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Texas Property Tax Calculator
2026
Enter your home value to get your exact Texas property tax — annual bill, monthly escrow, exemptions, and 30-year projection. Average effective rate: 1.80%.
Texas Property Tax Estimator 2026
See exactly how property tax affects your monthly mortgage payment via escrow.
See what you'd pay in any state for the same home value.
Calculation Breakdown
| Market value | — |
| Assessment ratio | — |
| Assessed value | — |
| Exemptions applied | — |
| Taxable value | — |
| Effective tax rate | — |
| Annual property tax | — |
30-Year Tax Projection
Assumes 3% annual home appreciation, 2% annual tax rate increase. Actual future taxes may differ.
How to Appeal Your Texas Tax Assessment
Appeal window in Texas: May 15 or 30 days from notice (ARB). Over 40% of US homeowners may be overpaying. Here's how to fight back:
Annual tax on a $350,000 home — highest & lowest states · Texas rate: 1.80%
🔴 Highest Tax States
🟢 Lowest Tax States
📋 Texas Note: Texas has no state income tax; local property taxes (school, county, city, MUD) are the primary funding source. Rates vary dramatically by county.
🏦 Escrow Impact: At Texas's 1.80% average rate, property tax adds approximately $525/month to escrow on a $350K home.
🏠 Homestead Exemption
Texas: $100,000 off school district taxable value (2023 increase)
Apply at your county assessor's office — not automatic.
👴 Senior (65+) Exemption
Texas: School tax freeze at 65+; additional $10K school exemption
Avg benefit: $500–$2,000/yr
🎖 Veteran Exemption
Texas: 10%–100% disabled: proportional reduction; 100% = full exemption
Check your state VA office for documentation requirements.
♿ Disability Exemption
Varies widely by state and disability level.
100% disabled homeowners may qualify for full exemption in TX, FL, and others.
Requires documentation from SSA or physician.
All 50 states ranked by effective rate · estimated annual tax on a $350K and $500K home · Texas highlighted
| # | State | Effective Rate | On $350K Home | On $500K Home | Homestead Exemption | Burden Level |
|---|
Texas Property Tax in 2026: What the Numbers Really Mean for Homeowners
If you landed on this page, you are likely using our Texas property tax calculator to estimate your 2026 tax bill — or trying to understand why it is so high. Texas has no state income tax — but it has some of the highest property tax rates in the United States. The statewide effective rate averages 1.63% in 2026, more than 64% above the national average of 0.99%. On a $350,000 home, that translates to roughly $5,705 per year — or $475 per month added to your mortgage escrow. Use the free Texas property tax calculator above to get your exact 2026 estimate based on your county and exemptions — the Texas property tax calculator applies the new $140,000 homestead exemption automatically.
But the headline rate only tells part of the story. Texas property taxes dropped significantly between 2023 and 2026 due to landmark legislative reforms — and many homeowners are still leaving thousands of dollars in savings on the table by not claiming every exemption they qualify for, or not protesting an inflated appraisal. This deep-dive covers every number, every exemption, and every deadline that matters for Texas homeowners in 2026.
How Texas Property Tax Actually Works — What the Texas Property Tax Calculator Is Measuring
Texas has no centralized state property tax. Instead, over 4,000 local taxing units — school districts, counties, cities, water districts, hospital districts, community colleges, and Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) — each set their own rate. Your total annual property tax bill is the sum of every rate that applies to your address.
A typical Texas homeowner in a suburban metro area pays taxes to five or six separate entities simultaneously:
- School district — the single largest component, typically 40–55% of your total bill
- County — general county operations, infrastructure, courts
- City or municipality — if your property sits inside city limits
- Municipal Utility District (MUD) — water, sewage, and infrastructure for newer developments; adds 0.3%–0.8% alone
- Hospital district — healthcare infrastructure for the county
- Community college district — local higher education funding
This layered structure explains why two homes one mile apart can have drastically different tax bills — one may sit inside a MUD and three separate special districts, while the other does not. The Texas property tax calculator above uses county-level combined rates that account for typical stacking in each area.
Your county appraisal district (CAD) — not the state — sets your property’s appraised value each January 1. That value is then reduced by any exemptions you qualify for. The result is your taxable value, which is multiplied by the combined rate of all applicable taxing units to produce your annual bill.
(Appraised Value − Exemptions) × Combined Rate = Annual Tax BillExample: $400,000 home in Harris County (2.15% combined rate) with $140,000 homestead exemption:
($400,000 − $140,000) × 2.15% = $5,590/year = $466/month escrow
Texas Property Tax Rates by County 2026: The Full Picture
Texas has 254 counties, and combined effective tax rates range from under 1.2% in rural West Texas to over 2.4% in fast-growing Houston suburbs. The variation is not random — high-rate counties are almost always high-growth areas where school districts, MUDs, and special districts have layered levy upon levy to fund rapid infrastructure expansion.
| County | Major Cities | 2026 Effective Rate | Annual Tax on $400K Home* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Bend | Sugar Land, Missouri City | ~2.40% | ~$6,240 |
| Williamson | Round Rock, Georgetown | ~2.25% | ~$5,850 |
| Harris | Houston | ~2.15% | ~$5,590 |
| Travis | Austin | ~2.10% | ~$5,460 |
| Collin | Plano, Frisco, McKinney | ~2.05% | ~$5,330 |
| Dallas | Dallas | ~2.00% | ~$5,200 |
| Denton | Denton, Lewisville, Flower Mound | ~1.95% | ~$5,070 |
| Tarrant | Fort Worth, Arlington | ~1.90% | ~$4,940 |
| Bexar | San Antonio | ~1.85% | ~$4,810 |
| Montgomery | The Woodlands, Conroe | ~1.80% | ~$4,680 |
| El Paso | El Paso | ~1.60% | ~$4,160 |
| Lubbock | Lubbock | ~1.55% | ~$4,030 |
*After $140,000 homestead exemption. Rates are combined effective rates for typical residential properties. Source: TX Comptroller, County CADs, SmartAsset 2026. Use the Texas property tax calculator above for your specific address estimate.
Notice the spread between Fort Bend County (~2.40%) and El Paso County (~1.60%) — on a $400,000 home with the homestead exemption, that difference amounts to $2,080 per year. Over a 30-year mortgage, that is $62,400 in additional property taxes paid — before accounting for appreciation.
Texas Property Tax Exemptions 2026: The Biggest Changes in State History
The 89th Texas Legislature and a November 2025 voter referendum delivered the largest property tax relief package in Texas history. Every Texas homeowner should verify they are receiving every exemption they qualify for — the combined savings can exceed $3,000–$5,000 per year.
🏠 General Homestead Exemption: Now $140,000
Texas voters approved Proposition 13 in November 2025, raising the school district homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000, effective for the 2026 tax year. This means the first $140,000 of your home’s appraised value is completely exempt from school district taxation.
On a $350,000 home at a 1.5% school district rate, this exemption alone saves $2,100 per year. The exemption applies only to your primary residence. File Form 50-114 with your county appraisal district by April 30 — and re-run the Texas property tax calculator above to see your updated savings. It is a one-time filing — once approved, it renews automatically as long as you remain the owner and occupant.
👴 Over-65 and Disabled Homeowner Exemption: Now $60,000 Extra
Senate Bill 23 of the 89th Legislature increased the additional school district exemption for homeowners aged 65+ or disabled from $10,000 to $60,000. Combined with the general homestead exemption, qualifying seniors now exempt $200,000 of their home’s value from school district taxes.
Additionally, seniors receive a school tax freeze — your school district taxes cannot increase above the amount you paid in the year you turned 65, even if your home’s value rises substantially. This freeze is permanent and transferable to a new primary residence at the same capped amount.
🎖 Disabled Veteran Exemption
Texas provides a tiered property tax exemption based on VA disability rating:
- 10–29% disabled: $5,000 off appraised value
- 30–49% disabled: $7,500 off appraised value
- 50–69% disabled: $10,000 off appraised value
- 70–99% disabled: $12,000 off appraised value
- 100% service-connected disabled: Full exemption — $0 property tax on homestead, regardless of value
Surviving spouses of veterans killed in action may also qualify for the 100% exemption. Contact the Texas Comptroller’s Property Tax Exemptions page or your county appraisal district for documentation requirements.
♿ Disability Exemption (Non-Veteran)
Homeowners receiving disability benefits under the Social Security Act qualify for the same $60,000 additional school district exemption as seniors 65+, including the school tax freeze. This stacks on top of the $140,000 general homestead exemption for a combined $200,000 of school-tax-exempt value.
Home value: $500,000
− General homestead exemption: $140,000
− Over-65 additional exemption: $60,000
− City of Austin senior exemption: $88,000 (local add-on)
= Taxable value for school taxes: $212,000
vs. $500,000 without any exemptions — a $4,730/year difference at Travis County’s combined rate.
