Average, TX Property Tax: Lookup, Pay & Rates Guide

What Is the Average Property Tax in Texas?

Texas’s effective property tax rate was 1.40% in 2024, according to the Tax Foundation’s 2026 property-tax comparison. It was 1.47% in the comparable 2023 figures. The 2024 rate ranked Texas seventh among states in that comparison.

An effective rate compares property taxes paid with the value of owner-occupied housing. It already reflects the combined effects of the tax system in the underlying historical data.

For a quick historical benchmark, applying 1.40% to a $300,000 home gives approximately $4,200 annually. However, this is only an illustrative benchmark, not a Texas government tax rate, not a 2026 tax prediction and not the amount a particular household must pay.

Calculated benchmark amounts: property value × 0.014. These do not separately account for current school exemptions or your specific local tax rates. Do not deduct the exemption a second time from these historical effective-rate examples.

Why there is no single Texas tax rate

Texas property taxes support local taxing units, which can include independent school districts, counties, cities, community colleges, municipal utility districts and other special districts.

This explains why two homes with the same appraised value can have different property tax bills—even when they are only a few miles apart.

Official data: Tax Foundation — 2026 Property Taxes by State and County ↗

Average Property Taxes by Texas County: Dallas, Houston, Austin and More

County-level figures make the statewide comparison more useful. The table below reports median annual property taxes paid, median home values and effective tax rates from the Tax Foundation’s 2026 release, based on 2024 ACS five-year estimates.

A median is the middle observation, not the mathematical average. It gives a better picture of a typical homeowner’s reported tax burden without suggesting that every property in a county has the same bill.

Data source: Tax Foundation, Property Taxes by State and County (2026 release), Table 1, using 2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates. These are countywide historical statistics, not adopted 2026 rates, estimates of future bills or assessed values of individual homes. Effective-rate methodology may differ from simply dividing the two displayed median columns.

What do these county numbers tell you?

Travis County reports a larger median annual property tax bill than Harris County, even though its effective rate is lower. The larger median home value is an important part of that difference.

El Paso County illustrates the opposite: its effective rate in this dataset is relatively high, but its median housing value is lower than those reported for many major metropolitan counties.

The point is not to rank counties as good or bad. It is to recognize that both taxable value and the combination of local rates matter, and exemptions can change the amount owed by a particular homeowner.

How to Look Up Texas Property Taxes by Address, Owner or Account Number

Texas does not offer one statewide payment account where every homeowner can look up and pay taxes. Instead, start with the county where the property is physically located.

Method 1: Use the Official Texas County Directory

1. Open the Texas Comptroller county directory. Open official directory ↗
2. Find your county name. The directory lists Texas counties alphabetically. Select the county where the property sits.
3. Choose the appropriate office. Look for the county appraisal district when checking market value or exemptions. Look for the tax assessor-collector or other listed collecting office when checking a bill.
4. Open its official property search. Follow links such as Property Search, Account Search, Property Tax Search or Real Property Search, according to that office’s current website.
5. Enter the property identifier. Depending on the local system, you may be able to search by account number, owner name, parcel number or street address.
6. Verify the correct record. Compare the property’s situs address, account number, tax year and taxing entities. Do not rely only on a matching surname.
7. Review the tax details. For a bill, identify the amount due, any payments already posted, exemptions, penalties and the payment deadline.

Method 2: Find Your County’s Truth-in-Taxation Database

If you want to understand why your bill is changing, rather than just pay it, the Texas.gov Property Tax Directory is another useful starting point.

1. Open the Texas.gov property tax directory.
2. Search for or select your county.
3. Open the linked local Truth-in-Taxation website.
4. Search for the property if the site offers account lookup.
5. Compare available taxing-unit rates, proposals and adopted rates.

Do not confuse a Truth-in-Taxation estimate with a payment bill. A tax transparency database may show proposed or adopted rates and estimates. For a final outstanding balance, use the responsible tax collector’s records.

Actual Texas County Lookup and Payment Examples

Here are two concrete examples of how the statewide process works. These links are county-specific because a statewide website cannot legitimately issue or collect every local tax bill.

How to Pay Texas Property Taxes Online Without Using the Wrong Website

The correct payment website depends on the county and collecting office. Some tax offices accept electronic checks, credit/debit cards, mail, telephone and in-person payments. Convenience fees are set locally or by payment processors.

