Frequently Asked Questions
Fees, sign-up, and what happens after you hire us. For how the Texas protest system works, see our appeal guides.
Fees and Your Agreement
What does it cost?
No savings, no fee. There’s nothing to pay up front. Your fee is a share of the tax savings we win for you, and sign-up calculates it for your portfolio. You see it before you sign, and the same terms are in your agreement.
How are my savings calculated?
We use the latest known tax rate and the formula written into your agreement, so you can check the math yourself. There are no added charges at the end.
When do I pay?
After your protests are resolved and the savings are known. If you own more than one property, we wait until every protest in your portfolio is complete and send one invoice. If your value isn’t reduced, there’s no invoice.
How do I pay an invoice?
Online, through our client payment portal. Sign in with the same email address we have on file for you.
Is there a long-term contract?
No. Each year, before we file, we send a protest reminder that gives you the chance to cancel. To stop, email us at least 30 days before your protests are filed. If you do nothing, we protest your property again on time.
What about arbitration or a lawsuit?
If we recommend going past the Appraisal Review Board, we’ll explain the costs and the expected benefit before anything is filed. Nothing goes forward without your approval.
Signing Up
When can I sign up?
Open enrollment starts October 1 each year and closes five days before the protest deadline. The deadline is usually May 15, or 30 days after the notice is mailed, whichever is later. Once you’re signed up, we protest every year automatically.
What do I need to sign up?
Your contact details and the property address, appraisal district account number, or owner name. Sign-up finds the property for you. If the property is owned by a company, the person signing adds their title.
What am I signing?
Two documents: our agreement, and Form 50-162, the state’s Appointment of Agent form. Form 50-162 authorizes us to represent you with the appraisal district. You get a copy of both by email.
Can I sign up more than one property?
Yes. Select as many as you own in one sign-up, in any of the eight counties we serve.
My property is outside your counties. Can you help?
We protest in Bexar, Comal, Travis, Guadalupe, Nueces, Kendall, Hays, and Williamson counties. If your property is elsewhere, tell us about it and we’ll let you know if we can take the case.
I own a large commercial property or portfolio. Is sign-up the right place to start?
For commercial properties or portfolios valued over $5 million, request a portfolio review instead. Daniel Ortiz reviews it personally before we talk.
During Your Protest
Do I have to go to the hearing?
No. We file the protest, handle the evidence, and attend the hearings on your behalf.
Can you guarantee a reduction?
No, and no honest consultant will. Promising a result is against our code of ethics. What we promise is a thorough case for every property, every year.
How long does a protest take?
It depends on the appraisal district. Most protests filed by the May deadline are resolved within about four months. We’ll let you know the result as soon as it’s final.
What do you need from me?
For a home, usually nothing. Photos or repair estimates help if the property needs work. For commercial property, rent rolls and operating statements make the strongest case.
Is my financial information kept confidential?
Yes. We use it only where it helps your case. Anything that doesn’t help isn’t shared with the district.
Can a protest raise my value?
The Appraisal Review Board can’t raise your value above what the district noticed as a result of your protest.
Do you file homestead and other exemptions?
No. We’ll tell you if we see an exemption you may qualify for, but filing stays with you, directly with the appraisal district. Nobody needs to charge you to file one.
About Alamo Ad Valorem
Are you licensed?
Yes. Daniel Ortiz is licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation as a Senior Property Tax Consultant. You can look up any consultant’s license on the TDLR website.
Who will handle my case?
Our team prepares every case, and Daniel Ortiz oversees each one.
Do you use AI?
Yes, as a tool, never as a substitute for experience. Every case starts with a licensed consultant’s review of the property. In complex cases, AI helps us work through the district’s evidence faster and put together a clear, well-organized evidence packet. Your confidential financial information is never entered into public AI tools. The analysis, the opinion of value, and the negotiation stay with us.
Are you part of the appraisal district?
No. We’re an independent firm that represents property owners. The appraisal district values property, and the Appraisal Review Board hears protests. We work for you, not them.
Do you handle homes, or only commercial property?
Both. Commercial property is our focus, and we also protest homes and rental portfolios.
Still Have a Question?
Email us at admin@alamoadvalorem.com, or sign up now and we’ll take it from there. No savings, no fee.