Texas Property Tax Key Dates 2026 — Deadlines That Affect Your Texas Property Tax Calculator Estimate
| Date | What Happens | Action Required |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Appraisal district values your property as of this date | Ensure your homestead exemption is on file |
| January 31, 2026 | Property tax payment deadline | Pay in full — a 7% penalty applies from February 1 |
| February 1, 2026 | Unpaid taxes become delinquent | 7% penalty + 1% monthly interest begins immediately |
| April–May 2026 | Notices of Appraised Value (NOAVs) mailed | Review carefully — this is the value your tax bill is based on |
| April 30, 2026 | Homestead exemption application deadline | File Form 50-114 if you haven’t already |
| May 15, 2026 ⚠️ | Property tax protest deadline | File Form 50-132 — or 30 days after NOAV, whichever is later |
| May–July 2026 | Appraisal Review Board (ARB) hearing period | Attend your informal and/or formal hearing with comparable sales data |
| October 2026 | Tax bills mailed by county tax offices | Verify bill reflects your approved exemptions and protest result |
How to Protest Your Texas Property Tax Appraisal in 2026 — And Lower the Value Your Texas Property Tax Calculator Is Based On
Here is a fact that most Texas homeowners do not know: 60–80% of Texas property tax protests result in a reduced value, and the average savings range from $600 to $2,250 per year depending on your county and home value. Yet fewer than one in four Texas homeowners files a protest annually, according to data compiled from the Texas Comptroller and major county appraisal districts.
In Tarrant County alone, 85% of the 207,000 protests filed in 2024 resulted in a reduced assessed value. In Bexar County (San Antonio), the informal hearing success rate was 88%. The numbers make a compelling case: if you own a home in Texas and you are not protesting your appraisal every year, you are almost certainly overpaying.
Step-by-Step: How to File a Texas Property Tax Protest
Mailed April–May by your county CAD. Note your appraised value, the protest deadline (May 15 or 30 days from mailing), and your CAD’s contact information. Even if your value did not change, you can still protest — market conditions may have softened since last year’s assessment.
Download Form 50-132 (Notice of Protest) from the Texas Comptroller’s website or file online through your county CAD portal. Check both grounds: market value and unequal appraisal. Raising both gives you two separate angles for reduction.
Find 3–5 homes similar to yours (same neighborhood, similar size, age, and condition) that sold between January 1, 2025 and January 1, 2026 at a lower price than your appraised value. Zillow, Redfin, and your county CAD’s own property search tool are good starting points. The CAD is required to share its evidence with you before the hearing.
Log into your county CAD’s online portal and pull your property detail sheet. Verify square footage, bedroom count, bathroom count, lot size, year built, and listed improvements. Errors are surprisingly common — a listed pool that was removed, a listed garage conversion that never happened, or incorrect square footage can inflate your value by tens of thousands of dollars.
Most Texas counties schedule an informal hearing first — a one-on-one meeting with an appraiser (in person or by video). Success rates at this stage are typically 70–90%. Present your comps, your property record corrections, and any recent photos of condition issues. Most homeowners who show up with evidence receive at least a modest reduction.
If the informal hearing does not produce a satisfactory result, request a formal ARB hearing. ARB success rates across major Texas counties range from 55–92%. You can further appeal an ARB decision to a district court or — for properties under $5 million — binding arbitration, which is faster and cheaper than litigation.
Under Texas Tax Code §41.44, missing the protest deadline forfeits your right to contest your 2026 valuation for the entire year with almost no exceptions. There is no late filing process for value disputes. Set a calendar reminder now.
Texas Property Tax Calculator: How to Use It and Read Your Results
The Texas property tax calculator at the top of this page is built specifically for Texas homeowners in 2026 — it uses county-level combined rates (school district + county + city + special districts), applies the correct $140,000 homestead exemption, and models the senior and veteran exemptions that took effect this year. Here is a complete breakdown of every field and every result the Texas property tax calculator produces.
Step 1: Enter Your Home Value
Type your home’s current market value — what it would sell for today. The most accurate source is your most recent Notice of Appraised Value from your county CAD (mailed April–May each year). You can also use a recent Zillow or Redfin estimate, or your purchase price if you bought within the last 12 months. The Texas property tax calculator uses this as your starting point before applying the assessment ratio and exemptions.
Step 2: Select Your Texas County
After selecting Texas as your state, choose your county from the dropdown. The Texas property tax calculator auto-fills the combined effective rate for that county — reflecting school district, county, city, and typical special district levies for residential properties. If your specific county is not listed, select Statewide Average (1.63%) as a reasonable Texas benchmark. You can manually edit the tax rate field if you know your exact combined rate from a previous tax bill.
