If you have not met with the County Appraiser to protest the value of your property for the same year you are paying taxes then you may file a protest at the time of payment.  Protest forms are available from the Ellis County Treasury or on-line from the Kansas State Court of Tax Appeals.  When accessing the COTA sight you will need to click on Forms, then Payment Under Protest (PR Appeal Form – 29K), print off the form, fill it out, sign it and return it to the Ellis County Treasury along with your tax payment.

Please read and follow the instructions on the form carefully, ensuring a successful appeal.  NOTE: if the protest form is received by the Treasury unsigned, the protest is considered invalid and will be returned.  The delay may jeopardize your chances for a hearing.

Protest forms must accompany either the first half or full payment, due on or before December 20th.  If a mortgage company pays your taxes, the deadline to file a protest is extended to January 31st of the following year.  If you did not file a protest with the first half payment you may do so with the second half payment due on or before May 10th of the following year.  It should be noted that these deadlines change in years where they fall on weekends, to the next working day.

Retain a copy of your completed protest; it will be needed when filing a protest with the Kansas State Court of Tax Appeals.  This is the next level of tax protest when not satisfied with the results of your protest hearing at the county level
The Kansas State Court of Tax Appeals is a specialized court within the executive branch of state government. The Court was established on July 1, 2008, pursuant to House Bill 2018. The Court's predecessor in authority was the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals.
The Court of Tax Appeals is the highest administrative tribunal to hear cases involving ad valorem (property), income, sales, compensating use, and inheritance taxes, along with other matters involving taxation by state and local authorities. The Court is an independent tax tribunal, meaning that it is not affiliated with the Kansas Department of Revenue or any other taxing authority. The Court of Tax Appeals is a neutral decision-making body.
Once your protest is received, processed and filed; the County Appraiser notifies you of your scheduled informal hearing.  If you are filing a protest on the basis of an illegal tax levy, a completed appendix must be attached to your protest form.  When filing a protest on an illegal tax levy the Treasurer forwards all completed forms to the Court of Tax Appeals and no formal hearing is held.