Austin Property Tax Rate: 2026 Rates by Taxing Entity
The total property tax rate for a typical Austin homeowner is approximately 2.07% of taxable value, or about $2.07 per $100 of assessed value. This rate combines taxes from multiple overlapping taxing entities including Austin ISD, the City of Austin, Travis County, Austin Community College, and Central Health.
The average Austin homeowner with a taxable homestead value of $515,213 pays approximately $10,823 per year in total property taxes.
Austin Property Tax Rates by Taxing Entity (Tax Year 2025)
Your Austin property tax bill is the sum of taxes levied by every taxing entity that covers your property. Here are the current adopted rates for the major entities:
| Taxing Entity | Rate per $100 | Est. Tax on $515,213 Home | Share of Bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin ISD | $0.9252 | $4,766 | 44% |
| City of Austin | $0.5240 | $2,700 | 25% |
| Travis County | $0.3758 | $1,936 | 18% |
| Austin Community College (ACC) | $0.1279 | $659 | 6% |
| Central Health | $0.1180 | $608 | 6% |
| Other (MUDs, ESD, etc.) | Varies | Varies | ~1% |
| Total (Typical) | ~$2.07 | ~$10,823 | 100% |
Important: Your exact rate depends on where you live in Austin. Properties in Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs), Emergency Services Districts (ESDs), or other special districts pay additional taxes. Travis County alone has 127 local taxing entities including 54 MUDs and 16 emergency districts.
Austin ISD: The Largest Share
Austin ISD accounts for nearly half of the typical homeowner's property tax bill. The FY 2025-26 rate of $0.9252 per $100 breaks down as:
- Maintenance & Operations (M&O): $0.8022 per $100
- Interest & Sinking (Debt Service): $0.1230 per $100
The total rate decreased by $0.0253 from the prior year. However, AISD is subject to the state's recapture system (often called "Robin Hood"), which requires property-wealthy districts to send a portion of local tax revenue to the state for redistribution. This means a significant share of Austin homeowners' school taxes funds districts elsewhere in Texas.
City of Austin
The City of Austin's FY 2025-26 rate is $0.524017 per $100, approximately a 10% increase from the prior year's rate of $0.4776. In November 2025, Austin voters rejected Proposition Q, which would have allowed the city to adopt an even higher tax rate. The city council subsequently approved an amended budget at the lower rate.
The typical Austin homeowner saw an increase of about $105 per year in the city's portion of their property tax bill.
Travis County
Travis County adopted a rate of $0.375845 per $100, an increase of roughly 3 cents from the prior year. The county cited the July 2025 severe weather and flooding disaster as the reason for part of the increase, and has indicated the rate will be adjusted downward for the following year.
How Austin Compares to Other Texas Cities
Austin's total property tax rate is in the middle of the pack among major Texas metros:
| City | Approximate Total Rate | Avg. Annual Tax Bill |
|---|---|---|
| Houston | 1.8%–2.1% | $4,100–$5,200 |
| Dallas | ~2.0% | $4,600 |
| Fort Worth | ~1.8% | $5,100 |
| San Antonio | ~1.8% | $3,800–$4,500 |
| Austin | ~2.07% | $10,823 |
Austin's tax rate is comparable to Houston and Dallas, but Austin homeowners pay significantly more in total dollars because Austin home values are substantially higher. The average taxable homestead in Travis County is $515,213, compared to lower averages in Harris, Dallas, and Bexar counties.
This is an important distinction: Austin's property tax burden is driven more by high appraisals than by high tax rates.
How Austin Property Tax Rates Have Changed
Austin property tax rates and bills have shifted significantly in recent years:
| Year | Avg. Homeowner Bill | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | $7,167 | — |
| 2022 | $9,261 | +29% |
| 2024 | $10,356 | +12% |
| 2025 | $10,823 | +5% |
Several factors have driven these changes:
- Rising home values: Even as some tax rates decreased, higher appraised values pushed bills upward
- Proposition 4 (2023): Increased the homestead exemption from $40,000 to $100,000, providing relief to homeowners
- AISD rate reductions: School tax rates have decreased due to state compression, but recapture offsets much of the benefit
- City of Austin increases: The city's rate has risen to fund infrastructure and public safety
How Your Austin Property Tax Bill Is Calculated
Your property tax bill is calculated using this formula:
Property Tax = (Appraised Value - Exemptions) × Tax Rate
Example: Austin homeowner with a $500,000 home and homestead exemption
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Appraised value | $500,000 |
| Less: School homestead exemption | -$100,000 |
| Taxable value (school) | $400,000 |
| School tax ($400,000 × 0.9252%) | $3,701 |
| City tax ($500,000 × 0.524%) | $2,620 |
| County tax ($500,000 × 0.3758%) | $1,879 |
| ACC tax ($500,000 × 0.1279%) | $640 |
| Central Health ($500,000 × 0.118%) | $590 |
| Total estimated bill | $9,430 |
Note: The $100,000 homestead exemption only applies to school district taxes. City, county, and other entities may offer their own smaller exemptions. Your actual bill depends on which entities tax your property and what exemptions you've filed. Learn more about how appraised value, assessed value, and taxable value work.
Why Your Austin Property Tax Bill May Be Higher Than Expected
Even if tax rates stay flat or decrease, your bill can increase because:
Rising Appraisals
The Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD) revalues all properties annually. Austin's housing market has driven substantial appraisal increases in recent years, and even moderate growth compounds over time.
Voter-Approved Bonds
Bond elections authorize additional debt that is repaid through the Interest & Sinking portion of tax rates. Austin ISD, the City of Austin, and Travis County have all passed bond measures in recent years.
MUD and Special District Fees
If your property is in a Municipal Utility District or other special district, you pay additional taxes that don't appear in the base rates above. MUD rates can add $0.25–$1.00+ per $100 on top of the standard entities.
Recapture ("Robin Hood")
Austin ISD is a "Chapter 41" district, meaning it must send a portion of local property tax revenue back to the state. This means Austin homeowners effectively subsidize school districts in other parts of Texas.
How to Lower Your Austin Property Taxes
You have two primary tools to reduce your property tax bill:
1. File for Homestead Exemption
If you haven't already, apply for your homestead exemption. The $100,000 school district exemption alone saves the average Austin homeowner roughly $925 per year in school taxes. The deadline is April 30, and you can file up to two years late.
2. Protest Your Appraised Value
Since Austin's high tax bills are driven primarily by high appraised values, protesting your property tax appraisal is the most effective way to lower your bill. TCAD uses mass appraisal methods that frequently overvalue individual properties.
When you receive your Notice of Appraised Value in April-May, review it carefully and file a protest before the May 15 deadline.
Get Help With Your Austin Property Tax Protest
Ballard Property Tax Protest represents homeowners across Travis County. We handle the entire protest process — from filing to informal hearings to ARB representation — and you only pay if we reduce your appraised value.
No reduction, no fee.