Texas Property Tax 101 – How Texas Property Taxes Work & How to Protest
Updated: May 2025
📍 Texas Property Taxes 101
Property taxes in Texas are among the highest in the country — because Texas doesn’t collect state income tax, local governments rely heavily on property tax revenue to fund schools, emergency services, infrastructure, and more. That puts a larger share of the tax burden on real estate owners — especially those with rentals, investment properties, or non-homesteaded homes.
The good news? Texas also offers some of the most generous property tax exemptions in the country — including the Homestead Exemption, Over-65 Exemption, and benefits for veterans and individuals with disabilities.
But exemptions are just the beginning. Filing a property tax protest is one of the most effective ways to reduce your tax burden, and it's a right you can exercise every year.
📞 Need help filing a protest? Get a Free Consultation
💰 Who Pays the Highest Property Taxes in Texas?
Certain areas of Texas — particularly large metro counties with strong job markets, new developments, or fast-rising home prices — tend to pay the highest property tax bills. This is often due to new school bonds, population growth, and aggressive appraisal models used by local appraisal districts.
💰 Highest Property Tax Rates by Major Market Area
🏙️ County/City Area 📊 Est. Tax Rate 🏡 Avg. Home Price
Harris County (Houston) 2.31% 💲**$315,000**
Bexar County (San Antonio) 2.15% 💲**$300,000**
Tarrant County (Fort Worth) 2.21% 💲**$320,000**
Dallas County (Dallas) 2.22% 💲**$335,000**
Travis County (Austin) 1.96% 💲**$525,000**
Williamson County (North Austin) 2.14% 💲**$420,000**
Fort Bend County (SW Houston) 2.38% 💲**$340,000**
Collin County (North DFW) 2.23% 💲**$430,000**
🧾 How to Protest Your Property Taxes in Texas
📍 Available to all Texas property owners | Updated: May 2025
Your property tax value isn’t final — you have the right to protest it every year.
If you believe your property could be overvalued, you have the right to appeal your assessment with the County Appraisal District (CAD).
📅 Key Deadlines for 2025
🛑 Notice of Appraised Value Sent: Early April 2025
🛑 Property Tax Protest Deadline: May 15, 2025
Step-by-Step Guide to Filing a Protest
1️⃣ Review Your CAD Assessment
Visit your county’s Appraisal District (CAD) website.
🔗 Find Your County CAD →
2️⃣ Gather Supporting Evidence
Recent sales data from similar properties.
Photos of property damage or defects affecting value.
Neighboring properties’ tax assessments (to compare values).
Third-party appraisal or tax consultant report
3️⃣ File a Protest with the CAD
Online: Most counties allow online protest submissions
By Mail: Use Form 50-132 (Notice of Protest)
In Person: Visit your local CAD office to file directly
4️⃣ Attend Your Informal Hearing
CAD may offer a settlement to reduce your valuation.
5️⃣ Formal Hearing
If no agreement is reached, you can present your case to the Appraisal Review Board (ARB).
🔹 Need expert help? Start Your Free Property Tax Review
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📍 Updated for 2025 | Covers Market, Income, and Cost Approaches
🏛️ Who Sets Property Values in Texas?
Under the Texas Constitution, counties are authorized to assess and collect property taxes — but they must do so under strict rules. One of the most important: all taxation must be “equal and uniform.” This means that properties with similar characteristics — like size, location, use, and condition — must be appraised at similar values.
Each year, all 254 Texas counties must estimate the value of every parcel of real estate within their borders. This task is handled by the Central Appraisal District (CAD) in each county.
⚙️ What Is “Mass Appraisal”?
Because Texas counties have millions of properties to appraise, CADs use mass appraisal systems. These are statistical models that estimate a property’s value based on:
Neighborhood-specific market data
Property characteristics (age, size, use)
Sales comparisons (when available)
Income or cost data (for income-generating properties)
Texas is a non-disclosure state, so sales prices aren't publicly available — which means CADs often work with incomplete information and assumptions.
CADs must follow the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) to ensure fairness and consistency when using mass appraisal methods.
📊 Common Valuation Approaches Used in Texas
🏡 Market (Sales Comparison) Approach
This method compares your property to recent sales of similar properties nearby. Adjustments are made for square footage, age, features, and location.
