Arbitrator Registry and Application

Arbitrators desiring to be included on the Arbitrator Registry must file the Application for Arbitrator Registry - Individuals Only (PDF) with the Comptroller's office.

Applicants to the Arbitrator Registry must meet the requirements of Tax Code Chapter 41A and Comptroller Rules relating to RBA and LBA.

The Comptroller's office does not make recommendations for specific training providers or courses. To become eligible to serve as arbitrators, Tax Code Section 41A.06 requires persons other than attorneys seeking to become arbitrators to complete 30 hours of training on arbitration and alternative dispute resolution procedures from a college, university, legal trade association or real estate trade association.

Tax Code Section 5.043 requires persons seeking to become arbitrators to complete a Comptroller approved four-hour training program on property tax law for the training and education of arbitrators. Potential arbitrators must also complete the New Member Training and Continuing Education courses established for ARB members and be issued a certificate for each course indicating course completion.

To register for the ARB training, arbitrators must send an email to ptad.arb@cpa.texas.gov indicating:

• first and last name;
• status as potential arbitrator; and
• training needed (New Member and Continuing Education ARB trainings).

Email any questions to ptad.arb@cpa.texas.gov or call PTAD's Information and Customer Service at 800-252-9121 (press 2).

Required Arbitration Training Videos

Arbitrators must view the following four-part video series in order to meet the requirements of Tax Code sections 5.043 and 41A.06(b)(3):

Upon completion of all four parts of the video training, forward the certificates of completion to ptad.cpa@cpa.texas.gov.

Contact Liz Alvarado or Megan Berryman at Liz.Alvarado@cpa.texas.gov or Megan.Berryman@cpa.texas.gov or 800-252-9121 (press 1 and then press 5-1826 or 3-5178) for more information about this training.

Arbitrators may be appointed to RBA cases. Property owners who are dissatisfied with the ARB’s find­ings in some cases have the right to appeal the ARB’s decision. Visit the RBA webpage for more information.

Arbitrators who are licensed attorneys may be appointed to LBA cases. Property owners who believe the ARB or chief appraiser failed to comply with a procedural requirement have the right to request an arbitrator review their claim in a LBA. These are appeals dealing with procedural requirements, not value. Visit the LBA webpage for more information.

Arbitrators are required to notify the Comptroller's office within 10 calendar days concerning changes to any of the following:

• arbitrator qualifications;
• eligibility to serve in specific counties;
• contact information; or
• any material change regarding information provided in the arbitrator's registry application.

Arbitrators who are currently on the Arbitrator Registry can make changes to their information by sending an email to ptad.cpa@cpa.texas.gov.

The Comptroller's office may remove an arbitrator from the registry if:

• the arbitrator fails or declines to renew his or her agreement to serve as an arbitrator; or
• the Property Tax Assistance Division (PTAD) director determines by clear and convincing evidence that there is good cause for removal.

Grounds for Removal
Good cause for removal includes when an arbitrator:

• is not qualified or becomes unqualified;
• is not eligible or becomes ineligible;
• fails to respond or refuses to comply with Comptroller requests for information;
• violated one or more provisions of Comptroller Rules relating to Arbitrator Duties, Provision of Arbitration Services or Arbitration Determinations and Awards;
• engaged in repeated instances of bias or misconduct while acting as an arbitrator;
• engaged in fraudulent conduct; or
• engaged in the type or nature of the conduct that the PTAD director determines constitutes good cause for removal from the arbitrator registry.

Request for Removal
A person may request the removal of an arbitrator from the registry by filing a complaint within 60 calendar days of the last incident giving rise to the request. The complaint must include the following:

• a letter addressed to the PTAD director and signed by the complainant, that identifies the arbitrator requested to be removed and the Comptroller Rule 9.4262(b) grounds that constitute good cause for removal;
• at least one sworn statement from an individual with first-hand knowledge of the misconduct that includes detailed facts supporting the grounds for removal; and
• copies of all available communications exchanged between the arbitrator and the parties.

Requests for removal should be sent to: