Especially in the case of many commercial and industrial properties, taking the appraisal district to court is the last hope of achieving a realistic and fair valuation. For a commercial property valued in the millions of dollars, a significant reduction in the valuation means big cuts in the final tax bill. Thousands of suits are filed against appraisal districts statewide each year and many produce major tax savings as values are reset to be fairer and more equitable.

And filing a lawsuit often is less time consuming and less costly than expected, Patel says.

“Essentially, the property owner argues that their property is simply valued too high for the market, or that comparable properties are valued lower and that this disparity is unfair,” he explains. “It's not unusual for a relatively simple lawsuit to result in a six-figure cut to a commercial property's final tax bill.”

Patel offers a critical point to remember: suits must be filed within 60 days of receiving the appraisal review board's final decision.

“Beyond 60 days, you're stuck with the review board's number,” he cautions. “So, if you filed a protest, do your homework and do the best you can to reduce your valuation to a fair level. But if you don't get the relief you believe you deserve, taking your appraisal district to court can be an effective way to remedy the situation. It's worth at least a discussion with a reputable real estate attorney.”

Patel is also a founder of Citizens for Appraisal Reform, a nonprofit organization devoted to legislative change, correction and improvement of appraisal practices, and an equal and uniform tax system for all property taxpayers–residential, commercial and personal.