Property tax data and protest guidance for the 5,972 residential parcels in 78676, part of Hays County. Enter your address for a Free Assessment — we'll tell you whether your home has room for property-tax savings against the comparable sales we have on file.
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No credit card required · Sourced from Hays CAD public records
78676 sits in San Marcos, Hays County. Properties here are appraised by Hays Central Appraisal District (Hays CAD), which is the same agency responsible for every parcel countywide. The protest deadline, filing methods, and ARB process are identical to elsewhere in Hays County — what's different is the underlying data.
What buyers actually pay in 78676 is running about 4% below the county's tax values.
When buyers pay less than the county's number, the county's number is wrong. A protest can bring your value in line with what the market says it's worth.
The median residential parcel in 78676 is appraised at $554,140 for the 2026 tax year (from $534,680 in 2025). That's a median change of +0.0% year over year — but medians hide the tail.
Share of residential parcels in each year-over-year appraisal-value change bucket. Hover any bar for detail.
Tax-year medians for residential parcels in this zip code.
Recent residential sales in 78676 closed at a median of 96% of CAD-appraised value. That's strong evidence that Hays CAD's model is running ahead of the actual market for many properties in 78676 — exactly the setup where a protest typically wins.
The data above is the 78676 aggregate. Enter your address for a free, property-specific analysis:
The legal process is identical for every zip in Hays County — Texas Tax Code applies countywide and Hays CAD appraisers handle each protest the same way. What changes by zip is the underlying evidence:
Hays CAD mails Notices of Appraised Value (NOAVs) to property owners across 78676 and the rest of Hays County in mid-April. Your notice lists this year's appraised value and last year's, and the protest deadline is printed on it — Texas law sets it at May 15 or 30 days after the notice was mailed, whichever is later.
The protest math is simpler than it sounds: would your home actually sell for the appraised value today? Recent sales in 78676 are the strongest answer — they're also exactly the data Hays CAD appraisers use, so they engage on the merits when you bring better comps than they brought.
File online through the portal linked from https://hayscad.com, by mail to 21001 N. IH 35, Kyle, TX 78640, or in person at the same address. Online filing is fastest. Texas recognizes two independent grounds — market value and unequal appraisal — and which one (or both) actually applies depends on comparable-sales math and a statistical equity analysis against your peers. Our reports run both analyses on your specific property and tell you which grounds the data supports.
Successful protests are decided on three categories of evidence: recent comparable sales of similar homes in 78676, an unequal-appraisal analysis showing your value is higher than peers, and any condition documentation that explains why your home is worth less than the mass-appraisal model assumes. Many cases settle here without a formal hearing.
Hays CAD starts with an informal review where one of their appraisers offers a settlement based on your evidence. Accept it if it's fair. Reject it and your case advances to a formal Appraisal Review Board hearing — three private citizens who hear both sides for 5–7 minutes each and rule.
We compile the comparable-sales and equity evidence for 78676 properties. Enter your address — free first analysis:
For the full step-by-step guide, see How to Protest Property Taxes in Texas. For the broader Hays County context, including the full statistical picture, see Hays County Property Tax Protest.
Successful Texas property tax protests are won on evidence — specifically comparable sales of similar nearby homes and a statistical equity analysis. Most homeowners in 78676 don't have the time to assemble professional-grade evidence; that's the gap our reports fill.
Pricing: $99 per year on subscription (a fresh report every protest season) or $179 for a one-time report. Money-back guarantee.
The deadline is the same as for the rest of Hays County: May 15, or 30 days after your Notice of Appraised Value was mailed, whichever is later. Your specific deadline is printed on your notice. Hays CAD typically mails notices in mid-April.
Properties in 78676 are appraised by Hays Central Appraisal District (Hays CAD). File online through the portal linked from https://hayscad.com, by mail to 21001 N. IH 35, Kyle, TX 78640, or in person at the same address. Online filing is the fastest method.
The data above shows the median appraised value, the year-over-year change, and the distribution across all residential parcels in 78676. Whether your value rose or fell relative to the median, the protest math depends on whether the appraisal accurately reflects what your specific home would sell for today.
The legal process is identical — Texas Tax Code applies countywide and Hays CAD appraisers handle protests for every zip in Hays County the same way. What differs by zip is the underlying market data: the comparable sales available to your protest argument, and the equity comparison against your neighborhood peers.
The statistics on this page are best-effort aggregates compiled from public county appraisal-district records as of the data extract date noted above. We update them periodically; we cannot guarantee they reflect the most recent appraisal-roll certifications, post-extract value changes, or supplemental records.
Always verify deadlines, portal availability, and contact details with Hays CAD's own protest page before filing.
The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes only. It is not property-tax advice, legal advice, or financial advice. Property tax law and appraisal-district procedures change; for guidance specific to your situation you should consult a qualified professional.
Looking up an address through this site or generating a free estimate does not create a customer relationship with Protesting Property Taxes. You become a customer of our service when you purchase a report.
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