Under what condition does a penalty become final?

A penalty becomes final when the appraisal review board denies the waiver. This indicates that the board has made a definitive ruling regarding the waiver status, confirming the application of the penalty. Once a waiver is denied, the associated penalties are no longer subject to change or negotiation, thus solidifying the outcome.

The other options involve actions that may impact the process but do not finalize a penalty. For instance, if a property owner protests within a specified time frame or files an appeal, these actions can lead to further review or discussions regarding the assessment but do not inherently finalize any penalties. Likewise, a lack of response from the chief appraiser does not directly resolve the status of a penalty; it merely reflects a delay in communication that doesn’t impact the established penalties until officially addressed by the appraisal review board.