The Hays Central Appraisal District (Hays CAD) sets the value of every home and business in San Marcos, Kyle, Buda, Dripping Springs, Wimberley, and the rest of Hays County. Its office is on IH 35 in Kyle. If you're checking your value, filing an exemption, or getting ready to protest, here's how Hays CAD works.
Contacting Hays CAD
| Contact |
Details |
| Office and mailing address |
21001 N. IH 35, Kyle, TX 78640-4795 |
| Phone |
512-268-2522 |
| Fax |
512-713-0563 |
| Email |
info@hayscad.com |
| Website |
hayscad.com |
Hays CAD also has a taxpayer liaison officer for complaints about district or Appraisal Review Board (ARB) procedures.
Checking Your Hays CAD Value
Look up your property on hayscad.com by owner name, address, or property ID. Your record shows the current and prior-year value, the exemptions on file, and the land and improvement details.
Hays County has grown quickly, so many older homes sit near brand-new subdivisions. When you compare your value with nearby homes, use homes of similar age, size, and condition rather than the newest sales on the block. Also make sure your homestead exemption shows on the record.
File Online: How Hays CAD Handles Protests
You can protest until May 15, or 30 days after your Notice of Appraised Value was mailed if that's later. Hays CAD accepts protests several ways, including online, email, and mail, but it steers homeowners toward one:
- Online account (fastest). An online protest goes directly to a Hays CAD appraiser for an informal review, with the goal of settling without a hearing.
- Email or mail. These are entered by hand in the order received. Hays CAD warns that emailed protests can slow things down during the busy season.
What happens next:
- A hearing is scheduled no matter what. Every protest Hays CAD receives is scheduled for a formal hearing before the Hays County ARB.
- Settle before that date if you can. If you accept an informal agreement, you don't need to attend the hearing.
- No informal reviews on hearing day. If you haven't settled by your hearing date, you go before the ARB.
- Late protests are limited. The ARB can accept a late protest for good cause, but not after the appraisal records are approved in July.
For a full walkthrough, see our Hays County property tax protest guide, the evidence that works in Hays County protests, and the mistakes to avoid.
Hays CAD vs. the Hays County Tax Office
| Question |
Who handles it |
| My value is too high |
Hays CAD (protest) |
| My homestead or over-65 exemption is missing |
Hays CAD |
| I need to pay my bill or get a receipt |
Hays County Tax Assessor-Collector, 712 S. Stagecoach Trail, San Marcos; 512-393-5545 |
| Which rates apply to my property |
Each taxing unit sets its own; the tax office bills them together |
What Changed in 2026 Hays County Tax Rates
| Taxing unit |
2026 rate per $100 |
2025 rate |
| Hays County |
$0.409700 |
$0.399900 |
| City of San Marcos |
$0.651500 |
$0.651500 |
| San Marcos CISD |
$0.890200 |
$1.015200 |
| Combined, San Marcos / SMCISD |
about $1.951 |
about $2.067 |
Hays County raised its rate on a 3-2 vote in September 2026, but San Marcos CISD cut its rate by 12.5 cents, so a San Marcos homeowner's combined rate fell. Lower rates don't guarantee a lower bill, though. If your value went up, you can still owe more, which is why your appraised value matters as much as the rate. Rates for Kyle, Buda, Hays CISD, and Dripping Springs ISD are in the Hays County property tax rate breakdown. For why bills keep climbing, see Hays County property tax bill increases.
Hays County Homestead Exemptions
| Taxing unit |
Homestead |
Over-65 |
Disabled |
| Hays CISD, San Marcos CISD, Dripping Springs ISD, Wimberley ISD |
$140,000 |
$60,000 + tax ceiling |
$60,000 + tax ceiling |
| Hays County |
1% (min. $5,000) |
$45,000 + tax ceiling |
$45,000 + tax ceiling |
| City of San Marcos |
20% or $15,000 |
$35,000 |
$35,000 |
| City of Kyle |
20% or $40,000 |
$10,000 |
$10,000 |
| City of Buda |
1% (min. $5,000) |
$35,000 |
$35,000 |
| City of Dripping Springs |
1% (min. $10,000) |
$25,000 |
$25,000 |
| Austin Community College |
1% (min. $5,000) |
$75,000 |
$75,000 |
Sources: Hays County Tax Assessor-Collector, 2025 Tax Rates and Exemptions (county and city amounts, shown as the county lists them); school amounts from Texas Tax Code, Section 11.13. Over-65 and disabled amounts are in addition to the homestead exemption. Units can change their amounts each year, and MUDs, ESDs and other cities have their own; your Hays CAD record shows the exemptions applied to your account.
File Form 50-114 (Residence Homestead Exemption Application) with Hays CAD by April 30. Late applications are accepted for up to two years after the taxes become delinquent. Once you have a homestead, your appraised value can't rise more than 10% a year. See our guide to Texas property tax exemptions for over-65, disabled, and veteran rules.
Hays County 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 |
| Late spring and summer |
Informal reviews and ARB hearings |
| July |
Appraisal records approved; late protests no longer accepted |
| October |
Tax bills are mailed by the Hays County Tax Assessor-Collector |
| January 31 |
Property taxes are due |
The Hays County protest deadlines guide has the full season calendar.
Let Us Handle Your Hays CAD Protest
Ballard Property Tax Protest reviews your Hays CAD value every year, files online so your protest reaches an appraiser quickly, and represents you at the informal review 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 Hays County property tax protest service works.
Sources
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 Hays CAD property record are the official figures for your property.
