Understanding Your Texas Property Tax Bill
When you receive a property tax bill, it's essential that you understand how to read it. The contents of the statement include important information that every homeowner should verify. All property taxes are due before February 1 of the following year.
Do not quickly file or discard the paper when you receive your tax bill in the mail. Verifying parts of the tax bill can ensure you do not pay too much. And if you believe your home's assessed value is too high, you have the right to protest — a successful property tax protest results in you paying less.
What If I Don't Receive a Tax Bill?
Each local assessor sends property tax bills by October 1 annually or as soon as possible if there is a delay. If you do not receive a property tax bill for your home by mid-October, take action.
Keep in mind that the assessor may have sent your property tax bill to your mortgage company. If you have elected to have your mortgage company pay your taxes on your behalf from an escrow account, the bill can bypass you entirely. Check with your mortgage company to ensure it received a statement and have them forward you a copy.
You may also receive more than one property tax bill. Your home is subject to multiple taxing units (a school district, a county, a municipality, etc.). Many Texas counties have county-level assessor-collectors that combine billing for all taxing units into one statement. But if your county does not, each taxing district may send you a separate bill.
What Information Is on My Property Tax Bill?
When you open your tax bill, there are vital pieces of data to find and verify:
- The property listed is actually your house
- The amount due in property taxes
- The due date for your property taxes (typically January 31 of the following year)
- The assessed value of your home
- Any exemptions applied to the assessed value
- The taxing units included in this bill
- The tax rate applied by each taxing unit
- The taxable value of your home subject to each taxing unit after exemptions
The Texas Comptroller has a helpful infographic that can help you find these pieces of data on your bill. The statement also includes information on accepted payment methods in your area.
How Is the Amount I Owe Calculated?
Texas property taxes are ad valorem taxes — calculated based on your property's value. Your bill contains the numbers behind the calculation:
- Assessed value — supposed to correspond to the market value of your house on January 1 of the current year
- Minus exemptions — any qualified exemptions (homestead, over-65, disabled, etc.) are deducted
- Equals taxable value — the net amount your taxes are calculated on
- Times tax rate — each taxing unit's rate is applied to the taxable value, producing the dollar amount you owe to that entity
The total of all taxing entities is your annual property tax bill.
Deadlines and Delinquency Penalties
Property taxes in Texas are due on receipt and must be paid by January 31 to avoid delinquency. If you do not pay on time:
- February 1: A penalty and interest are assessed
- Each subsequent month: Additional penalties accrue
- July 1: If still unpaid, an additional penalty of up to 20% may be added for collection costs
Late payments can also lead to tax liens on your property. For more on what happens if you fall behind, see: What Happens If You Don't Pay Property Taxes in Texas?.
Can I Lower My Property Tax Bill?
There are two ways to reduce the amount you owe.
1. Claim every exemption you qualify for. The Texas homestead exemption alone removes $140,000 from your school district taxable value. Over-65 and disabled homeowners qualify for an additional $60,000. For the full list, see: Texas Homestead Exemption 2026.
2. Protest your property's assessed value. During a property tax protest, you argue that your local appraisal district over-assessed your home. If your home's assessed value exceeds its market value, you are entitled to a reduced assessment — and a reduced assessment means you pay less to every taxing unit on your bill. For a step-by-step guide, see: How to File a Texas Property Tax Protest (2026 Guide).
Ballard Property Tax Protest offers property tax protest services risk-free to Texas homeowners. You won't pay a cent unless our team secures you a lower property tax bill. Sign up today.