood factors

TaxProtest.net generates this evidence packet automatically from CCAD public data.

File online at onlineportal.collincad.org

Go to onlineportal.collincad.org and click "File a Protest". You'll need your property account number (found on your appraisal notice or by searching collincad.org). Select your reason for protest:

Value is over market value (§41.41)
Value is unequal compared to other properties (§41.43) ← select this

You can select both. Upload your evidence packet PDF when prompted. You'll receive a confirmation email with your protest number.

Wait for the county's response — often no call needed

After filing, the appraiser reviews your uploaded evidence — usually within a few days to two weeks. Most protests are resolved without a phone call. The county will typically make a written settlement offer directly through the online portal. Log back in, review the offer, and accept or counter. That's it.

If the county doesn't settle online, they'll schedule a short phone informal hearing (15–20 minutes). You will receive an email with your appointment date. Either way, your evidence packet is already uploaded and ready — no extra preparation needed.

Respond to the offer or present your case by phone

If you receive an online offer: Compare it to your target value (page 1 of your evidence packet). If it's within 5–10% of your target, accept — you get a binding reduction immediately. If it's too low, counter or decline to proceed to a phone hearing.

If you have a phone hearing, keep it simple and data-driven:

Open with: "I'm protesting under §41.43 unequal appraisal. My property is appraised at $X/sqft while comparable properties in the same neighborhood are appraised at $Y/sqft after adjustments."
Reference 2–3 specific comparable addresses and their adjusted $/sqft
State your requested value: "I'm requesting a reduction to $Z."

Appraisers respond well to specific numbers. Stick to the $/sqft disparity — don't argue about general condition.

Accept the settlement or proceed to ARB

If the appraiser offers a reduction, you can:

Accept — sign a settlement agreement. The new value is final for 2026.
Reject and request ARB hearing — your case goes to a 3-member Appraisal Review Board panel. ARB hearings are more formal but still manageable. You present the same evidence; the panel votes within a few days.

Approximately 70–80% of Collin County residential protests are resolved at the informal stage. If the appraiser's offer is close to your target value, accepting is usually the right move.

How to Upload Your Packet on Collin County (CCAD)

Step-by-step walkthrough of the onlineportal.collincad.org online filing portal — exactly what you'll see and where to click.

Open onlineportal.collincad.org iFile Portalonlineportal.collincad.org/

Open the CCAD Taxpayer Portal

Go to onlineportal.collincad.org in your browser.

What you'll see on screen

The CCAD Taxpayer Portal login page. You'll need the Owner ID and eFile PIN printed on your appraisal notice to log in.

Bookmark this page — you may need to come back if you step away mid-filing.

Log in with your Owner ID and eFile PIN

Enter the Owner ID and eFile PIN from your appraisal notice. These are printed on the notice CCAD mailed you in April.

What you'll see on screen

Two fields: 'Owner ID' and 'eFile PIN'. Both are on your paper appraisal notice. Your Owner ID is also your account number.

Can't find your PIN? Call CCAD at (469) 742-9200 and they'll issue a new one. The PIN is required — you cannot file without it.

Click 'File Protest'

On your property detail page, click the green or blue 'File Protest' button.

What you'll see on screen

A form with checkboxes for protest reasons. You'll see options including 'Value is over market value' and 'Value is unequal compared with other properties'.

Select protest reasons

Check 'Value is unequal compared with other properties (§41.43)'. Optionally also check 'Value is over market value'.

What you'll see on screen

Checkboxes for each protest ground. Select at minimum the Unequal Appraisal option — this is the strongest argument supported by your evidence packet.

Upload your evidence packet

Click 'Upload Evidence' or 'Attach Documents' and select the PDF you received from TaxProtest.net.

What you'll see on screen

A file upload area or button labeled 'Attach Files', 'Upload Evidence', or similar. After upload, you should see your filename listed with a green checkmark.

The file must be under 10 MB. Your TaxProtest.net packet is typically under 1 MB.

Submit and save your confirmation

Review your submission and click 'Submit Protest'. Write down or screenshot your protest confirmation number.

What you'll see on screen

A confirmation screen with a case or protest number (e.g. '2026-XXXXX'). You'll also receive a confirmation email from CCAD.

Save the confirmation email — you'll need the protest number if you call CCAD to follow up.

Tips for Winning Your Hearing

Lead with $/sqft, not total value

CCAD appraisers respond best to per-sqft comparisons. Saying 'my neighbors are appraised at $180/sqft while I'm at $215/sqft' is stronger than 'my house is worth $50,000 less.'

Use the median, not the lowest comp

Pick a target value at or near the median $/sqft of your comps — not the single lowest outlier. Appraisers will dismiss obvious cherry-picks. A defensible 25th-percentile figure is better than an extreme outlier.

File by April 30 if possible

Filing early gives you more flexibility on hearing dates and avoids the late-May backlog when CCAD is scheduling hundreds of hearings per day.

Be polite and brief

Informal hearings are 15–30 minutes. CCAD appraisers handle dozens of protests per day. Get to your number quickly, be respectful, and don't argue — let the data speak.

Don't mention sale price

Texas is a non-disclosure state. Sale prices aren't in public records, and CCAD appraisers know this. An unequal appraisal (§41.43) argument based on appraised values is stronger than a vague market-value claim.

Same neighborhood = same nbhdcode

CCAD groups properties by 'neighborhood code' (nbhdcode) — an internal appraisal zone. Comps from the same nbhdcode carry the most weight because CCAD uses these zones to calibrate mass appraisals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to attend in person or take a phone call?

No. Many protests are resolved through a written online settlement offer in the CCAD portal — no phone call required. If the county doesn't settle online, they'll schedule a short phone informal hearing. In-person appearances are only needed for formal ARB panel hearings, which most homeowners never reach.

What if my property isn't in the CCAD database?

Search by account number or address at collincad.org. If you recently bought or your address changed, call CCAD at (469) 742-9200.

Can I protest if I didn't receive a notice?

Yes. Texas law allows you to protest based on the value shown in CCAD's records even without a mailed notice, as long as you file by the deadline.

What happens if I miss the May 15 deadline?

Late protests are generally not accepted. There are very limited exceptions (e.g., clerical error by the CAD). If you miss the deadline, you must wait until next year.

How much can I realistically save?

Collin County's effective property tax rate is approximately 2.0–2.5%. A $30,000 reduction in appraised value saves roughly $600–$750/year. Results vary by neighborhood and comp availability.

Will protesting raise my taxes?

No. A protest can only reduce or maintain your value — the CAD cannot raise your value as a result of you filing a protest.

Can I protest every year?

Yes. You can file a protest every tax year. In fact, it's recommended — appraisal districts run mass appraisals and sometimes overcorrect year-over-year.

Ready to build your evidence packet?

TaxProtest.net pulls your CCAD appraisal data, finds comparable properties appraised lower than yours, and generates a professionally formatted protest packet in under 60 seconds.

Get My Evidence Packet — $59

Flat fee. No percentage cuts. You keep 100% of your savings.

TaxProtest.net is a research tool, not a law firm. We do not represent property owners before Appraisal Review Boards. You file your own protest. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice.