HOUSTON -- Wednesday is the last day for Harris County residents to protest their property's appraised value, KPRC Local 2 reported.

"The property tax bill of an average Houston-area home has increased dramatically over the past eight years," Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt said. "A successful protest can save taxpayers hundreds of dollars a year just like a tax cut, and the entire process is free of charge."

The Harris County Appraisal District has posted a guideline on how to protest your property appraisal on their Web site.

Residents can file a protest online by using iFile. Users will be able to view the evidence the appraisal district will use at the hearing, once their protest is scheduled. Users must have an iFile number, printed on the 2006 value notices, to be able to use this method.

Residents can also fill out the appropriate form and submit in person at the Harris County Appraisal District office located at 13013 Northwest Freeway.

"You can't protest your property value just because you think your taxes are too high," said Jim Robinson, chief appraiser for the Harris County Appraisal District. "You can protest because of an unequal appraisal or because the appraisal district has set the market value of your home too high, in your opinion."

In even-numbered years, value notices are mailed only to those property owners whose value increased or decreased from 2005, and to new owners. Notices are sent to all owners of record in odd-numbered years.

Harris County residents can get information on property values at www.hcad.org/records/.

More information on how to file a property value protest in Harris County is available at www.hcad.org.