Travis County Appraisal Review Board
The Travis County Appraisal Review Board is the key to property tax appeals in Austin and the surrounding area. The ABR heard 149,910 tax disputes in 2024, more than any other mechanism. 89% of those that appeared before an ARB got a reduction on their taxes, far outstripping informal appeals. The board has 94 members and pays them a combined $1.22 million per year. Get your best shot at a formal reduction, or any other tax dispute, when you join O’Connor’s Property Tax Protection Program(TM). No upfront fees, no hidden costs, and you pay nothing unless you lower your taxes.
Total Number of ARB Members - Travis CountySource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| ARB Members | |||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Total Number | 42 | 39 | 26 | 21 | 21 | 150 | 150 | 193 | 184 | 139 | 94 |
| New ARB Members | 15 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 96 | 49 | 105 | 66 | 49 | 32 |
| Returning ARB Members | 27 | 25 | 21 | 17 | 17 | 54 | 101 | 88 | 118 | 90 | 62 |
Texas property owners should protest annually since The appraisal district can’t possibly accurately value all the properties in the county. They need your help to correct over-valuation.
Travis County Appraisal Review Board
Appraisal review boards (ARB) are supposed to be impartial judges in disputes between taxpayers and appraisal boards. They are intended to give county residents a fair check against high property valuations and taxes, a balance that supports the needs of the people and the county. Nowhere in Texas is this more important than the Austin area, as it relies on ABR hearings like no other to secure the rights of its citizens.
O’Connor is an elite property tax consulting firm that is ready to battle the Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD) on your behalf. Whether it is an informal appeal, in front of the board, or in a judicial appeal, let O’Connor help you practice your constitutional right to fair property taxes. Based in Texas and founded in 1974, O’Connor knows Texas property taxes like no other.
ARB Total Members
As of 2024, the Travis County board had 94 members, 32 of which were new. A decade ago, the organization was miniscule, with only 42 members in 2014. This sank lower in 2018 to just 21 members. In 2019, the county went through a massive hiring spree, reaching 150 members. Since 2021, the board has declined in numbers every year. As each board requires three people, the 2024 number of 94 translates to 31.33 active trios at any one time.
How Many Days did ARB Hold Hearings in Travis County?Source: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Days of ARB Hearings | |||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Days of ARB hearings | 100 | 104 | 98 | 89 | 134 | 122 | 120 | 79 | 65 | 87 | 100 |
Texas property owners should protest annually To avoid a surprise-increase in property taxes. This happens when the notice of value was lost. A large error in a home value is difficult to fix if not corrected through the normal appeal process.
How Many Days did the ARB Hold Hearings?
The ARB will run until there are no more hearings to hold, rather than keeping a tight schedule. The more members the organization has, the more work can be done in a day. In 2024, the trios met for 100 days, the most since 2020. This put Travis County in the top 10 of active days, but far behind frontrunner Harris County with 139 days.
ARB CompensationSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Per Diem Rate | |||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Lowest per diem to ARB | $140 | $140 | $150 | $150 | $150 | $150 | $150 | $150 | $150 | $150 | $150 |
| Median per diem to ARB | $164 | $164 | $170 | $170 | $170 | $170 | $175 | $175 | $190 | $195 | $200 |
| Highest per diem to ARB | $200 | $200 | $225 | $225 | $225 | $225 | $200 | $200 | $275 | $275 | $275 |
Texas property owners should protest annually since Texas property taxes are the largest tax payment for many Texans.
ARB Compensation
In total, in 2024 the board received $1.22 million in compensation for their 100 days of work. Pay ranges can vary, depending on experience and the length of the workday. The highest daily pay was $240, the lowest $180, and the median was $195. Travis paid the third most in the state, behind Harris and Dallas counties.