Texas property tax and housing costs: homestead exemption, protests, the 10% cap, county rates and mortgage rates
When you buy a home in Texas, property tax becomes a large part of what the home costs you each year. Local taxing units collect it based on your home's value. This guide follows the Texas Comptroller's official pages (checked 2026-10-23).
1. Who sets it and how
- Texas has no state property tax. Local taxing units — school districts, cities, counties and special districts — each set their own rate, so the bill differs by school district and city even within one county.
- The county appraisal district values your home as of January 1 each year.
- Each unit's tax is taxable value × rate ÷ 100; your bill is the total.
2. The yearly calendar
| When | What | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | Appraisal date | Comptroller |
| Before May 1 | General deadline for exemption applications (e.g., homestead) | Comptroller |
| May 15 or 30 days after the appraisal notice, whichever is later | Protest deadline — file Form 50-132 with the appraisal review board (ARB) | Comptroller |
| Around Oct 1 | Bills go out (counties often collect for several units) | Comptroller |
| Jan 31 of the next year | General payment deadline — penalty and interest from Feb 1 | Comptroller |
3. Homestead exemption — claim it on the home you live in
You qualify if you own the home and it is your principal residence, and you claim no homestead exemption on another home.
- School taxes: $140,000 of value is exempt.
- Age 65+ or disabled: another $60,000 off school taxes.
- Local option: a taxing unit may exempt up to 20% of value (at least $5,000).
- Apply with the appraisal district in your county; the general deadline is before May 1.
- If you buy after January 1, you may get the exemption for the rest of that year once you qualify, if the previous owner did not receive it that year.
4. The 10% homestead cap
- A qualified homestead's appraised value cannot rise more than 10% a year (new improvements are added separately).
- It starts on January 1 of the tax year after you first qualify.
- It limits value, not the tax rate — if rates rise, the bill can still rise.
5. County rates, mortgage rates and a tax estimate — TexasHomeBills™ (a JOBnaru™ partner site)
Before you choose where to buy, it helps to see how taxes differ by county, school district and city. TexasHomeBills™ is a site run alongside JOBnaru™; as stated on its pages:
Property tax calculator - Pick a county (30), school district and city, enter the appraised value, and it totals one year of tax using each unit's 2025 adopted rate as reported to the Texas Comptroller. - Check "homestead" and "65+ or disabled" to apply the $140,000 (+$60,000) school exemption. - It leaves out city and county local-option exemptions, the 65+ school tax ceiling, the 10% cap and special-district taxes (MUD, hospital, community college and others), so the real bill can differ. Use the appraisal district notice for exact value.
Housing costs by county - For the same 30 counties: median mortgage rate (actual 30-year fixed home-purchase loans, public HMDA data — not offers), county tax rate, median school district rate and a link to local electricity prices.
Links:
Related
- How to choose a Texas electricity plan
- Schools & youth sports in Austin & Taylor
- Austin relocation guide
- Texas Credit by Examination (CBE)
- Jobs in Texas
Tax rules and rates change, and this is not tax advice — confirm amounts with your appraisal notice and tax bill. Checked 2026-10-23.
Cite this article as: JOBnaru™ — https://jobnaru.com/en/news/texas-property-tax-homestead-housing-costs-guide
Questions
Does the State of Texas collect property tax?
No. Texas has no state property tax. Local taxing units — school districts, cities, counties and special districts — each set their own rate, and the county appraisal district values property as of January 1 each year.
How much is the homestead exemption and how do I get it?
If you own the home and it is your principal residence, you can claim the residence homestead exemption. School districts must exempt $140,000 of value, plus another $60,000 for owners 65 or older or disabled. Apply with the appraisal district in your county; the general deadline is before May 1.
My appraisal is too high. When is the protest deadline?
If you think the appraisal is too high, file Form 50-132 with the appraisal review board (ARB) by May 15 or 30 days after the appraisal notice, whichever is later.
If my home's value jumps, does my tax jump too?
A qualified homestead's appraised value cannot rise more than 10% a year. The limit starts on January 1 of the tax year after you first qualify, and it limits value, not the tax rate — the bill can still rise if rates go up.
Sources
- Property Tax Basics — Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
- Property Tax Exemptions — Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
- Property Tax Protests and Appeals — Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
- Valuing Property (10% homestead limit) — Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
- Texas property tax calculator — TexasHomeBills™ (a JOBnaru™ partner site)
General information as of Oct 23, 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Confirm with the employer, an immigration attorney or official sources before you act.
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