Agricultural Valuation Lowers Taxes on Farm and Ranch Land

Wichita County still has working farms and ranches, and Texas taxes that land differently from a house lot. If land is used for agriculture or wildlife management, it may be appraised by its productive value instead of its market value. People often call this an ag exemption, but it is really a special appraisal.

The tax break has rules. Land usually has to show agriculture use for five of the past seven years, and the local appraisal district reviews the application. In Wichita County, the forms go through the Wichita Appraisal District at 600 Scott Avenue in Wichita Falls.

Plan ahead before you change the land to another use. A rollback tax can bill back the difference for the prior three years. That can matter if pasture is bought for a house site, subdivision, or other non-ag use.