Story & Bio
Sayeda Bilqees Syed — Candidate for Tarrant Appraisal District Board of Directors, Place 1
I am Sayeda Bilqees Syed, a proud United States citizen, wife, mother, engineer, homeowner, volunteer and longtime Tarrant County resident. I am running for Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD) Board of Directors, Place 1, because I believe taxpayers deserve a property-tax system that is uniform & equal, transparent, accurate, accountable, and respectful.
My Story
I was born in Pakistan and immigrated to the United States in 2007. I proudly became a United States citizen in 2011. My journey as an immigrant and naturalized citizen has given me a deep appreciation for the opportunities and responsibilities that come with being an American.
I hold a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, bringing to public service an analytical, technical, and problem-solving mindset. I have lived in Tarrant County for more than 19 years, including Bedford and Fort Worth, where I purchased my first home in 2009 and moved to Colleyville in 2013. These communities are not simply places on a map to me; they are where my family has built our lives.
My husband of 20 years is a New York native and Clinical Pharmacist who moved to Texas in 2005. Together, we are raising our two children, a 13-year-old boy and an 11-year-old daughter, who attend Grapevine-Colleyville ISD.
As a homeowner and taxpayer myself, I understand the importance of property values and property taxes to families, homeowners, businesses, and our communities. I also recognize that TAD has an important responsibility to every taxing entity it serves. Fairness to taxpayers and respect for taxing entities are not competing goals, they are both essential to a well-functioning appraisal district.
My goal for TAD is straightforward
Better service. Greater transparency. Consistent and accurate appraisal practices. Meaningful taxpayer assistance. And respect for every taxpayer and every taxing entity TAD serves.
I will advocate for taxpayers’ rights and work to ensure that TAD carries out its responsibilities according to the Texas Constitution and Texas Property Tax Code, while maintaining the professionalism, independence, accuracy, and integrity expected of a public institution.
I am running because taxpayers deserve to be heard, property records deserve to be accurate, decisions deserve to be explainable, and public service should always begin with respect.
Another problem identified by me (2025).
2025 TAD Postcard Incident, A Taxpayer-Service Failure
In April 2025, Tarrant Appraisal District sent postcards to property owners as part of its annual property-value notification process. The purpose was to notify property owners whose 2025 appraised values/ taxable values had not changed from 2024.
However, because of a computer/system error, approximately over 22,000 additional property owners received the postcard even though their 2025 appraised values had increased.
I did not stay silent.
During a property-tax town hall in Arlington, Texas, I raised the issue and questioned why property owners whose values had increased were receiving a communication intended for owners whose values had remained unchanged.
The discovery was a serious concern and, as I recall from the meeting, came as a surprise to the TAD Board members who were present.
Following the town hall, TAD acknowledged the problem, sent the affected property owners their proper value notices together with an apology note, and extended the protest deadline for over 22,000 affected property owners.
To me, this incident illustrates exactly why TAD needs stronger transparency, better quality-control systems, and a taxpayer-first culture.
A property-tax notice is not merely a piece of mail. It can affect a family’s finances and, importantly, a taxpayer’s ability to understand and exercise their rights. TAD’s own materials identify the protest deadline as a critical deadline for property owners.
Taxpayers should not have to discover a system error themselves. TAD should discover it first.
As a candidate for TAD Board of Directors, Place 1, I believe the lesson from 2025 is clear: technology must serve taxpayers, not confuse them; errors must be disclosed, not concealed; and when TAD makes a mistake, taxpayers deserve prompt notice, a clear explanation, an apology when appropriate, and sufficient time to exercise every right provided by Texas Property TAx Code.
This is the kind of accountability, transparency, and respect I will fight for on the TAD Board.