Agricultural Valuation Can Sharply Cut Taxes on Rural Land in Brazoria County

Texas does not technically offer an "ag exemption." Instead, qualifying land is taxed on its productivity value, what the land can earn from farming, not its market value. In fast-growing Brazoria County, land near Pearland or Alvin can have a very high market value. This difference can mean a huge tax savings.

To qualify under the common 1-d-1 program, land must be used mainly for agriculture: crops, livestock, poultry, or timber. The Brazoria Central Appraisal District (BCAD) sets the standards. Intensity requirements, such as the stocking rate for improved pasture, are set by the chief appraiser based on what is common in the local area. Land that already has ag valuation can also qualify through wildlife management, with approval from Texas Parks and Wildlife.

If you change qualified land to a non-ag use, you will owe rollback taxes. That means paying the difference between what you paid and market-rate taxes for the prior three years. Apply with BCAD before the annual deadline. Contact them at 979-849-7792 or brazoriacad.org.