Texas Porch

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Money & Taxes

Texas has no state income tax, so local property taxes carry the load — set by your county appraisal district and a stack of local taxing units. Between exemptions, protest deadlines, and special districts, it gets confusing fast. Here is what helps you understand the bill and where to confirm the real numbers.

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Texas-wide · Property tax

Texas does not have a state property tax

The bill is local, but the rules are state-shaped.

Texas-wide · Homestead

The school homestead exemption is now $140,000

For a qualifying residence homestead, the school-tax taxable value starts much lower than market value.

Texas-wide · Appeals

The protest deadline is usually May 15 or 30 days after notice

The deadline is easy to miss because it is tied to the appraisal notice.

Texas-wide · Appraisal

Texas appraisal value is generally a Jan. 1 snapshot

The value date is not the day you get the notice.

Texas-wide · Everyday cost

Texas sales tax stacks state and local pieces

The statewide 6.25 percent rate is not always the register total.

Texas-wide · New homes

New construction tax bills can start incomplete

The prior bill may show land only or partial improvement value.

Anderson County · Property tax / Homestead

Claim a Homestead Exemption to Lower Your Tax Bill

School districts take $140,000 off the taxable value of a qualifying main home; the exemption does not change the appraisal itself.

Anderson County · Property tax

Two Offices Handle Your Property Taxes in Anderson County

Your property's value gets decided at one Palestine office and your tax bill comes from another a few blocks away, two independent offices that surprise a lot of new owners.

Andrews County · Property tax

How to apply for the homestead exemption in Andrews County

Texas homeowners can lower their property tax bill with a homestead exemption. You apply through the Andrews County Appraisal District, not the tax office.

Andrews County · Property tax

Two offices handle your property tax in Andrews County

Andrews County splits property tax work between the Appraisal District (values your property) and two separate tax offices (collect the bills).

Angelina County · Property tax

How to claim a homestead exemption on your Angelina County home

If you live in your Angelina County home as your primary residence, you can apply for a homestead exemption to lower your property tax bill. You have to file the paperwork yourself, though.

Angelina County · Agriculture / Property tax

Timber and farm land in Angelina County can qualify for a lower tax valuation

Farm, ranch, or timber land in Angelina County may be taxed on what it produces instead of what it could sell for. That can sharply cut your property tax bill.

Angelina County · Property tax

Two different offices handle property taxes in Angelina County

Two offices handle your property taxes. One sets your home's value. The other sends the bill. Knowing which is which saves a wasted phone call.

Aransas County · Property tax

How the Homestead Exemption Lowers Your Property Tax in Aransas County

If your Aransas County home is your main residence, you can apply for a homestead exemption to lower your property tax bill.

Archer County · Property tax / Agriculture

Agricultural valuation can sharply cut Archer County land taxes

Farm or ranch land in Archer County may be taxed on what it can produce, not on what it would sell for. That can mean much lower taxes.

Archer County · Property tax

How to lower your Archer County property tax bill with a homestead exemption

If you live in your Archer County home, you may qualify for a homestead exemption that lowers your property tax bill.

Armstrong County · Property tax / Agriculture

Ag Valuation Shapes Rural Tax Bills in Armstrong County

Texas law lets farm and ranch land be taxed on what it produces, not what it sells for. For Armstrong County landowners, that can be the difference between a workable rural tax bill and a surprise.

Armstrong County · Property tax

Two Offices Handle Property Tax in Armstrong County

Armstrong County has two separate offices that deal with property tax. They do different jobs.

Atascosa County · Property tax / Agriculture

Agricultural special valuation in Atascosa County

Atascosa County landowners who farm or ranch may qualify for an ag valuation. It can cut your property tax bill sharply, but the per-acre value depends on the use and the year's schedule.

Atascosa County · Property tax

How to file for a homestead exemption in Atascosa County

If you own and live in your home in Atascosa County, filing a homestead exemption can lower your taxable value and cap how fast it can rise.

Austin County · Property tax

Austin County has two separate property tax offices

Austin County property taxes go through the appraisal district, while the county tax assessor-collector handles vehicle titles and registration.