📌 Most common for residential homes.🏢 Income Approach
Used mainly for rentals, STRs, and commercial properties, this method determines value based on projected income and expenses.
📌 What would an investor pay for the income it generates?🏗️ Cost Approach
Used when a property is under construction, newly built, or unique. This approach calculates what it would cost to replace the property today, then subtracts depreciation.
📌 Also includes land value.⚖️ Equity (Uniformity) Approach
This Texas-specific method compares the assessed value of your property to similar nearby properties. If similar properties are taxed lower than yours, it may be grounds for a protest.
📌 Based on Texas’s “equal and uniform” law, not traditional appraisal theory. -
Your annual property tax bill is based on this formula:
Assessed Value × Local Tax Rate = Tax Bill
For example:
A $325,000 home with a 2.2% tax rate would owe:
👉 $325,000 × 0.022 = $7,150The assessed value is determined by your County Appraisal District (CAD) — not a private appraisal.
If they overvalue your home, you pay more than you should.📌 You have the legal right to protest your valuation each year, even if the market hasn’t changed much.
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✅Recent comparable sales in your area
✅The age, size, and condition of your home
✅Improvements (pools, additions, renovations)
✅Location, school district, amenities
CADs often rely on mass appraisal models, which means your property can be grouped with newer, larger, or higher-end homes — even if it doesn’t belong there.
📌 Appealing your value ensures it reflects your property — not a spreadsheet average.
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Texas offers several exemptions that lower your taxable value:
✅Homestead Exemption: For your primary residence
✅Over 65 or Disabled
✅Veteran or 100% Disabled Veteran
✅Ag or Wildlife Use (rural properties)
📌 You must apply through your county appraisal district to receive these exemptions.on
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Appealing your property taxes in Texas can feel overwhelming and time-consuming. That’s where Texas Tax Appeal comes in. Our experienced team handles the entire protest process from start to finish — so you don’t have to. We work with appraisal districts across Texas every day and know what it takes to build a strong, effective appeal based on your property, your county, and your unique situation.
Want to file directly with your appraisal district? You’ll find a link to your County Appraisal District (CAD) in the list below. Or, skip the hassle and let us take care of it for you — with no upfront cost.
COUNTY AVERAGE TAX RATE WEBSITE FILING DEADLINE
Harris 2.49% Harris Assessor Website May 15th
Dallas 2.52% Dallas Assessor Website May 15th
Tarrant 2.57% Tarrant Assessor Website May 15th
Travis 2.23% Travis Assessor Website May 16th
Bexar 2.47% Bexar Assessor Website May 15 or 30-days after the Notice of Appraised Value was sent, whichever is later.
Anderson CAD
Andrews CAD
Angelina CAD
Aransas CAD
Archer CAD
Armstrong CAD
Atascosa CAD
Austin CAD
Bailey CAD
Bandera CAD
Bastrop CAD
Baylor CAD
Bee CAD
Bell CAD
Bexar AD
Blanco CAD
Borden CAD
Bosque CAD
Bowie CAD
Brazoria CAD
Brazos CAD
Brewster CAD
Briscoe CAD
Brooks CAD
Brown CAD
Burleson CAD
Burnet CAD
Caldwell CAD
Calhoun CAD
Callahan CAD
Cameron CAD
Camp CAD
Carson CAD
Cass CAD
Castro CAD
Chambers CAD
Cherokee CAD
Childress CAD
