Informal vs formal hearing

Informal hearings are one-on-one meetings with a district appraiser that settle most appeals in 10-20 minutes. Formal hearings go before a three-member board, last 15-30 minutes, and follow stricter evidence rules. Always start informal: you keep the right to escalate, and the appraiser cannot raise your value.

Side by side

	Informal	Formal
Who decides	One district appraiser	Three-member board (ARB / VAB)
Length	10-20 minutes	15-30 minutes
Evidence rules	Conversational	Submit packet in advance
Typical reduction	5-15%	10-25%
Right to escalate	Yes, to formal	Yes, to district court / SOAH

When to accept the informal offer

Accept if the informal reduction reaches at least 70-80% of what your comps support. Escalating to formal carries scheduling delay, a 30-90 day wait, and the chance the board lands closer to the assessor's opening number than to your informal offer.

Common questions

Should I always try informal first?

Yes. Informal hearings settle a majority of appeals in 10-20 minutes and preserve your right to escalate to the formal board if you decline the offer. There is no downside to going informal first.

Can the appraiser raise my value at informal?

No. The appraiser can only equal or lower the current assessment at informal review. The risk of an increase only exists at certain formal-board re-noticing procedures, which are rare.

What if the informal offer is not enough?

Decline politely in writing and request a formal hearing. The appraiser will note the file and forward it to the board. Do not negotiate at length informally — preserve your strongest arguments for the board.

Walk in with the comps you need

Free comp report + a one-page summary you hand the appraiser.

Check my assessment