Bailey County · Property tax

How Bailey County Property Taxes Work

Bailey County property tax starts with the appraisal district, and a homestead exemption can lower the value used for school taxes.

Bandera County · Agriculture / Property tax

Ag valuation can sharply cut property taxes on rural land in Bandera County

In Bandera County, land used for farming, ranching, or wildlife management can be taxed on what it produces instead of what it would sell for, which can mean a much lower tax bill on Hill Country acreage.

Bandera County · Property tax

How property taxes and homestead exemptions work in Bandera County

Bandera County has a single appraisal district (Bandera CAD) that values property, and a separate tax office that collects taxes, so you deal with different offices for different issues.

Bastrop County · Property tax / Agriculture

Agricultural Valuation Can Sharply Lower Your Land Tax

Land in Bastrop County actively used for farming, ranching, or wildlife management can be taxed on its agricultural production value rather than its market value.

Bastrop County · Property tax

Homestead Exemption Cuts Your School Tax Bill

If you own and live in your home in Bastrop County, you can apply for a homestead exemption that removes $140,000 from your school district taxable value.

Bastrop County · Property tax

Two Offices Handle Your Property Tax — Know Which Does What

Bastrop Central Appraisal District sets your property value; the Bastrop County Tax Assessor-Collector sends your bill and collects payment.

Baylor County · Agricultural valuation

Ag valuation can lower Baylor County land taxes

Texas lets qualifying farm, ranch, and wildlife land use productivity value instead of market value. If the land use changes, a three-year rollback tax can follow.

Baylor County · Property tax

How the homestead exemption cuts your Baylor County property tax bill

Texas lets homeowners who live in their primary home claim a homestead exemption. It lowers the taxable value of your home. Baylor County homeowners apply through the Baylor County Appraisal District in Seymour.

Bell County · Property tax

Agricultural and wildlife-management land valuation in Bell County

Bell County landowners who use their land for farming or wildlife can be taxed on what the land produces, not what it would sell for, which can lower the tax bill significantly.

Bell County · Veterans

Disabled veteran property-tax exemptions in Bell County

Texas disabled-veteran property-tax exemptions can reduce taxable value, and the Bell CAD forms page links the local application.

Bell County · Property tax

Disagreeing with your Bell CAD appraisal: how to protest

Bell County property owners can protest an appraisal with the Appraisal Review Board, usually by May 15 or 30 days after the notice was mailed.

Bell County · Property tax

How the homestead exemption cuts your property tax in Bell County

Texas law gives homeowners who live in their own home a significant exemption from school district property taxes, and Bell County residents must file with Bell CAD to claim it.

Bell County · Property tax

Special water districts and what they mean for your tax bill in Bell County

Parts of Bell County fall inside Water Control and Improvement Districts that levy their own property taxes separate from county and city taxes.

Bexar County · Property tax / Ag

Ag valuation can lower taxes on rural Bexar County land

Land used for genuine agricultural production in Bexar County can be taxed on its farming value instead of market value, which often results in a much lower property tax bill.

Bexar County · Property tax

BCAD sets the value; the tax office collects the bill

Two separate offices handle your property taxes in Bexar County—the appraisal district sets your value and exemptions, while the Tax Assessor-Collector's office sends the bill and collects payment.

Bexar County · Business Property

Bexar County Businesses File Personal Property Renditions With BCAD

Businesses that own taxable personal property used to produce income file a rendition with Bexar Central Appraisal District by April 15, or face a 10% penalty.

Bexar County · Payment Plans

Bexar County Posts Property Tax Payment Plan Options

If a Bexar County tax bill is too big to pay at once, the Tax Office posts payment-plan options, including a quarter-payment plan you can still join in February.

Bexar County · Property Tax

Bexar County Property Taxes Come Due Before February

Bexar County tax statements go out in the fall, and taxes must be paid or postmarked by January 31 to be timely.

Bexar County · Property tax

How to file your homestead exemption in Bexar County

Texas homeowners who live in their home as a primary residence can reduce their taxable value by filing a homestead exemption with the Bexar Central Appraisal District.

