Texas

What you need to know about property taxes in Texas:

1. No State Property Tax in Texas

• Texas does not have a state property tax.
• Property taxes are levied locally by counties, cities, school districts, and special-purpose districts.

2. High Property Tax Rates in Texas

• Texas has one of the highest property tax burdens in the U.S.
• Average effective tax rate: ~1.6% to 2.5%, depending on the county.
• Most of the tax goes to fund public schools, infrastructure, and local services.

3. How Property Taxes Are Calculated

• Your county appraisal district (CAD) assigns a market value to your property annually.
• Property taxes = (Appraised Value – Exemptions) × Local Tax Rate

4. Homestead Exemption in Texas

• Reduces the taxable value of your primary residence.
• Standard exemption: $100,000 for school district taxes (as of 2023).
• You must apply through your county appraisal district.

5. Key Deadlines for Property Taxes in Texas

• Jan 1: Appraisal date – your property is valued as of this day.
• April – May: Notice of Appraised Value mailed to homeowners.
• May 15: Typical deadline to file a protest (Or 30 days after you receive your notice, whichever is later).
• Jan 31: Property tax payment deadline for the prior year.

6. You Can Protest Your Value

• If you believe your appraised value is too high, you can file a protest with the CAD.
• You can use comparable sales, condition issues, or unequal appraisal arguments.
• Many homeowners use professionals or services like Icon Property Tax to handle this process.

7. Texas Property Tax Payment Options & Penalties

• Taxes are due by January 31. Late payments incur penalties, interest, and collection fees.
• Some counties offer payment plans, especially for seniors, disabled persons, or those with financial hardship.

8. Texas Property Tax Special Exemptions

In addition to the homestead exemption, there are others:

• Over 65
• Disabled individuals
• Disabled veterans
• Agricultural (Ag) or Wildlife exemptions

9. Annual Process

• Property tax assessments and bills are done annually, so this is a yearly process.

10. Learn More About your property:  

Search Your Property to Unlock Key Tax Appraisal Insights and Tax-Saving Opportunities