State guide
Texas property taxes (2026)
✓ Verified August 2026 against official county pages — 3 sources linked below.
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How Texas property taxes work
Texas has no state property tax — school districts, counties, cities, and special districts levy it all locally, and because Texas also has no income tax, property taxes carry a lot of the load. Each county's appraisal district (CAD) sets values; each taxing unit sets its rate in the late summer; the county tax office sends one combined bill in the fall.
Every property is appraised as of January 1. In the spring — usually April — the appraisal district mails a Notice of Appraised Value if your value went up or other conditions apply. That notice starts your protest clock, and protesting is normal here: it's free, and homeowners do it themselves every year.
Tax bills start mailing October 1. Payment is due on receipt, with January 31 the real deadline — on February 1 the unpaid balance becomes delinquent and penalties start stacking fast: 6% penalty plus 1% monthly interest immediately, the penalty climbing to 12% by July 1, and up to 20% more if a collection law firm takes the account.
The homestead exemption is the big lever: school districts must exempt $140,000 of your home's value, with an additional $60,000 for homeowners 65+ or disabled. If you live in the home you own and haven't filed the exemption, that's the first fix, before any protest.
When payments are due
Bills mail from October 1; pay by January 31. Delinquent February 1, when a 6% penalty plus interest hits.
| Payment | Due | Delinquent after | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 annual bill | January 31, 2027 | February 1, 2027 | Bills mail from October 2026; due on receipt, delinquent February 1 |
How to protest your assessment
The statewide rule: File your protest by May 15 or 30 days after your Notice of Appraised Value is delivered — whichever is later
Notices generally mail in April, so most deadlines land in mid-May. When notices mail late, your personal deadline moves with them — and appraisal districts occasionally extend the date county-wide.
- Watch for your Notice of Appraised Value in springIt shows your new appraised value and your protest deadline. No notice doesn't always mean no increase — you can still protest by May 15.
- File Form 50-132 with your appraisal districtThe Property Owner's Notice of Protest — most large districts take it online. Filing is free.
- Take the informal conferenceBefore the formal hearing, you can meet informally with a district appraiser. Bring comparable sales, photos, and repair estimates — many protests settle here.
- Present your case to the ARBThe board must give you at least 15 days' notice. Appear in person, by phone or video, or by written affidavit; you and the district each present evidence.
- If you disagree with the ARBHomestead owners can take binding arbitration; district court is available within 60 days; large properties can use the State Office of Administrative Hearings.
County pages have the exact local deadlines, forms, and filing links.
Statewide exemptions
| Exemption | What it's worth | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Residence homestead exemption (school taxes) | $140,000 off your home's value for school district taxes (Tax Code 11.13(b)); many counties, cities, and districts add their own percentage exemptions on top | Generally file before May 1 |
| Over-65 or disabled additional exemption | An additional $60,000 school-district exemption (Tax Code 11.13(c)), plus a ceiling on your school taxes once you qualify — confirm ceiling details with your appraisal district | File when you qualify |
| Disabled veteran exemptions | Partial exemptions scale with disability rating, up to a total exemption for 100% service-connected disabled veterans | File when you qualify |
Reassessment
Appraisal districts appraise all property as of January 1 every year. Homesteads with an exemption have a 10% annual cap on appraised-value increases.
Value notices (Notice of Appraised Value) usually mail in April.
Common questions
- When are property taxes due in Texas?
- Bills mail starting October 1 and are due when you get them — but the real deadline is January 31. On February 1 the balance is delinquent: 6% penalty plus 1% monthly interest immediately, rising to 12% penalty by July, plus up to 20% collection fees after that.
- How do I protest my property taxes in Texas?
- File Form 50-132 with your county appraisal district by May 15 or 30 days after your Notice of Appraised Value arrives, whichever is later. It's free. Take the informal meeting first — many protests settle there — then present comparable sales and repair evidence to the Appraisal Review Board if needed.
- What is the Texas homestead exemption worth now?
- School districts must exempt $140,000 of your home's value, and homeowners 65+ or disabled get another $60,000 — $200,000 total off school taxable value. Cities, counties, and special districts often add their own exemptions on top. File once with your appraisal district, free.
- Can I protest my property taxes every year?
- Yes — and many Texas homeowners do exactly that. There's no penalty for protesting, filing is free, and last year's result doesn't bind this year's value.
- When do Notices of Appraised Value come out?
- Generally April. The notice shows your new value and your personal protest deadline — the later of May 15 or 30 days after delivery.
- What if I can't pay my Texas property taxes on time?
- Contact your county tax office before February 1. Collectors can offer installment agreements — up to 36 months on a residence homestead — and paying even part before delinquency shrinks what the penalties apply to.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from an official page. Check them yourself:
- Texas Comptroller — Property Tax Exemptions — checked 2026-08-12
- Texas Comptroller — Property Tax Protests — checked 2026-08-12
- Texas Comptroller — Paying Your Taxes — checked 2026-08-12