Bexar County · Property tax

Multiple property tax exemptions are available to Bexar County homeowners

Beyond the basic homestead exemption, Bexar County homeowners may qualify for more tax breaks based on age, disability, veteran status, or charity use.

Bexar County · Property tax

Over-65 and disabled homeowner tax relief in Bexar County

Homeowners who are 65 or older, or who qualify as disabled, can receive extra property tax exemptions and a tax ceiling that freezes the school district portion of their bill.

Bexar County · Property tax

Protesting your property appraisal in Bexar County

Every Bexar County property owner has the right to protest their appraised value with the Appraisal Review Board if they think the value is wrong.

Bexar County · Property tax

Your Texas ID must match your property address to get a homestead exemption in Bexar County

When applying for a homestead exemption in Bexar County, your Texas driver's license or state ID address must match the address of the property you are claiming.

Blanco County · Agricultural valuation

Ag and wildlife valuation can lower Blanco land taxes

Qualifying Blanco County land can be taxed on productivity value instead of market value. Wildlife management can qualify too, but only when the land meets the rules.

Blanco County · Property tax

Homestead Exemption Caps Your Annual Appraisal Increase

Once your home qualifies for a residential homestead exemption in Blanco County, state law limits how much the taxable value can rise each year.

Borden County · Agricultural valuation

Agricultural Valuation Can Sharply Cut Land Taxes on Borden County Ranches

Borden County landowners who ranch, farm, or manage wildlife can apply to pay taxes on what the land produces rather than what it would sell for.

Borden County · Property tax

Homestead Exemption Lowers Your Property Tax Bill in Borden County

Homeowners who live in their Borden County property as their primary residence can file a one-time homestead exemption application to reduce their taxable value and cap future appraisal increases.

Bosque County · Agricultural valuation

Ag valuation can sharply cut the tax bill on rural land in Bosque County

Bosque County ag value is a production test, not a rural-look discount: acreage, history, intensity, and use all have to line up.

Bosque County · Property tax

Two separate offices handle your property taxes in Bosque County

The Bosque Central Appraisal District sets your property value and handles exemptions; the Bosque County Tax Office sends your bill and collects payment.

Bowie County · Property tax

Texas raised the school-district homestead exemption to $140,000

Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment in November 2025 that raised the mandatory school-district homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000, retroactive to January 1, 2025.

Bowie County · Agricultural valuation

Timber and farm land can be taxed on productivity value, not market value

Under Texas law, land actively used for farming, ranching, or timber production can qualify for special appraisal, meaning it is taxed based on what it produces, not what it would sell for.

Bowie County · Property tax

You can protest your property appraisal every year in Bowie County

Texas law gives every property owner the right to challenge their appraisal each year by filing a protest with the Appraisal Review Board before the deadline.

Brazoria County · Ag valuation

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

Landowners who actively use acreage for farming, ranching, or wildlife management may qualify for agricultural productivity valuation, which taxes the land at a much lower rate.

Brazoria County · Tax Payments

Brazoria County Offers Several Property Tax Payment Options

If a Brazoria County property tax bill is hard to pay all at once, the county tax office offers a split payment, an installment plan for certain homesteads, and a deferral for older or disabled owners.

Brazoria County · Tax Statements

Brazoria County Property Tax Statements Can Go Paperless

The Brazoria County Tax Office can deliver your property tax statement by email if you file the right Comptroller form.

Brazoria County · Business Property

Businesses May Need to Render Personal Property to Brazoria CAD

If your Brazoria County business owns equipment or inventory used to make money, the appraisal district expects you to file a yearly rendition listing it.

Brazoria County · Property tax

How to Apply for Your Homestead Exemption in Brazoria County

Homeowners in Brazoria County can reduce their property tax bill by filing a homestead exemption with the Brazoria Central Appraisal District.

Brazoria County · Special districts

Municipal Utility Districts Add to Your Tax Bill in Brazoria County

Buying a home in a Municipal Utility District in Brazoria County means paying an extra property tax rate on top of county and school taxes.

Brazoria County · Property tax

Protesting Your Property Tax Appraisal in Brazoria County

Brazoria County property owners can protest their appraisal each year if they think their assessed value is too high.