Before making a payment, confirm six items

Payment process

1. Find the local collecting office. Start with the state county directory rather than an unknown payment link in an advertisement.
2. Open the official payment page. Confirm that the county office directs you to the relevant government or authorized processor.
3. Search for the tax statement. Use the account number or the exact search method offered by your county.
4. Check the bill. Confirm the property, installment, amount due, tax year and penalties.
5. Review payment options and fees. Do not assume that payment fees are identical across Texas counties.
6. Submit and retain confirmation. Save the receipt or confirmation, then check that the payment posts.

Texas Property Tax Calculator With 2026 Homestead Exemptions

A useful Texas calculator should not simply multiply home value by the statewide historical average. School property taxes and other local taxes can have different exemptions, so this estimator keeps them separate.

Worked Example: $400,000 Texas Home

Suppose a home has an appraised value of $400,000, a hypothetical school rate of $1 per $100 and combined other local rates of $0.80 per $100. Assume no optional local exemptions, caps or additional charges for this simplified example.

Under these specific assumptions, the general $140,000 school exemption saves $1,400 annually in school tax. An eligible additional $60,000 exemption saves another $600. Actual savings depend on your school rate, taxable value and other applicable rules.

Where to find the real numbers for your calculator

Use the Comptroller’s published Tax Rates and Levies resources and your county’s Truth-in-Taxation website. The Comptroller publishes school, city, county and special-district rates. Your property’s account record is needed to identify which specific taxing units apply.

How to Lower Property Taxes in Texas: Homestead and Other Exemptions

The most important first check for many Texas homeowners is whether the principal residence receives the correct homestead exemption.

General Residence Homestead

Texas requires school districts to provide a $140,000 residence homestead exemption for eligible principal residences. This does not mean that $140,000 is removed from the taxable value for every city, county or special district.

To qualify, an individual generally must own an interest in the home, occupy it as a principal residence and meet the other statutory requirements. An individual cannot claim a Texas general homestead exemption while claiming another residence homestead exemption elsewhere.

Additional Age 65 or Disabled Exemption

Qualified homeowners age 65 or older, or disabled under the applicable Social Security disability standard, receive an additional $60,000 school district exemption.

Combined with the general school exemption, this can reduce the school district taxable value by $200,000, subject to eligibility and applicable tax rules.

Eligible homeowners may also benefit from a school district tax ceiling. The ceiling is a separate legal protection and is not simply a fixed statewide bill amount.

Other Relief That May Apply

How to Apply for a Texas Homestead Exemption

1. Open the state Homestead Exemption form. Official Form 50-114 (PDF) ↗
2. Identify the applicable county. The completed form belongs with the appraisal district where the home is located, not with the Texas Comptroller.
3. Choose the exemption category. Select general homestead, age 65 or older, disability, or another supported category for which you qualify.
4. Complete your ownership and residency information. Provide the details requested by the form and match them to the required records.
5. Provide supporting documentation securely. Follow the appraisal district’s identification and supporting-document instructions. Never upload identity records to this guide.
6. Submit to the local appraisal district. Follow the district’s accepted online, mail or in-person submission methods.
7. Verify approval on the property account. Do not assume the exemption was granted merely because the application was submitted.

Texas Property Tax Due Dates: Tax Year 2026 and Payment in 2027

Texas property taxes are generally based on the applicable tax year’s valuations and local rates. Bills for tax year 2026 are generally paid after the bills are issued, with the ordinary payment deadline falling at the end of January 2027.

Under the ordinary Texas Tax Code rules, January 31 is the regular last day to pay without delinquency. Because January 31, 2027 is a Sunday, the next-business-day provision generally makes Monday, February 1 timely, with delinquency beginning February 2. Special bill-mailing circumstances may produce a later date.

How to Protest a Texas Property Tax Appraisal

If the appraisal district values your property above what you believe it was worth on the relevant appraisal date, you may have the right to protest that appraisal.

A protest is not the same as asking the tax collector to change a rate adopted by a city or school district. The appraisal review board addresses matters within its statutory authority, including property values and certain exemption questions.