Clay CAD
Cochran CAD
Coke CAD
Coleman CAD
Collin CAD
Collingsworth CAD
www.collingsworthcad.org Colorado CAD
Comal AD
Comanche CAD
Concho CAD
ooke CAD
Coryell CAD
Cottle CAD
Crane CAD
Crockett CAD
Crosby CAD
Culberson CAD
Dallam CAD
Dallas CAD
Dawson CAD
Deaf Smith CAD
Delta CAD
Denton CAD
DeWitt CAD
Dickens CAD
Dimmit CAD
Donley CAD
Duval CAD
Eastland CAD
Ector CAD
Edwards CAD
El Paso CAD
Ellis CAD
Erath CAD
Falls CAD
Fannin CAD
Fayette CAD
Fisher CAD
Floyd CAD
Foard CAD
Fort Bend CAD
Franklin CAD
Freestone CAD
Frio CAD
www.friocad.org Gaines CAD
www.gainescad.org Galveston CAD
www.galvestoncad.org Garza CAD
www.garzacad.org Gillespie CAD
www.gillespiecad.org Glasscock CAD
www.glasscockcad.org Goliad CAD
www.goliadcad.org Gonzales CAD
www.gonzalescad.org Gray CAD
www.graycad.org Grayson CAD
www.graysonappraisal.org Gregg CAD
www.gcad.org Grimes CAD
www.grimescad.org Guadalupe AD
www.guadalupead.org Hale CAD
www.halecad.org Hall CAD
www.hallcad.org Hamilton CAD
www.hamiltoncad.org Hansford CAD
www.hansfordcad.org Hardeman CAD
www.hardemancad.org Hardin CAD
www.hardin-cad.org Harris CAD
www.hcad.org Harrison CAD
www.harrisoncad.org Hartley CAD
www.hartleycad.org Haskell CAD
www.haskellcad.com Hays CAD
www.hayscad.com Hemphill CAD
www.hemphillcad.org Henderson CAD
www.henderson-cad.org Hidalgo CAD
www.hidalgoad.org Hill CAD
www.hillcad.org Hockley CAD
www.hockleycad.org Hood CAD
www.hood-cad.org Hopkins CAD
www.hopkins-cad.com Houston CAD
www.houstoncad.org Howard CAD
www.howardcad.org Hudspeth CAD
www.hudspethcad.org Hunt CAD
www.hunt-cad.org Hutchinson CAD
www.hutchinsoncad.org Irion CAD
www.irioncad.org Jack CAD
www.jackcad.org Jackson CAD
www.jacksoncad.org Jasper CAD
www.jaspercad.org Jeff Davis CAD
www.jeffdaviscad.org Jefferson CAD
www.jcad.org Jim Hogg CAD
www.jimhogg-cad.org Jim Wells CAD
www.jimwellscad.org Johnson CAD
www.johnsoncad.net Jones CAD
www.jonescad.org Karnes CAD
www.karnescad.org Kaufman CAD
www.kaufman-cad.org Kendall CAD
www.kendallad.org Kenedy CAD
www.kenedycad.org Kent CAD
www.kentcad.org Kerr CAD
www.kerrcad.org Kimble CAD
www.kimblecad.org King CAD
www.kingcad.org Kinney CAD
www.kinneycad.org Kleberg CAD
www.klebergcad.org Knox CAD
www.knoxcad.com Lamar CAD
www.lamarcad.org Lamb CAD
www.lambcad.org Lampasas CAD
www.lampasascad.org LaSalle CAD
www.lasallecad.com Lavaca CAD
www.lavacacad.com Lee CAD
www.lee-cad.org Leon CAD
www.leoncad.org Liberty CAD
www.libertycad.com Limestone CAD
www.limestonecad.com Lipscomb CAD
www.lipscombcad.com Live Oak CAD
www.liveoakappraisal.org Llano CAD
www.llanocad.net Loving CAD
www.lovingcad.org Lubbock CAD
www.lubbockcad.org Lynn CAD
www.lynncad.org Madison CAD
www.madisoncad.org Marion CAD
www.marioncad.org Martin CAD
www.martincad.org Mason CAD
www.masoncad.org Matagorda CAD
www.matagorda-cad.org Maverick CAD
www.maverickcad.org McCulloch CAD
www.mccullochcad.org McLennan CAD
www.mclennancad.org McMullen CAD
www.mcmullencad.org Medina CAD
www.medinacad.org Menard CAD
www.menardcad.org Midland CAD
www.midcad.org Milam CAD
www.milamad.org Mills CAD
www.millscad.com Mitchell CAD
www.mitchellcad.org Montague CAD
www.montaguecad.net Montgomery CAD
www.mcad-tx.org Moore CAD
www.mcad.org Morris CAD
www.morriscad.com Motley CAD
www.motleycad.org Nacogdoches CAD
www.nacocad.org Navarro CAD
www.navarrocad.com Newton CAD
www.newtoncad.org Nolan CAD
www.nolan-cad.org Nueces CAD
www.ncadistrict.com Ochiltree CAD
www.ochiltreecad.com Oldham CAD
