When Are Property Taxes Due in Texas? (2026-2027 Dates)

When Are Property Taxes Due in Texas?

Texas property taxes are due by January 31 and become delinquent on February 1. Bills for 2026 taxes go out starting in October 2026. Because January 31, 2027 is a Sunday, a payment made on Monday, February 1, 2027 still counts as on time (Texas Tax Code Section 1.06).

Key dates for 2026 property taxes:

Not receiving a bill does not change the deadline, so if yours hasn't arrived by mid-November, look it up on your county tax office's website.

Dallas County homeowners: 2026 bills will arrive later than usual. The Dallas County Tax Office is holding bills until after the county's November 3, 2026 tax rate election. The January 31 due date still applies (details below).

The Full 2026 Texas Property Tax Calendar

When Are Texas Property Tax Bills Mailed?

State law has tax collectors mail bills by October 1 or as soon after as practical, so most homeowners receive their bill in October or early November. Bills can arrive later if a taxing unit adopts its rate late or the appraisal roll is delayed.

If your bill is mailed after January 10, the delinquency date moves to the first day of the next month that gives you at least 21 days to pay.

2026 Exception: Dallas County Bills Are Delayed

Dallas County voters decide on November 3, 2026 whether to keep the county's higher 2026 tax rate. The Dallas County Tax Office won't mail 2026 bills in October as usual. It's holding them until after the election so they show the final rate. That office also collects for many cities and school districts in the county, so your whole bill may be delayed, not just the county line.

What that means for you:

• Your due date doesn't change. Bills mailed in November are still well before January 10, so 2026 taxes are due by January 31, 2027 (payments on Monday, February 1 are on time).
• Your online bill may change. Amounts shown online before the election use the adopted rate. If voters reject it, the county rate drops to the lower voter-approval rate.
• If you pay early and the rate drops, the county will refund the difference after the election.

Your bill lists:

• Your appraised value and any exemptions (such as the $140,000 homestead exemption)
• Each taxing unit's rate (county, city, school district and special districts) and the tax for each
• Your total due, payment options and the delinquency date

For a line-by-line breakdown, see what your Texas property tax bill means.

Penalties and Interest for Paying Late

If you don't pay by the deadline, penalties and interest add up every month:

After July 1, interest keeps adding 1% a month with no cap, and taxes still unpaid on July 1 can also get a collection penalty of 15% to 20% to cover attorney fees, depending on your taxing units. A $5,000 bill left unpaid until July can grow to about $7,080 once the 18% and a 20% collection penalty are added.

For what happens after that, see the consequences of delinquent Texas property taxes.

Ways to Pay Your Texas Property Taxes

One Payment by the Deadline

Most counties accept:

• Online: e-check (usually free) or credit/debit card (usually a 2% to 3% convenience fee)
• By mail: check or money order with the coupon from your bill. Postmarks on or before the deadline generally count
• In person: at the county tax assessor-collector's office
• Through escrow: if you have a mortgage, your lender likely pays for you. See are property taxes included in your mortgage?

Split Payment (Half Now, Half Later)

If your tax office has adopted the split-payment option, you can pay half before December 1 and the other half before July 1 with no penalty or interest. Tarrant County, for example, uses November 30 and June 30. Not every county offers it, and you must pay the first half on time to use it.

Quarterly Installments for Homeowners 65+, Disabled or Disabled Veterans

If you have the over-65 or disabled homestead exemption, or you are a disabled veteran (or the unmarried surviving spouse of one), you can pay your homestead taxes in four equal installments with no penalty:

In practice that means paying by January 31, March 31, May 31 and July 31. Some counties publish different dates (Travis County lists February 28 for the first payment), so confirm on your county tax office's website.

Early Payment Discounts

A taxing unit can offer 3% off in October, 2% in November and 1% in December, but only if it has adopted the discount. Most large counties do not. Your bill will say if one applies.

