The Kaufman Central Appraisal District (Kaufman CAD) sets the value of every home, lot, and business property in Kaufman County. That value is the starting point for every property tax bill in Forney, Terrell, Kaufman, Crandall, Mabank, and the rest of the county.
This guide covers what Kaufman CAD does, how to look up your property, which exemptions you can claim, the dates that matter each year, and how to reach the district. If you want someone to handle your protest, see our Kaufman County property tax protest service.
Kaufman CAD Contact Information
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| Office | 3950 S. Houston St., Kaufman, TX 75142 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 819, Kaufman, TX 75142 |
| Phone | (972) 932-6081 |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Website | kaufman-cad.org |
| Taxpayer liaison | tlo@kaufman-cad.org |
If you plan to visit in person, Kaufman CAD uses an online queue. You can join the line from the Kaufman CAD website ("Join the Queue") or by texting "Kaufman Central Appraisal District" to 972-972-9819, and you'll get a text when your turn is close.
What Does Kaufman CAD Do?
Kaufman CAD appraises property at market value as of January 1 each year. Texas law defines market value as the price a property would sell for between a willing buyer and a willing seller after a reasonable time on the market.
Kaufman CAD is not a taxing unit. It doesn't set tax rates or send tax bills. Instead, it:
- Sets the appraised value for every property in the county
- Processes exemption applications (homestead, over-65, disabled, disabled veteran, agricultural)
- Mails Notices of Appraised Value each spring
- Handles property tax protests and supports the Appraisal Review Board (ARB)
- Certifies the appraisal roll that each taxing unit uses to set its rate
Your tax bill is your taxable value (appraised value minus exemptions) multiplied by the combined rates of the county, your school district, your city, and any MUD or special district. See the Kaufman County property tax rate breakdown for current rates by taxing entity.
How Kaufman CAD Values Homes
Like every Texas appraisal district, Kaufman CAD uses mass appraisal. Homes are grouped by neighborhood and valued using recent sales, construction costs, and property characteristics on file. Kaufman CAD also inspects part of the county in the field each year under its reappraisal plan. For 2027, field inspections are scheduled for properties in Forney ISD and Rockwall ISD.
Mass appraisal is efficient, but it can miss what makes your home different from the neighborhood average: an older roof, foundation issues, a busy road, or a builder upgrade that was never added. That gap is why checking your value every spring matters, especially in fast-growing areas like Forney where new subdivisions push neighborhood values up quickly.
Kaufman County Home Values: 2023 to 2026
Kaufman CAD's own reports show something many homeowners don't expect: while the county keeps adding thousands of new homes, the average single-family value has barely moved since 2023.
| Year | Single-family homes | Total single-family value | Average value per home |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 54,353 | $17.74 billion | $326,329 |
| 2024 | 57,603 | $18.41 billion | $319,594 |
| 2025 | 62,075 | $19.38 billion | $312,267 |
| 2026 | n/a | n/a | $324,254 |
Source: Kaufman CAD annual reports for 2023 to 2025 (Category A certified market value divided by parcel count) and Kaufman CAD's 2026 report of average single-family market value for Kaufman County. The 2026 figure uses the district's own average, so it isn't calculated exactly the same way as earlier years.
Total single-family value grew about 9% from 2023 to 2025, but the number of homes grew about 14%. In other words, growth came from new construction, not from existing homes gaining value. If your appraised value went up sharply while the county average stayed roughly flat, that's worth a closer look.
Averages also vary a lot by area. For 2026, Kaufman CAD reports an average single-family market value of $352,658 in Forney, $292,695 in Crandall, $256,059 in Terrell, $252,163 in the City of Kaufman, and $664,323 in Heath.
Kaufman CAD Protest Statistics
Protests in Kaufman County have grown every year, and most are settled before a formal hearing.
| Outcome | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protests filed | 18,178 | 19,734 | 22,100 |
| Single-family home protests | 9,297 | 8,612 | 12,192 |
| Settled informally or toplined | 12,784 (70%) | 16,327 (83%) | 17,258 (78%) |
| Went to an ARB hearing | 2,583 | 1,275 | 3,590 |
| ARB hearings that ended in a value change | 1,973 (76%) | 779 (61%) | 2,768 (77%) |
| No-shows at the hearing | 1,738 | 1,267 | 835 |
| Withdrawn | 1,048 | 856 | 407 |
Source: Kaufman CAD annual reports, 2023 to 2025.
What the numbers show:
- Protests are common. More than 22,000 protests were filed in 2025, about one for every five accounts in the county.
- Most cases end at the informal stage. Roughly three out of four protests were settled with an appraiser or by a "topline" agreement, without a formal ARB hearing.
- Hearings often change the value. In 2025, 77% of ARB hearings ended with a value change.
- No-shows give up their protest. Hundreds of owners each year file a protest and then miss their hearing. If you file, show up or have someone represent you.