www.oldhamcad.com Orange CAD
www.orangecad.net Palo Pinto CAD
www.isouthwestdata.com Panola CAD
www.panolacad.org Parker CAD
www.parkercad.org Parmer CAD
www.parmercad.org Pecos CAD
www.pecoscad.org Polk CAD
www.polkcad.org Potter/Randall CAD
www.prad.org Presidio CAD
www.presidiocad.org Rains CAD
www.rainscad.org Reagan CAD
www.reagancad.org Real CAD
www.realcad.org Red River CAD
www.rrcad.org Reeves CAD
www.reeves-cad.org Refugio CAD
www.refugiocad.org Roberts CAD
www.robertscad.org Robertson CAD
www.robertsoncad.com Rockwall CAD
www.rockwallcad.com Runnels CAD
www.runnelscad.org Rusk CAD
www.ruskcad.org Sabine CAD
www.sabine-cad.org San Augustine CAD
www.sanaugustinecad.org San Jacinto CAD
www.sjcad.org San Patricio CAD
www.spcad-egov.org San Saba CAD
www.sansabacad.org Schleicher CAD
www.schleichercad.org Scurry CAD
www.scurrytex.com Shackelford CAD
www.shackelfordcad.com Shelby CAD
www.shelbycad.com Sherman CAD
www.shermancad.org Smith CAD
www.smithcad.org Somervell CAD
www.somervellcad.net Starr CAD
www.starrcad.org Stephens CAD
www.stephenscad.com Sterling CAD
www.sterlingcad.org Stonewall CAD
www.stonewallcad.org Sutton CAD
www.suttoncad.com Swisher CAD
www.swisher-cad.org Tarrant AD
www.tad.org Taylor CAD
www.taylor-cad.org Terrell CAD
www.terrellcad.org Terry CAD
www.terrycoad.org Throckmorton CAD
www.throckmortoncad.org Titus CAD
www.titus-cad.org Tom Green CAD
www.tomgreencad.com Travis CAD
www.traviscad.org Trinity CAD
www.trinitycad.net Tyler CAD
www.tylercad.net Upshur CAD
www.upshur-cad.org Upton CAD
www.uptoncad.org Uvalde CAD
www.uvaldecad.org Val Verde CAD
www.valverdecad.org Van Zandt CAD
www.vzcad.org Victoria CAD
www.victoriacad.org Walker CAD
www.walkercad.org Waller CAD
www.waller-cad.org Ward CAD
www.wardcad.org Washington CAD
www.washingtoncad.org Webb CAD
www.webbcad.org Wharton CAD
www.whartoncad.net Wheeler CAD
www.wheelercad.org Wichita CAD
www.wadtx.com Wilbarger CAD
www.wilbargerappraisal.org Willacy CAD
www.willacycad.org Williamson CAD
www.wcad.org Wilson CAD
www.wilson-cad.org Winkler CAD
www.winklercad.org Wise CAD
www.wise-cad.com Wood CAD
www.woodcad.net Yoakum CAD
www.yoakumcad.org Young CAD
www.youngcad.org Zapata CAD
www.zapatacad.com Zavala CAD
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📈 Average Property Tax Rate: ~1.81% statewide (can exceed 2.3% in some counties)
📈 Property Values Are Rising
🏡 Home Value Increases (Past 5 Years):
📅 Year 🏠 Avg. Home Value 📈 % Change
2021 💲**$275,000** 🔺 +6.5%
2022 💲**$305,000** 🔺 +10.9%
2023 💲**$320,000** 🔺 +4.9%
2024 💲**$335,000** 🔺 +4.7%
2025 💲**$355,000** 🔺 +6.0% (est.)
📌 Tip: When home values rise, property tax bills usually follow. Counties often increase your assessed value—even if you haven’t sold or renovated your home.
✅ What This Means: You may be overpaying, especially if your county’s appraisals don’t reflect true market conditions or neighboring properties' values.
🔎 Not sure if your appraisal is accurate?
Start a free review at TexasTaxAppeal.com — no risk, no upfront cost.
💰 Save Money on Your Texas Property Taxes
Don’t wait—appealing your property tax assessment could save you thousands per year.
If you’re unsure where to start, Texas Tax Appeal can handle the entire process for you.
📧 Email: info@texastaxappeal.com
🌐 Start Your Free Consultation
🔹 Protest Deadline: May 15, 2025
📬 Ready to Protest Your Texas Property Value?
We make it easy:
📧 info@texastaxappeal.com
📞 (210) 953-0344
🔗 Sign Up to Start Your Protest