Step 3: Apply Your Texas Exemptions
This is where the Texas property tax calculator delivers the most value for Texas homeowners specifically. Check every exemption that applies to you:
- 🏠 Homestead — applies the 2026 $140,000 school district exemption (Proposition 13). If you occupy your home as a primary residence and have filed Form 50-114, check this box. This is the single largest exemption available and reduces most Texans’ bills by $2,000–$3,000/year.
- 👴 Senior (65+) — applies the additional $60,000 school district exemption (SB 23, 89th Legislature) plus models the school tax freeze. Qualifying seniors should check both Homestead and Senior for the full $200,000 combined school exemption.
- 🎖 Veteran — applies a reduction based on the Texas tiered veteran exemption schedule. 100% disabled veterans receive a full exemption — the Texas property tax calculator will show $0 for qualifying veterans at the 100% disability tier.
- ♿ Disability — applies the same $60,000 additional exemption as the Senior box for homeowners receiving SSA disability benefits.
Understanding Your Texas Property Tax Calculator Results
After clicking Calculate My Property Tax, the Texas property tax calculator displays a full results panel. Here is what each figure means for a Texas homeowner:
| Result Field | What It Means | Texas Context |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Tax | Your estimated total property tax bill for the year | Texas median: ~$4,111 (2026). High-rate counties (Fort Bend, Harris) average $6,000–$9,000+ |
| Monthly | Annual ÷ 12 — what your lender collects into escrow each month | A $6,000 annual bill adds $500/month to your PITI payment. Factor this in before buying. |
| Quarterly | Annual ÷ 4 — useful if you pay estimated taxes yourself | Texas bills are typically annual (due Jan 31), but some counties allow installments |
| Daily | Annual ÷ 365 — a useful perspective on ongoing cost | On a $400K Fort Bend home, property tax costs ~$22/day before exemptions |
| Tax Burden % | Annual tax as % of home value | Texas avg: 1.63%. Above 2.0% = high-levy county. Below 1.3% = rural or low-rate area. |
| 30-Year Projection | Cumulative tax over 30 years assuming appreciation + rate increases | On a $400K home at 1.8% with 3% annual appreciation, total 30-year Texas property tax exceeds $285,000 |
Using the Escrow Tab for Your Texas Mortgage
The Escrow tab inside the Texas property tax calculator shows your full PITI payment — Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance combined. For Texas homebuyers, this is critical: property tax alone adds $300–$800/month to mortgage payments in major metro counties, and many buyers focus only on P&I when budgeting. Enter your purchase price, down payment, current mortgage rate, and annual insurance — the Texas property tax calculator builds your complete monthly housing cost.
$450,000 home in Williamson County (2.25% rate) with $140,000 homestead exemption:
Annual property tax = ($450,000 − $140,000) × 2.25% = $6,975/year = $581/month escrow
Add to a $2,100 P&I payment + $175 insurance = $2,856 total PITI
That is 36% more than the mortgage payment alone — critical to know before you close.
State Comparison Tab: Is Texas Worth It?
The State Comparison tab in the Texas property tax calculator ranks all 50 states by estimated annual property tax on the same home value. On a $400,000 home, Texas ($5,590 after homestead exemption in Harris County) compares to:
- Florida: ~$2,912 — no income tax, lower property tax than Texas
- California: ~$3,800 — but add up to 13.3% state income tax
- New Jersey: ~$7,820 — highest in the nation AND has state income tax
- Tennessee: ~$2,240 — no income tax, significantly lower property tax than Texas
The comparison reveals that Texas is not the lowest-tax state for homeowners — but when income tax savings are factored in for high earners, the overall tax burden remains competitive. The Texas property tax calculator state comparison tab makes this analysis instant for any home value you enter.
For a complete walkthrough of every calculator field, tab, and result, see our property tax calculator guide.
The Texas Tax Trade-Off: No Income Tax vs. High Property Tax (What the Texas Property Tax Calculator Does Not Show)
Texas is one of nine states with no state income tax. For a household earning $120,000 per year relocating from California (13.3% top marginal rate), the tax savings on income alone can exceed $10,000–$15,000 annually. From New York (up to 10.9%) or Illinois (4.95%), the income tax savings are similarly dramatic.
