Dallas County Property Tax Rate: 2025 Rates by Taxing Entity
Dallas County ranks as the third most expensive county for property taxes among the most populous counties in the United States. The typical City of Dallas homeowner faces a combined rate of approximately 2.22% of taxable value -- about $2.22 per $100 -- spread across Dallas ISD, the City of Dallas, Dallas County, Parkland Hospital, and Dallas College.
A Dallas County homeowner with a home valued at $350,000 -- the county's median sale price -- and no exemptions would pay approximately $7,777 per year in total property taxes. After accounting for the $140,000 homestead exemption on school district taxes, that bill drops to roughly $6,405.
Dallas County Property Tax Rates by Taxing Entity (Tax Year 2025)
Your Dallas County 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 $350K Home | Share of Bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas ISD | $0.979735 | $3,429 | 44% |
| City of Dallas | $0.6988 | $2,446 | 31% |
| Dallas County | $0.2155 | $754 | 10% |
| Parkland Hospital | $0.2120 | $742 | 10% |
| Dallas College | ~$0.1159 | ~$406 | 5% |
| Total (Typical) | ~$2.22 | ~$7,777 | 100% |
Important: Your exact rate depends on where you live in Dallas County. Properties in Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) or other special districts pay additional taxes beyond the rates listed above.
Note on DART: Dallas Area Rapid Transit is funded through a 1% sales tax, not through property taxes. DART does not appear on your property tax bill.
Dallas ISD: The Largest Share
Dallas ISD accounts for roughly 44% of the typical homeowner's property tax bill. The tax year 2025 rate of $0.979735 per $100 reflects a 2-cent reduction from the prior year's rate of $0.997235.
While any rate reduction is welcome, the savings are modest in dollar terms. On a $350,000 home, the 2-cent decrease saves approximately $61 per year before exemptions are applied.
Dallas ISD is also subject to the state's recapture system (commonly called "Robin Hood"), which requires property-wealthy districts to return a portion of local tax revenue to the state for redistribution. This means a share of Dallas homeowners' school taxes funds districts elsewhere in Texas rather than local schools.
Other School Districts in Dallas County
Dallas County includes several independent school districts beyond Dallas ISD. Your school district is determined by your property's location, not the city you live in:
- Richardson ISD: $1.1052 per $100 (M&O $0.7552, I&S $0.3500). This is the district's lowest rate since 1989, reflecting continued state-mandated compression of M&O rates.
- Garland ISD: $1.1709 per $100. Garland ISD saw a $0.12 increase from the prior year, largely driven by voter-approved bond debt service. This makes it the highest ISD rate among the major Dallas County districts.
If your property falls within Richardson ISD or Garland ISD rather than Dallas ISD, your total tax rate and annual bill will differ significantly from the example above. A homeowner in Richardson ISD territory, for example, would pay a higher school tax rate but may benefit from different city rates depending on their location.
How Dallas County Compares to Other Texas Counties
Dallas County's total property tax rate is in line with other major Texas metros:
| County / City | Approximate Total Rate | Median Home Value |
|---|---|---|
| Harris County (Houston) | ~1.77% | ~$240,000 |
| Tarrant County (Fort Worth) | ~2.0% | ~$300,000 |
| Dallas County (Dallas) | ~2.22% | ~$350,000 |
| Bexar County (San Antonio) | ~2.07% | ~$260,000 |
| Travis County (Austin) | ~2.07% | ~$515,000 |
While Dallas County's headline rate of 2.22% is the highest among these metros, the effective tax rate is 1.74% after accounting for homestead exemptions and other adjustments that lower the taxable base below full market value. Even at the effective rate, Dallas County ranks among the most expensive in the state for total property taxes paid, driven by a combination of above-average rates and steadily rising home values.
How Dallas County Tax Rates Have Changed
Despite several entities reducing their rates in recent years, Dallas County homeowners have seen their total tax bills climb significantly:
- 2019 to 2024: Total property taxes paid in Dallas County increased 32.7%, averaging roughly 6.5% per year.
- 2024 median property tax paid: $6,409.
- Dallas County is the 3rd most expensive among the most populous U.S. counties for property taxes.
- Dallas County rate unchanged: The county's own rate of $0.2155 (M&O $0.208765, I&S $0.006735) held flat from 2024 to 2025.