What a Typical Forney Homeowner Pays
Here's how Kaufman CAD's value turns into a tax bill for a home at Forney's 2026 average market value of $352,658, using 2026 adopted tax rates. This example assumes a homeowner under 65 with a homestead exemption, no 10% homestead cap adjustment, and no MUD.
| Taxing unit | 2026 rate per $100 | Taxable value | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kaufman County (incl. road and bridge) | $0.415113 | $352,658 | $1,463.93 |
| City of Forney | $0.441281 | $352,658 | $1,556.21 |
| Forney ISD | $1.286900 | $212,658 (after $140,000 homestead) | $2,736.70 |
| Total | $2.143294 | $5,756.84 |
Without the homestead exemption, the same home would owe about $7,558, so the exemption is worth about $1,800 a year. Homes in a MUD or special district pay more; MUD rates in newer Kaufman County subdivisions often run $0.35 to $1.00 per $100 on top of these rates.
The value Kaufman CAD sets matters as much as the rates. At a combined rate of about 2.14%, every $10,000 of appraised value costs a Forney homeowner about $214 a year. A 10% lower value on this home ($35,266) would save about $756 a year.
See the full Kaufman County property tax rate breakdown for other cities and school districts.
Kaufman CAD Online Services
| Service | Link | What it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Property search | esearch.kaufman-cad.org | Look up appraised value, exemptions, and property details |
| Interactive map | gis.bisclient.com/kaufmancad | Find parcels and nearby properties on a map |
| Online protest | eprotest.kaufman-cad.org | File a protest of your appraised value |
| Online forms | portal.kaufman-cad.org | Submit exemption applications and other forms |
| CAD forms | kaufman-cad.org/cad-forms | Download printable forms |
How to Look Up Your Property
- Go to the Kaufman CAD property search.
- Search by owner name, street address, or property account number.
- Open your property to see the current and prior-year appraised value, the exemptions on file, and the land and improvement details.
Check two things every year: that your homestead and any over-65 or disabled exemptions are listed, and that the square footage, bathroom count, and other details match your home. Errors in either can raise your bill.
Kaufman County Exemptions (2026 Amounts)
Exemptions reduce your taxable value, not your appraised value. You must apply for them; Kaufman CAD doesn't add them automatically when you buy a home.
| Exemption | 2026 amount in Kaufman County |
|---|---|
| School district homestead | $140,000 (all Kaufman County ISDs) |
| School district over-65 or disabled | Additional $60,000, plus a school tax ceiling |
| Kaufman County over-65 / disabled | $15,000 / $15,000 |
| City of Forney over-65 / disabled | $65,000 / $35,000 |
| City of Terrell | 10% homestead, $5,000 over-65 |
| City of Crandall over-65 / disabled | $15,000 / $10,000 |
| Disabled veterans | $5,000 to $12,000 based on rating; full exemption at 100% |
Source: Kaufman CAD 2026 exemption amounts. Other cities, MUDs, and districts in the county offer their own amounts; check your property record for the exemptions applied to your account.
To apply, file Form 50-114 (Residence Homestead Exemption Application) through the Kaufman CAD online forms portal or by mail. The application is due by April 30. If you missed it, Kaufman CAD can tell you whether a late application is still accepted for your situation. Kaufman CAD also re-verifies homestead exemptions periodically under state law, so respond promptly if you receive a verification letter.
Learn more in our guide to Texas property tax exemptions.
Kaufman CAD Key Dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| January 1 | Property is valued as of this date |
| April 15 | Business personal property rendition deadline |
| April | Notices of Appraised Value are mailed |
| April 30 | Exemption application deadline |
| May 15 (or 30 days after your notice) | Protest deadline, whichever is later |
| May to July | ARB hearings |
| October | Tax bills are mailed by the county tax office |
| January 31 | Property taxes are due |
Protesting Your Kaufman CAD Value
To protest property taxes in Kaufman County, file a protest with the Kaufman Central Appraisal District (Kaufman CAD) by May 15 or 30 days after your appraisal notice is mailed, whichever is later. File online through eProtest, by mail, or in person. You get an informal review first, then an Appraisal Review Board (ARB) hearing if you don't settle.
If your Notice of Appraised Value is higher than your home would sell for, or higher than similar homes nearby, you have the right to protest. Kaufman CAD accepts protests online through eProtest, by mail, or in person.
A few things specific to Kaufman CAD:
- Informal reviews are walk-in. Kaufman CAD doesn't schedule informal reviews. You can meet with an appraiser at the office during business hours, using the online queue to cut your wait.
- ARB hearings can be held in person, by phone or video, or by written affidavit (Comptroller Form 50-283).
- Bring evidence on paper or a USB drive. The ARB keeps what you submit and doesn't accept evidence on a phone.
For a step-by-step look at the forms, see Kaufman County protest forms explained. If you'd rather not handle the filing, evidence, and hearings yourself, see how our Kaufman County property tax protest service works.
Get a Second Look at Your Kaufman CAD Value
Ballard Property Tax Protest reviews your Kaufman CAD value every year, builds the comparable sales and unequal appraisal evidence, and represents you with the district 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 Kaufman County property tax protest service works.