Step-by-step Texas property value protest

1. Find the appraisal record. Open your county appraisal district account and review the market and appraised values.
2. Check the notice and deadline. The ordinary deadline is May 15 or 30 days after the notice was mailed, whichever is later.
3. Prepare your evidence. Useful evidence may include relevant comparable sales, photographs, condition issues, incorrect square footage or a suitable professional appraisal.
4. Use the official protest procedure. Locate the district’s online protest process or the Comptroller’s Form 50-132.
5. File with the proper appraisal review board. Follow the local filing instructions. Do not mail the completed protest to the state Comptroller.
6. Review informal settlement options. Some disagreements may be resolved before a formal ARB hearing.
7. Attend or respond to the hearing. Follow the hearing notice and present the evidence relevant to your requested correction.
8. Read the decision and appeal instructions. Additional court, arbitration or other appeal options may be available depending on your case.

The usual 2026 protest period has passed as of this review. Late protests and correction motions are allowed only in qualifying situations. Contact your appraisal district promptly rather than assuming an ordinary late filing will be accepted.

Does Texas Limit Annual Property Tax Increases to 10%?

Texas has a residence homestead appraised-value limitation. For an eligible property, the capped appraised value generally cannot rise by more than 10% from the prior year’s appraised value, plus qualifying new improvements, subject to the property’s market value.

This is not a universal 10% cap on the final property tax bill. Changes to rates, exemptions, new improvements and other factors can alter the amount owed.

The Texas Comptroller’s valuation guidance explains the residence homestead limitation and the temporary non-homestead circuit breaker. The latter currently has a statutory expiration after tax year 2026 unless extended.

Why Your Texas Property Tax Bill May Not Match the State Average

What if you never received your property tax bill?

Check the county tax collector’s online statement and mailing address records. Not receiving a bill does not automatically eliminate property taxes or statutory penalty and interest.

What if you bought a Texas home this year?

Review the closing disclosure, the seller/buyer property tax proration and the tax collector’s current account. A proration credit at closing is not the same as proof that a county tax bill has already been paid.

Do renters pay Texas property taxes?

Property owners generally receive the real estate tax liability. Renters may bear some economic cost indirectly through rent, but that does not normally make the tenant responsible for the owner’s property-tax account unless a particular agreement or legal arrangement provides otherwise.

What Happens if Texas Property Taxes Are Paid Late?

Texas imposes statutory penalties and interest on delinquent property taxes. Under the ordinary delinquency rules, the first delinquent month includes a 6% penalty and 1% interest.

Additional penalty and interest can accumulate in later months. Collection-related charges may also apply under the relevant law and taxing-unit procedures.

The Texas Comptroller provides an official 2026–2027 penalty and interest chart so property owners can check the applicable month and delinquent tax year instead of guessing.

The chart does not substitute for a county tax statement and may not apply in the same way to tax deferrals or other special circumstances.

Are Texas Property Taxes Deductible on Federal Income Taxes?

Certain qualifying real estate taxes may be deductible for taxpayers who itemize federal deductions, subject to current federal limitations and rules.

Not every charge on a Texas tax statement necessarily qualifies as a deductible real estate tax. Certain special assessments for improvements and service-specific charges may be treated differently.

Before preparing a return, review your actual tax payments, mortgage escrow records, settlement statement if the property was bought or sold, and applicable IRS guidance for the relevant tax year.

Texas Property Tax Contacts: Who Can Actually Resolve Your Issue?

The Texas Comptroller provides statewide education, forms and guidance, but does not collect local property taxes, maintain individual county tax balances or decide an appraisal dispute.

Texas Property Tax Terms Explained

Market Value

The appraisal district’s determination of the property’s market value under Texas law.

Appraised Value

The value used under the appraisal rules, potentially affected by applicable limitations.

Taxable Value

The value remaining for a particular taxing unit after applicable exemptions and adjustments.

Effective Tax Rate

A statistical comparison of taxes paid relative to property value. It is not necessarily an individually adopted local tax rate.

Taxing Unit

A local government or other authorized entity that imposes property taxes under Texas law.

Appraisal Review Board (ARB)

The local board responsible for hearing qualifying property tax appraisal protests.

Residence Homestead

A qualifying principal residence that can receive exemptions and appraisal protections.

Delinquent Tax

Unpaid tax that has passed its applicable delinquency deadline and may incur charges.