Tax Deferral

Homeowners who are 65 or older, disabled, or disabled veterans can defer their homestead taxes for as long as they own and live in the home. Deferred taxes accrue 5% interest a year instead of the normal penalties, and come due after the home is no longer their residence. File a deferral affidavit with your appraisal district.

Payment Plans for Delinquent Taxes

Some tax collectors allow delinquent taxes to be paid in installments for up to 36 months. Call your tax office before July 1 to avoid the collection penalty.

County Tax Office Links

Before You Pay: Should You Just Pay Your Bill?

By the time your bill arrives in October, the value it is based on is set. You can't protest it now, but you shouldn't assume next year's value is right either.

• Your bill is your appraised value minus exemptions, times each taxing unit's rate. You can't change the rates, but you can challenge the value.
• Every spring you have the right to protest. Appraisal districts value hundreds of thousands of homes at once using mass appraisal, and individual homes are often valued too high.
• Protesting can't raise your value. The worst outcome is that it stays the same.
• Savings repeat. With the 10% homestead appraisal cap, a lower value this year limits how much it can rise next year.

Use your bill to check two things now:

1. Is your homestead exemption applied? If not, you can still file a late application and get a refund. See the Texas homestead exemption guide.
2. Did your value jump? Mark April on your calendar. That's when your next appraisal notice arrives, and the protest deadline is May 15.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the last day to pay 2026 Texas property taxes without a penalty?

January 31, 2027 is the due date, but because it falls on a Sunday, payments made on Monday, February 1, 2027 are on time under Tax Code Section 1.06. Unpaid taxes are delinquent starting Tuesday, February 2, 2027.

Why haven't I received my tax bill yet?

Most bills arrive by early November. In Dallas County, 2026 bills are being held until after the November 3, 2026 tax rate election, so they'll arrive later. If yours hasn't, check your account on your county tax office's website and confirm your mailing address. Not receiving a bill doesn't excuse a late payment.

Can I protest after I receive my tax bill?

Generally no. The protest deadline is May 15 or 30 days after your appraisal notice is mailed. Limited exceptions exist, such as correcting certain clerical errors. Learn how the protest process works.

Does protesting delay my tax bill?

No. You still get a bill in October. If your protest is still pending, you'll pay on the undisputed amount and receive a corrected bill or refund once it's resolved.

Did the 2025 homestead increase lower my bill?

Yes, if you have a homestead exemption. Voters approved raising the school homestead exemption to $140,000 (and the over-65 and disabled add-on to $60,000) in November 2025, effective for 2025 taxes. Both apply to your 2026 bill too.

What if I can't afford to pay?

Contact your tax office before February 1. Options include quarterly installments or deferral (if you're 65+, disabled or a disabled veteran), split payments where offered, and payment plans for delinquent taxes. Ignoring the bill is the most expensive option.

Lower Next Year's Bill

The best time to reduce your property taxes is before you get the bill: by protesting your appraised value in the spring.

At Ballard Property Tax Protest:

• We file your protest and gather the evidence
• We handle the informal review and ARB hearing for you
• You only pay if we lower your value

Sign up for your 2027 protest now so it's filed before the May 15 deadline.

Sources

• Texas Comptroller, Paying Your Taxes (bill timing, delinquency, penalties and interest, late-mailed bills, 36-month plans)
• Texas Tax Code Section 1.06 (weekend deadlines), Section 31.03 (split payment), Section 31.031 (installments), Section 31.05 (discounts), Section 33.06 (deferral)
• Tarrant County Tax Office, When to Pay Property Tax and Property Tax Payment Deadline, 2025 Tax Year (weekend rule applied when January 31, 2026 fell on a Saturday); Travis County Tax Office, Important Dates
• Dallas County bill delay: The Dallas Morning News, Dallas County tax bills won't be mailed until voters decide rate hike; KRLD, Dallas County to delay release of property tax bills until after November election