Lubbock Property Tax Appeals Save $38+ Million Per Year
The people of Lubbock County are using property tax appeals at a record pace, slowing the aggressive appraisals of the Lubbock Central Appraisal District (LCAD). Setting records for decreased value and taxes in 2024, taxpayers have been winning more contests every year for the past decade, with each annual cycle seeing more savings. Get the best chance at a reduction when you join the premium services of O’Connor by signing up for the Property Tax Protection Program™. There is no upfront cost to join, and you will only be charged if your taxes are reduced. 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 | 57.97 | 33.62 | 67.25 | 53.03 | 74.01 | 64.45 | 173.36 | 282.27 | 512.58 | 536.15 | 663.72 |
| Single Family Residential Reduction | 21.79 | 9.56 | 19.11 | 33.13 | 26.17 | 41.70 | 60.09 | 78.47 | 149.66 | 267.47 | 270.58 |
| Commercial / Other | 36.18 | 24.07 | 48.13 | 19.90 | 47.84 | 22.75 | 113.28 | 203.80 | 362.91 | 268.68 | 393.14 |
Texas property owners should protest annually since The value cannot be raised during the protest, based on 2019 legislation.
Lubbock County Property Tax Savings from Administrative Appeals
Informal and formal protests are lumped together under the blanket umbrella of administrative appeals. First, an informal complaint with LCAD is launched, and if that is rejected or the settlement is underwhelming, then protestors may take things to the formal level. In some cases, formal hearings may not be enough either, which opens the door for post-administrative appeals, which are lawsuits against LCAD.
O’Connor supports protests at all three levels, with no upfront costs or hidden fees. Joining not only gives you the benefit of having one of the top firms on your side, but you will also get premium treatment. Each taxpayer is given a client success consultant, who will act as the client’s exclusive point of contact. This grants a personal touch that no firm can match. With over 50 years of experience, O’Connor has the knowledge needed to take on LCAD.
Lubbock County property tax protests for home owners accounted for 24% of the tax assessment reductions in informal hearings while commercial / other properties accounted for 76% of the reductions in informal hearings.
LCAD Informal Settlements
While Lubbock has traditionally favored formal hearings, unlike most counties, informal protests still perform a crucial role. Not only are they a necessary step to reach the appraisal review board (ARB) for the formal phase, but they also act as a solid chance at a reduction for many taxpayers. A record $683.72 million in value was reduced in 2024, the most yet. $398.14 million came from businesses, while homeowners saved $$270.58 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 | 0.035 | 0.032 | 0.032 | 0.032 | 0.062 | 0.092 | 0.351 | 0.352 | 0.682 | 1.048 | 1.121 |
| Single Family Residential Reduction | 0.011 | 0.008 | 0.013 | 0.017 | 0.036 | 0.056 | 0.014 | 0.026 | 0.069 | 0.088 | 0.068 |
| Commercial / Other | 0.024 | 0.024 | 0.019 | 0.015 | 0.026 | 0.037 | 0.337 | 0.326 | 0.612 | 0.960 | 1.052 |
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).
LCAD Formal ARB Hearings
ARB appeals continued their role as the chief deciding factor in the appeal process for Lubbock County in 2024. $1.12 billion in taxable value was reduced through these hearings. $1.05 billion was cut thanks to businesses alone, easily the most ever. Homeowners saved $68 million, the lowest since 2021. While homeowners did have a slightly down year, they made up for it with informal victories. This could mean that LCAD is granting more reductions at the first stage, indicating they are more open to making deals than before.
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 | 1.22 | 0.71 | 1.41 | 1.11 | 1.55 | 1.35 | 3.64 | 5.93 | 10.76 | 11.26 | 13.94 |
| Single Family Residential Reduction | 0.46 | 0.20 | 0.40 | 0.70 | 0.55 | 0.88 | 1.26 | 1.65 | 3.14 | 5.62 | 5.68 |
| Commercial / Other | 0.76 | 0.51 | 1.01 | 0.42 | 1.00 | 0.48 | 2.38 | 4.28 | 7.62 | 5.64 | 8.26 |
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
Informal appeals showed their worth in 2024, cutting a record $13.94 million from the tax rolls. $8.26 million was saved by businesses and other commercial properties, which was a new record for the county. Homeowners saw their second-highest savings ever with $$5.68 million. In 2014, informal hearings only saved taxpayers $1.22 million, showcasing how far things have come.
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 | 0.73 | 0.67 | 0.67 | 0.66 | 1.30 | 1.94 | 7.36 | 7.38 | 14.31 | 22.01 | 23.53 |
| Single Family Residential Reduction | 0.23 | 0.17 | 0.26 | 0.35 | 0.76 | 1.17 | 0.29 | 0.54 | 1.45 | 1.85 | 1.44 |
| Commercial / Other | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.40 | 0.31 | 0.54 | 0.77 | 7.07 | 6.85 | 12.86 | 20.16 | 22.09 |
Formal Tax Savings
Following the pattern established in reduced value, ARB hearings in 2024 soared to new heights. A total of $23.53 million in tax savings was achieved, an improvement over 2023’s $22.01 million. This was mostly thanks to $22.09 million in savings from commercial real estate. Homes still managed an impressive reduction of $1.44 million, making 2024 the third-highest savings for homes on record.
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 | 1.95 | 1.38 | 2.08 | 1.77 | 2.85 | 3.29 | 11.00 | 13.31 | 25.07 | 33.27 | 37.47 |
| Single Family Residential Reduction | 0.69 | 0.37 | 0.66 | 1.05 | 1.31 | 2.05 | 1.55 | 2.19 | 4.59 | 7.47 | 7.12 |
| Commercial / Other | 1.26 | 1.01 | 1.41 | 0.73 | 1.54 | 1.25 | 9.45 | 11.13 | 20.48 | 25.80 | 30.35 |
Total Tax Savings Combined
2024 proved to be a banner year for taxpayers, as $37.47 million was returned to them thanks to administrative appeals. Over $2 million more was saved thanks to litigation, another win for the people of Lubbock. $30.35 million was saved by businesses, while homeowners nabbed $$7.12 million. This is a common division of savings in Texas, as businesses typically save more than homeowners due to their intrinsic value. Despite a slight drop, homes still saw their second-best reduction of all time.