The City of Dallas has reduced its tax rate for 10 consecutive years, and Dallas ISD delivered a 2-cent cut for tax year 2025. Parkland Hospital held its rate flat at $0.212000 for the first time since 2020, after several years of annual reductions.
Despite these rate reductions, rising property valuations have more than offset the savings, pushing total bills higher even as individual rates come down. A homeowner whose property value increased 14% while their combined tax rate dropped 1% still saw a net increase in their annual bill.
How Your Dallas County Property Tax Bill Is Calculated
Each taxing entity applies its rate to your taxable value -- your appraised value minus any exemptions you qualify for. Here's a worked example for a Dallas homeowner with a $350,000 home and the $140,000 school homestead exemption:
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Appraised value | $350,000 |
| Less: School homestead exemption | -$140,000 |
| Taxable value (school) | $210,000 |
| Dallas ISD tax ($210,000 x 0.979735%) | $2,057 |
| City of Dallas tax ($350,000 x 0.6988%) | $2,446 |
| Dallas County tax ($350,000 x 0.2155%) | $754 |
| Parkland Hospital ($350,000 x 0.212%) | $742 |
| Dallas College ($350,000 x 0.1159%) | $406 |
| Total estimated bill | $6,405 |
Important to note: The $140,000 homestead exemption reduces only the school district portion of your bill. Dallas County, the City of Dallas, and Parkland Hospital each offer separate exemptions that lower your taxable value for their respective levies. Your final bill depends on your exact location, applicable entities, and exemptions on file. Learn more about how appraised value, assessed value, and taxable value work.
Why Your Dallas County Property Tax Bill May Be Higher Than Expected
Even when tax rates hold steady or decrease, your bill can increase for several reasons:
Rising Appraisals
The Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD) revalues all properties annually. From 2023 to 2024, Dallas County property valuations increased by more than 14%. Even with rate reductions, a 14% jump in appraised value far outpaces any savings from a few cents off the tax rate.
For context, the median sale price in Dallas County was approximately $350,000 as of December 2025, while the City of Dallas median sale price reached $430,000. As long as property values continue to climb, tax bills will follow -- regardless of what happens to the rates themselves.
Voter-Approved Bonds
Bond elections authorize additional debt repaid through the Interest and Sinking (I&S) portion of tax rates. In May 2024, City of Dallas voters approved a $1.25 billion bond package across all 10 propositions. While the city stated the bonds would not require a tax rate increase, the debt service is built into ongoing rates.
Similarly, school district bonds fund facility construction and renovation. Garland ISD's $0.12 rate increase for tax year 2025 was largely attributable to voter-approved bond debt service. When evaluating future bond propositions, keep in mind that the resulting I&S rate increases are often permanent for the life of the bonds.
MUD and Special District Taxes
If your property is in a Municipal Utility District or other special district, you pay additional taxes that do not appear in the base rates above. MUD rates can add $0.25 to $1.00 or more per $100 on top of the standard entities.
How to Lower Your Dallas County Property Taxes
With property taxes in Dallas County up 32.7% over five years, reducing your bill starts with ensuring you have every exemption in place and challenging any overvaluation.
1. File for Homestead Exemption
If you haven't already, apply for your homestead exemption. Beginning in 2026, the school district homestead exemption is $140,000, saving a Dallas ISD homeowner roughly $1,372 per year in school taxes alone. Additional exemptions may be available from the City of Dallas, the county, and Parkland Hospital.
The deadline to file is April 30, and you can file up to two years late to claim exemptions retroactively.
2. Challenge Your DCAD Appraised Value
Roughly one in four Dallas County property owners protests their appraisal each year -- and a significant percentage of those protests result in a reduction. With DCAD valuations jumping 14% in a single year, protesting your property tax appraisal is the most direct way to lower your bill. DCAD's mass appraisal models cannot account for every property's condition, location disadvantages, or recent comparable sales.
File a protest before the May 15 deadline after reviewing your Notice of Appraised Value. You do not need to hire a professional, but experienced representation can improve your outcome -- particularly at the Appraisal Review Board (ARB) hearing stage.
Get Help With Your Dallas County Property Tax Protest
As the third most expensive large county in the U.S. for property taxes, Dallas County homeowners have every reason to ensure their DCAD appraisal is accurate.
Ballard Property Tax Protest represents homeowners across Dallas 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.