Appeal Deadlines Vary by County and Are Easy to Miss by Days

Property tax appeal deadlines are set by each individual county or state, range from 30 to 60 days after the assessment notice is mailed, and missing the deadline by even one day means the homeowner must wait an entire year to try again with no retroactive relief. The notice itself is a single mailing that looks like junk mail to many recipients. A homeowner who was traveling, moved recently, or simply didn't open the envelope in time has zero recourse. In California, the deadline is typically September 15 or within 60 days of the notice, whichever is later. In Texas, the deadline is May 15 or 30 days after the notice. In Connecticut, the deadline for the 2026 Board of Assessment Appeals is February 20. The structural cause is that these deadlines were set decades ago when homeowners received fewer mailings, stayed in one place longer, and had more time to manage administrative tasks. No jurisdiction has implemented a digital notification system with reminders, even though every other important financial deadline (taxes, bills, insurance) now has one.