Texas · County seat: Houston
Harris County, TX property taxes (2026)
✓ Verified August 2026 against official county pages — 3 sources linked below.
| What's the rate? | $0.6241 per $100 |
| When is payment due? | Bills mail from October; pay by January 31. Delinquent February 1, when a 6% penalty plus interest hits. |
| When does the county reassess? | HCAD reappraises all Harris County property as of January 1 every year. Homesteads with an exemption are capped at 10% annual appraised-value growth. |
| When is the protest deadline? | May 18, 2026 — how to protest |
Payment due dates
Tax bills go out October 2026.
| Payment | Due | Delinquent after | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 annual bill | January 31, 2027 | February 1, 2027 | Due on receipt; January 31 is the last day before penalties |
If you miss the deadline: 6% penalty plus 1% interest on February 1; penalty rises monthly to 12% by July 1, interest keeps accruing. Accounts sent to collection law firms can be charged up to 20% more.
The Harris County Tax Office offers installment agreements — up to 36 months on a residence homestead. Set one up before February 1 to stop the penalty stack.
Tax rate
2025 Harris County combined rate (county + flood control + hospital + Port of Houston): $0.6241 per $100 (of taxable value) — Your total adds your school district, city, and any special districts on top — a Houston/HISD homeowner's stack is roughly triple the county line alone
| Where you live | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Harris County combined (county, flood, hospital, port) | $0.6241 per $100 | 2025 adopted |
| Houston ISD (school district) | $0.8783 per $100 | 2025 adopted — $0.7116 operations + $0.1667 debt |
Reassessment schedule
HCAD reappraises all Harris County property as of January 1 every year. Homesteads with an exemption are capped at 10% annual appraised-value growth.
| Cycle | annual |
| Next reassessment year | 2027 |
| Notices usually mail | April (Notice of Appraised Value (2026 notices mailed April 17)) |
Think your value is too high?
The protest deadline rule in Harris County: The later of May 15 or 30 days after your Notice of Appraised Value is delivered. For 2026 that means May 18, 2026 (extended this year). Step-by-step instructions, forms, and where to file: how to protest your Harris County assessment.
Want a lower bill without arguing value? Check what you can claim: Harris County exemptions (homestead, senior, veteran).
Common questions
- When are Harris County property taxes due?
- Bills mail from October and are due by January 31. On February 1 the balance is delinquent — 6% penalty plus 1% monthly interest immediately, climbing from there.
- What was the 2026 Harris County protest deadline?
- May 18, 2026 — extended from the usual May 15 because HCAD mailed notices April 17 and the 30-day mark fell on a Sunday. That window has closed; the 2027 season opens when notices mail next April, and the deadline will again be the later of May 15 or 30 days after your notice.
- What property tax rate do I pay in Harris County?
- It stacks: the county's combined 2025 rate is $0.6241 per $100 (county, flood control, hospital, port), then your school district (Houston ISD: $0.8783), your city, and any special districts on top. Look up your address in HCAD's property tax database for your exact stack.
- Can I still protest after May 18?
- Not for 2026, in most cases. File the homestead exemption if you haven't (that works any time), and be ready in April 2027 — Harris notices usually land mid-April and the deadline follows 30 days later.
- Does protesting every year make sense in Harris County?
- Yes. It's free, hundreds of thousands of Harris owners do it annually, and HCAD's iSettle often resolves residential protests online without a hearing.
Who to contact
| Appraisal district (values, protests, exemptions) | Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD) |
| Tax Office (bills, payments) | Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector |
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from an official page. Check them yourself:
- HCAD — Harris Central Appraisal District — checked 2026-08-12
- Harris County Tax Office — checked 2026-08-12
- Texas Comptroller — Protests / Payments / Exemptions — checked 2026-08-12