Filing a Correction Motion in Texas: What to Expect from Start to Finish

How do you file a correction motion in Texas property tax cases?

Filing a correction motion in Texas involves confirming eligibility under Texas Tax Code Section 25.25, documenting factual or clerical errors in the appraisal record, submitting the motion to the appraisal district, and participating in district review or an Appraisal Review Board hearing if required. When approved, the corrected value is applied retroactively and refunds are issued by taxing entities.

For many property owners, the idea of filing a correction motion under Texas Tax Code Section 25.25 can feel opaque. The opportunity is compelling: retroactive refunds, permanent valuation corrections, long-term tax relief, but the process itself raises questions.

• What happens after a motion is filed?
• How long does it take?
• And how do you avoid missteps that can delay or derail recovery?

Five Steps for Filing a Correction Motion

Understanding the full lifecycle of a correction motion helps set expectations and highlights why experience, documentation, and legal coordination matter, especially in high-value or portfolio-level cases.

Step One: Confirming Eligibility Before Filing

A successful correction motion starts well before anything is submitted.

Not every valuation issue qualifies. The first step is determining whether the issue stems from a factual or clerical error, rather than a difference of opinion on market value. This often requires a detailed review of appraisal records across multiple years, not just the most recent assessment.

Republic Property Tax focuses on identifying material, documentable errors, such as misclassification, missing depreciation, inaccurate condition data, or overvaluation exceeding statutory thresholds that support correction under Section 25.25. This upfront analysis ensures filings are both compliant and positioned for maximum recovery.

Step Two: Building the Evidentiary Record

Once eligibility is confirmed, the next phase is assembling the documentation that supports the correction.

Correction motions are evidence-driven. Appraisal districts and Appraisal Review Boards (ARBs) expect clear, verifiable proof that the record is wrong. This may include historical appraisal cards, construction documents, cost data, depreciation schedules, classification support, or third-party market evidence.

Because these motions often reach back multiple years, accuracy and consistency across documentation are critical. Incomplete or poorly supported filings are one of the most common reasons cases stall or fail.

Republic Property Tax’s integrated valuation and legal approach ensures that evidence aligns precisely with statutory requirements and the correction being requested.

Step Three: Filing and District Review

After documentation is finalized, the correction motion is formally filed with the appraisal district.

At this stage, the district reviews the motion for validity, scope, and supporting evidence. In some cases, corrections can be resolved administratively through discussion and clarification. In others, the district may dispute aspects of the request, triggering the need for further negotiation or escalation.

Clear communication with appraisal districts during this phase can significantly affect timelines. Republic Property Tax manages these interactions directly, minimizing back-and-forth and keeping cases moving toward resolution.

Step Four: ARB Hearing, If Required

If the appraisal district does not fully agree to the correction, the case may proceed to an Appraisal Review Board hearing.

This is where in-house legal expertise becomes especially important. ARB hearings for correction motions are not protests. They involve statutory interpretation, burden of proof, and procedural precision. Missteps here can limit recovery or invalidate a filing altogether.

Republic Property Tax’s legal and valuation teams work together to present a cohesive case, ensuring that factual corrections are clearly tied to legal authority under Section 25.25 and supported by the evidentiary record.

Step Five: Final Determination and Refund Issuance

Once the correction is approved, whether administratively or through an ARB, the appraisal record is officially updated.

Corrected values are then sent to the taxing entities, which issue refunds for applicable prior years. Timing varies by jurisdiction, but refunds typically follow once all corrected values are finalized.

Just as importantly, the corrected data becomes part of the permanent appraisal record, reducing the likelihood of repeat overvaluation in future years.

Common Mistakes That Delay or Undermine Correction Motions

Many correction motions fail not because the error doesn’t exist, but because the process wasn’t handled correctly. Common issues include filing without confirming eligibility, relying on opinion rather than objective evidence, missing documentation for prior years, or misapplying statutory thresholds.

Others underestimate the importance of legal framing, particularly when disputes reach the ARB level. These mistakes can lead to unnecessary delays or lost recovery.

How Republic Property Tax Streamlines the Process

Republic Property Tax specializes in high-value, high-impact correction motions where precision matters. By combining advanced data analysis with in-house legal filing, Republic Property Tax manages the process end-to-end, from eligibility review through refund issuance.

Clients benefit from a single, coordinated team that understands both valuation mechanics and legal requirements, communicates efficiently with appraisal districts, and focuses on cases where a single correction can produce lasting financial benefit.

Let Experience Guide the Outcome

Correction motions can be one of the most powerful tools available to Texas property owners, but only when executed correctly.

If you own or manage commercial or high-value properties and suspect overvaluation, misclassification, or repeated appraisal errors, expert guidance can make the difference between a missed opportunity and meaningful recovery.

Let Republic Property Tax handle your correction motion from analysis to refund.