Bell County Appraisal District (Bell CAD) Guide

Bell CAD, officially the Tax Appraisal District of Bell County and often called the Bell County Appraisal District, values every property in Killeen, Temple, Belton, Harker Heights, Nolanville, Salado, and the rest of Bell County. Two things are worth knowing up front: it runs three offices across the county, and it takes your tax payment.

Bell CAD Offices in Belton, Killeen and Temple

All three are open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Mail for every office goes to P.O. Box 390, Belton, TX 76513. Email customerservice@bellcad.org, or visit bellcad.org. Protest hearings are held at the Belton office.

Bell CAD Property Search and Map

The Bell CAD property search finds properties by owner name, street address, or property ID. Each record shows the current and prior-year value, the exemptions on file, and the land and improvement details. The map view shows parcels and nearby properties, and Bell CAD suggests using it to research sales near your home before a protest.

If your value looks high next to similar homes nearby:

Paying Property Taxes Through Bell CAD

In many Texas counties, you pay a separate county tax office. In Bell County, you can pay Bell CAD directly:

Card payments carry a processing fee (2.15%, minimum $2.00), and e-checks cost $0.50. Online payments post by the end of the next business day.

For the 2026 tax year, Bell County adopted $0.2995 per $100, plus $0.0468 for the county Road District. Your school district, city, and any other unit add their own rates; the Bell County property tax rate breakdown lists them.

Market Value vs. Assessed Value: Bell CAD's Homestead Cap

Your Bell CAD notice shows two values, and they often don't match.

• Market value is what Bell CAD thinks your home would sell for on January 1. It can rise any amount in a year.
• Assessed (taxable) value is what you're taxed on. Once you've had a homestead exemption for a full year, it can't rise more than 10% a year, even if market value jumps more. For non-homestead property under $5 million, the cap is 20%.

Bell CAD points out that a protest disputes your market value, not your assessed value. Your taxable value only drops if the protest lowers market value below the capped assessed value. So if your market value is well above your capped value, a small reduction may not change this year's bill at all.

Bell County Exemptions by Taxing Unit (2026)

Source: Tax Appraisal District of Bell County 2026 tax rate table. Over-65 and disabled amounts are in addition to the homestead exemption, and you can't receive both from the same taxing unit. Other cities, MUDs, and water districts have their own amounts.

Bell County has no percentage homestead exemption, so most homestead savings come from the school district and, where they apply, the City of Temple, Salado, and Temple College.

Filing: apply with Form 50-114 on Bell CAD's online forms site or on paper. You can't apply before you qualify, but late applications are accepted up to two years after the delinquency date (normally February 1). Disabled homeowners need a dated Social Security disability statement or Bell CAD's physician's statement. A homestead can include up to 20 acres you use with the home. See our guide to Texas property tax exemptions for more.

Inside a Bell CAD Protest

File through the taxpayer portal with the Property ID and PIN from page 1 of your notice, by mail, or in person. Here's how Bell CAD runs it:

1. Informal meeting first. The ARB's policy is that you meet with a Bell CAD appraiser before any formal hearing. If you agree on a value, it ends there.
2. 15 minutes each. Bell CAD keeps informal and formal hearings to about 15 minutes per property.
3. Phone or video takes advance notice. Request it in writing at least 10 days before your hearing, and send a notarized affidavit with your evidence before your scheduled time.
4. You can accept the district's own grid. If the median value on Bell CAD's comparable sales or equity grid is below your notice value, email protest@bellcad.org to accept it.
5. Reschedule 24 hours ahead. Send requests to reschedule@bellcad.org. Missing your hearing can waive your right to appeal.

Bring a settlement statement, a recent fee appraisal, sales of similar homes, dated photos, and repair estimates for problems that existed on January 1. Our Bell County property tax protest guide covers filing step by step.

Bell CAD Calendar

Let Us Take the Bell CAD Hearing

Ballard Property Tax Protest reviews your Bell CAD value every year, builds comparable sales and equity evidence, and represents you at the informal meeting and the ARB. There's no upfront cost, and you only pay if we lower your value.

Sign up in a few minutes or see how our Bell County property tax protest service works.

Sources

• Tax Appraisal District of Bell County, bellcad.org and its 2026 Tax Rate Chart (rates and exemptions by taxing unit)
• Texas Comptroller, Property Tax Exemptions (school district amounts under Tax Code Section 11.13)
• Texas Comptroller, Property Tax Rates

Rates and exemption amounts in this guide come from the sources above and were current when we checked them in October 2026. They're for general information only. Taxing units can change their rates and exemptions each year, and your tax bill and your Bell CAD property record are the official figures for your property.