Our Property Tax Protest Process

Proven Methodology | How We Achieve Results

The BTA Way: Six Strategic Steps to Maximum Tax Savings

Bettencourt Tax Advisors has refined a systematic, proven process for achieving consistent property tax reductions across all property types in over 200 Texas counties and 25+ states nationwide.
Our methodology combines insider knowledge from founder Paul Bettencourt’s decade as Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector, proprietary technology and data resources, strategic consultant training, and decades of successful protest experience. This isn’t guesswork—it’s a disciplined, repeatable process that delivers results year after year.

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Quick Answers | Process Questions

Common Questions About Our Process

Understanding How BTA Works for You

How long does the entire protest process
take?

The complete process typically takes 4-6 months from sign-up to final results. After you enroll (ideally January-April), we file your protest by the May 15th deadline, conduct pre-hearing research and preparation (May-June), represent you at ARB hearings (June-September), and deliver final results when ARB orders are issued (August-October). The timeline varies by county based on hearing volume and scheduling.

Do I need to attend any hearings or
meetings?

No. BTA’s consultants handle 100% of the protest process on your behalf as your authorized representative. You don’t attend hearings, don’t take time off work, and don’t deal with appraisal district staff. We manage everything from filing to final results. You simply receive updates throughout the process and detailed results when hearings conclude.

What information do I need to provide to get started?

At minimum, you need your property address and county appraisal district account number (found on your appraisal notice or tax bill). For commercial and industrial properties, providing actual income/expense statements, lease agreements, and photographs of property conditions strengthens your case significantly. For business personal property, asset lists with acquisition costs and years are essential. The more evidence you provide, the better results we can achieve.

How do you determine what evidence to present at hearings?

Our consultants analyze multiple evidence sources: your customer evidence (income statements, photos, repair estimates), our proprietary comparable sales database over 200 Texas counties, equity analysis comparing your assessment to similar properties, appraisal district data and methodologies, and current market conditions. We strategically select the most compelling evidence that will persuade ARB panels to reduce your value—whether that’s equity arguments, market value evidence, or income approach analysis.

Six Strategic Steps | The BTA Way

The BTA Property Tax Protest Process

How We Achieve Consistent Results Year After Year

Enrollment & Document Signing

01

What Happens: The protest process begins when you enroll with BTA, either online through our secure sign-up portal or by contacting our office directly. Enrollment takes just minutes and initiates our comprehensive property tax consulting services for the current year and all future years (until you choose to discontinue).

Phone Enrollment: Call (713) 263-6100 and our customer service team will guide you through enrollment:

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Protest Filing & Deadline Management

02

What Happens: After you enroll, BTA’s deadline management system monitors your county appraisal district for your Notice of Appraised Value mailing. When your notice is issued (typically April), we immediately file your property tax protest, ensuring compliance with the May 15th deadline or the 30-day extended deadline if your notice is mailed late.

Pre-Hearing Research & Evidence Preparation

03

What Happens: Between protest filing (May) and ARB hearings (June-September), BTA’s consultants conduct extensive research, gather evidence, and develop customized protest strategies for your property. This is where our insider knowledge, proprietary technology, and data resources create competitive advantages that achieve superior results.

ARB Hearing Representation

04

What Happens: During summer months (typically June through September), ARB hearings occur where property owners present evidence supporting lower values and appraisal districts defend their assessments. BTA’s consultants represent you at all hearings, present compelling evidence, negotiate with districts, and achieve maximum reductions.

Results Delivery & Savings Analysis

05

What Happens: After ARB hearings conclude and the board issues written orders (typically August through October), BTA provides detailed results showing original values, final values, and calculated tax savings for each property.

Ongoing Annual Service & Continuous Improvement

06

What Happens: Your BTA enrollment continues automatically each year unless you choose to discontinue. We monitor for your appraisal notices annually, file timely protests, conduct research, represent you at hearings, and deliver results—year after year. This ongoing relationship produces cumulative savings that compound over time.

Property Type Services | Specialized Expertise

Our Process Across All Property Types

Customized Strategies for Every Property Category.
While BTA’s six-step process applies universally, specific tactics vary by property type.
Our specialized consultants adapt strategies to match your property’s unique characteristics:

Commercial Real Estate

Primary Strategies:
– Income approach using actual income/expenses
– Comparable sales for market value support
– Equity analysis vs. similar commercial properties
– Capitalization rate challenges

Evidence Focus:
– Income and expense statements
– Lease agreements and rent rolls
– Occupancy data
– Comparable commercial sales

Residential Properties

Primary Strategies:
– Comparable sales analysis in your neighborhood
– Equity protests comparing your assessment to similar homes
– Property condition documentation
– Challenge to district’s property characteristic data

Evidence Focus:
– Recent comparable sales
– Photographs of condition issues
– Repair estimates
– Independent appraisals

Industrial Properties

Primary Strategies:
– Cost approach with actual construction costs
– Functional obsolescence identification
– Economic obsolescence quantification
– Comparable sales where available

Evidence Focus:
– Actual construction or replacement costs
– Equipment lists and costs
– Functional issues documentation
– Market condition analyses

Business Personal Property

Primary Strategies:
– Strategic rendition preparation
– Exemption applications (Freeport, FTZ, IFC)
– Depreciation schedule challenges
– Asset category optimization

Evidence Focus:
– Asset lists by category
– Acquisition costs and years
– Depreciation calculations
– Exemption documentation