Runnels County Appraisal District CAD 2026

Runnels County, Texas · Ballinger property search, rural land, exemptions, mineral accounts, protests and tax payments

Trace a Runnels County Parcel From Cotton Field and Rail Line to the Correct Property Record

Start with Runnels Central Appraisal District when you need a property ID, geographic ID, appraisal owner, legal description, acreage, land or building value, exemption, agricultural appraisal, business-property account, mineral record or appraisal-review information.

Move to the Runnels County Tax Assessor-Collector when the question becomes a tax statement, balance, payment, receipt, penalty or delinquency. This distinction matters because RCAD expressly states that it does not assess or collect property taxes.

Property ID Geographic ID Owner last name Street or county road Abstract or subdivision Tax year
COTTON-COUNTRY PARCEL ROUTER VERIFYING
SEARCH → MAP → VERIFY → FILE OR PAY
Important 2026 status: RCAD published June 1, 2026 as the ordinary protest deadline and now states that no additional ordinary 2026 protest submissions are being accepted. Do not submit an old May 15 deadline from another county or assume a standard protest can still be filed.
Correct RCAD address

505 Hutchings Avenue, Ballinger.

Correct RCAD phone

325-365-3583 for phone, SMS and fax.

2026 protest date

June 1, 2026; ordinary filing is closed.

Tax collection

Handled by the Runnels County Tax Office.

Official review

Local resources reviewed July 30, 2026.

Start with the task

Which Runnels County property service do you need?

FIND A PROPERTY Search the RCAD appraisal record

Use owner, address, property ID, geographic ID, abstract or the interactive map.

Follow the property-search steps
REVIEW A VALUE Check property facts and limitations

Compare land, improvements, condition, exemptions, homestead savings and the 2026 circuit breaker.

Understand the value fields
PAY PROPERTY TAX Use the county Tax Office

Open the taxpayer-information site, verify all years, review charges and save the receipt.

Follow the tax-payment route
PROTEST OR CORRECT Check the 2026 filing status first

The ordinary protest period is closed, but a narrow statutory correction may use a different form.

Review protest and correction options
FILE AN APPLICATION Use current RCAD forms

Prepare homestead, agricultural, veteran, rendition, address or electronic-delivery documents.

Prepare the correct filing
VERIFY OWNERSHIP Use County Clerk records

The RCAD owner field is not a complete deed, lien, mineral or title search.

Search recorded documents

Go directly to the Runnels County property task

The first sections solve parcel search and rural-property matching. Later sections cover exemptions, agriculture, business property, minerals, appraisal corrections, taxes, deed records and local office routing.

Official links first

Use the correct Runnels County portal for each action

RCAD property-search gateway

Read the official disclaimer and click Continue to the district’s authorized vendor database.

Start official property search
Interactive parcel map

Search an address or place or query by parcel/property ID or abstract number.

Open Runnels CAD map
Applications and forms

Find homestead, agriculture, rendition, protest, address, correction and special-appraisal forms.

Open RCAD forms
Runnels County Tax Office

Use for tax statements, online tax information, payments, receipts, penalties and balances.

Open Tax Assessor-Collector
Truth in Taxation

Review property-specific estimated taxes, tax-rate proposals, hearings and adopted-rate information.

Open Runnels Taxes
County Clerk records

Search deeds, liens and other recorded property documents through the county’s official link.

Open Runnels County Clerk
Search-interface guide

Choose the search method that matches the information you already have

Owner Last name, trust, estate, ranch or business
Address Street number plus the main road name
Property ID Best match from a notice or prior account
Legal or Map Abstract, subdivision, tract or parcel location
Best Runnels CAD search method based on the information available
You have Try first When no result appears
Property ID Enter the exact account identifier. Check copied zeros, letters, tax year and an older account format.
Owner name Use the last name or one business-name word. Try spouse, trust, estate, ranch, LLC or former owner.
Street address Use the street number and main road name. Remove direction, suffix, city, ZIP and rural-route wording.
Rural acreage Use owner, abstract, survey or map query. Call RCAD with the nearest road and legal description.
Mineral document Search the mineral owner or account identifier. Contact the mineral-appraisal contractor with the lease or owner details.
Tax statement Match its owner and property ID with the CAD record. Use the Tax Office’s taxpayer-information site and call collections.
Parcel-location research

