The Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD) in Fort Worth, Texas, is extending the deadline to protest property tax valuations following the recent ransomware attack on TAD, according to NBCDFW-5 News.
The TAD said that due to delays in the availability of the protest dashboard, it has extended the deadline to file a protest until May 24, while the business personal property rendition deadline has been extended until May 15.
Generally, property owners have 30 days from the day they receive their valuation to file a protest.
“We understand the importance of providing time for property owners to review their assessments and file protests accordingly,” TAD Chief Appraiser Joe Don Bobbit said in a statement. “The online protest tool has been effective, with several hundred individuals successfully negotiating their property values already.”
Bobbit said the TAD was also extending the business personal property rendition deadline until May 15 because the online rendition tool had been unavailable.
“We recognize the impact this may have had and want to ensure a fair and accessible process for all,” Bobbit said.
Bobbit warned there may continue to be “intermittent issues” with the TAD website as the district continues to publish updates and add new features and recommended people access the site during off-peak times, before 10 a.m., between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., and after 6 p.m.
The TAD has been working to improve the website and move it to a new host, but the process was delayed after the appraisal district was hit by a cyberattack last month.
“I want to emphasize that while we are recovering from the recent attack, this situation is not a repeat of last year, and our current website version has not been compromised,” Bobbit said. “We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding during this time.”