Farm and Ranch Land Can Be Taxed at Ag Value, Not Market Value

People often call it an ag exemption, but Texas treats it as a special appraisal. When land qualifies, value is based on what the land can produce, not only what it might sell for.

Ag land must be mainly used for agriculture at the local degree of intensity. It also generally needs five of the past seven years in agricultural or timber production. Wildlife management can qualify, but only if the tract was already qualified open-space land or timberland.

Apply through Robertson County Appraisal District. The Comptroller directory lists RCAD at 108 Morgan St. in Franklin, with phone 979-828-5800. Form 50-129 is the open-space ag-use form. If land changes to non-ag use, rollback taxes can apply for the previous three years.