The trade-off is property tax. Texas funds public services — particularly public school systems — almost entirely through local property levies rather than state income tax. The result is effective property tax rates roughly 64% above the national average.
For most high earners and retirees, the math still favors Texas. A household earning $200,000 per year pays roughly $20,000 in California state income tax. Even if Texas property taxes cost $8,000 per year more than an equivalent home in California, the net annual savings from the income tax elimination exceeds $12,000. The calculus shifts for retirees on fixed income with high-value homes — which is precisely why Texas’s over-65 exemptions and school tax freeze are so valuable.
More Free Tools for Texas Homeowners — Beyond the Texas Property Tax Calculator
Understanding your property tax is one piece of the full homeownership cost picture. These free calculators on modernhouseplanideas.com give you the complete numbers:
- Home Loan Calculator — monthly payments, amortization schedule, total interest, and full PITI (including your Texas property tax escrow) across 5 mortgage scenarios
- Rent vs Buy Calculator — factor in Texas property taxes, mortgage interest deduction, and appreciation to find your real break-even point
- Property Tax Calculator Guide — how to read your results, what assessment ratio means, how to enter a mill rate, and how to use the 30-year projection
For other US states, use our Texas property tax calculator above, then browse the full property tax calculator directory — the Texas property tax calculator is one of 50 state-specific tools with county-level rates, exemption modeling, and state comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions — Texas Property Tax 2026
What is the Texas property tax rate in 2026?
The statewide average effective Texas property tax rate is 1.63% in 2026 — 64% above the 0.99% national average. Rates vary significantly by county: Fort Bend County (Houston suburbs) tops out near 2.40%, while rural counties in West Texas can be under 1.2%. Enter your county in the Texas property tax calculator above for your specific rate.
What is the Texas homestead exemption in 2026?
Texas voters approved Proposition 13 in November 2025, raising the school district homestead exemption to $140,000 effective for the 2026 tax year. This is up from $100,000 under the 2023 SB 2 reforms. The exemption removes $140,000 from your taxable value for school district taxes only — county and city taxes may have separate, smaller exemptions. File Form 50-114 with your county appraisal district by April 30.
When is the Texas property tax protest deadline in 2026?
The Texas property tax protest deadline is May 15, 2026, or 30 days after your Notice of Appraised Value is mailed — whichever is later. File Form 50-132 with your county appraisal district. Missing this deadline forfeits your right to contest your 2026 valuation under Texas Tax Code §41.44.
Does Texas have a senior property tax exemption?
Yes. Homeowners aged 65 and older receive an additional $60,000 school district exemption (raised from $10,000 by SB 23 of the 89th Legislature) plus a school tax freeze — your school district taxes cannot increase above what you paid the year you turned 65, even if your home’s value rises. Combined with the general homestead exemption, seniors exempt $200,000 of home value from school taxes.
Are 100% disabled veterans exempt from Texas property tax?
Yes. Texas homeowners with a 100% service-connected VA disability rating pay zero property tax on their homestead, regardless of home value. This is one of the most generous veteran exemptions in the US. Surviving spouses of veterans killed in action may also qualify. Contact your county appraisal district or the Texas Veterans Commission for documentation requirements.
When is the Texas property tax due date?
Texas property taxes are due January 31, 2026. A 7% penalty plus 1% monthly interest applies from February 1. By July 1, an additional 20% collection fee may be added if the account is referred to a delinquent tax attorney. If you have a mortgage, your lender pays this automatically from your escrow account.
Does Texas have a state property tax?
No. Texas has no state-level property tax. All property taxes are levied locally by school districts, counties, cities, and special districts. Your total rate is the combined sum of every applicable local entity — typically four to six separate rates at once. This is why rates vary so dramatically from one Texas address to another.
How accurate is the Texas property tax calculator?
The Texas property tax calculator uses county-level combined effective rates from 2025–2026 data verified against Texas Comptroller sources and major county appraisal districts. Results are estimates — your exact bill depends on your specific school district, MUD memberships, city levies, and the exact exemptions your county approves. For a precise figure, contact your county appraisal district or check your most recent tax bill. The Texas property tax calculator is accurate as a planning benchmark and financial comparison tool.
Sources: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (comptroller.texas.gov), Texas Tax Code §41.44, Senate Bill 2 (88th Legislature), Senate Bill 4 and SB 23 (89th Legislature), Texas Proposition 13 (November 2025), county appraisal district data, SmartAsset 2026 property tax data. Rates and exemptions verified as of June 2026. Property tax rules change annually — always confirm current amounts with your county appraisal district before filing.