Use the Runnels CAD map without treating it as a legal survey

RCAD states that its online map supports a general address or place search and a Query function using parcel/property ID or abstract number. Clicking a parcel shape opens account information.
Open the official ArcGIS map Open Runnels CAD Online Map
Accept the mapping disclaimer The map is provided for appraisal and general location research.
Use address or place search Begin with a road, town, landmark or approximate rural location.
Use Query for a parcel or abstract Enter the property ID or abstract number when a normal address is unavailable.
Click inside the parcel outline Review the pop-up and compare its property ID and legal description with the appraisal record.
Check for multiple undivided-interest accounts RCAD warns that some co-owned parcels contain separate taxation accounts. Use the arrow in the parcel pop-up to review additional owners.
Verify before legal use Use recorded deeds, plats, easements and a professional survey for acreage, access or boundary decisions.
RCAD does not guarantee property boundaries on the ground. A blue parcel line does not prove a fence line, legal access, surveyed acreage, easement location or mineral boundary.
Property-record decoder

Understand what each Runnels CAD field does—and does not—prove

Use the appraisal account to identify the property and the next controlling record
Field What it helps identify What it does not prove Best next action
Property ID The RCAD appraisal account. That every tax, deed or mineral document uses the same number. Use it for appraisal questions and match it with the tax record.
Geographic ID A parcel-related geographic reference. Surveyed boundaries or exact acreage. Compare the map, deed, plat and survey.
Owner shown The owner maintained for appraisal administration. Every person with legal or mineral-title interest. Search County Clerk and title records.
Situs address The physical location carried in the CAD account. The mailing address or legal boundary. Compare it with the legal description and map.
Mailing address Where appraisal notices may be sent. Where the property is physically located. Submit a written address change when outdated.
Legal description Abstract, survey, subdivision, lot, block, tract or acreage references. That abbreviated CAD wording is adequate for a deed. Verify through recorded documents and a survey.
Property type Real, personal, mineral, industrial or another account category. That all interests are included in one record. Search each applicable account type separately.
Market value RCAD’s opinion of market value as of January 1. A guaranteed sale price or final tax bill. Compare market and equal-appraisal evidence.
Net appraised value Value after an applicable appraisal limitation. That the market-value figure was reduced. Check homestead savings or the circuit breaker.
Taxable value Value remaining after exemptions for a taxing unit. The live amount due or payment status. Open the Tax Office taxpayer-information site.
Search troubleshooting

What to do when Runnels CAD property search returns no result

Try another official search route before assuming the property is missing
Problem Likely reason Practical fix
Owner name is not found The record may use a spouse, trust, estate, ranch, business or former owner. Search one name word and review every plausible result.
Rural address fails The situs, mailing and emergency addresses can differ. Use the road name, owner, property ID, abstract or map.
Recently purchased land shows the seller The recorded deed may not yet be loaded into RCAD. Confirm County Clerk recording and send the instrument reference to deeds@runnelscad.org.
One parcel shows several owners The tract may contain undivided interests with separate tax accounts. Use the map pop-up arrow and inspect each owner account.
Mineral account is missing Surface and mineral interests are appraised separately. Search the mineral owner and contact Wardlaw for specialized appraisal questions.
Manufactured home is absent The home and land may have different owners or account numbers. Search the home owner and land account separately.
Tax amount is not displayed by RCAD RCAD does not assess or collect property taxes. Use the Runnels County Tax Office taxpayer-information site.
A recent correction is missing The public vendor database may not yet reflect the district’s current internal record. Call RCAD and provide the property ID and submission proof.
Call script for a missing or incorrect appraisal account
I am researching Runnels CAD property ID [number] / geographic ID [number] for [owner, address or legal description]. The account currently shows [exact information], but I need help with [specific missing or incorrect field] for tax year [year]. Please tell me which document or staff email should receive the correction.
Local property situations

Search tips for Ballinger, Winters, Miles, Olfen and rural Runnels County

Ballinger residence

Check the City of Ballinger, Ballinger ISD, county, hospital district and other units shown.

Winters property

Confirm City of Winters, Winters ISD, North Runnels Hospital District and the correct tax account.

Miles property

Review City of Miles, Miles ISD, county and any applicable water or hospital district.

Olfen-area land

Use owner, property ID, abstract or legal description and verify Olfen ISD where applicable.

Border-area property

RCAD advises owners of property crossing Coke, Tom Green, Taylor or another county line to discuss exemption routing with staff.

Farm or ranch acreage

Review market value, productivity value, acreage, qualifying use and agricultural status separately.

Cotton, wheat or milo land

Prepare acreage, crop history, production, lease, expense and local-intensity evidence.

Oil or gas interest

Search the mineral account independently from the surface tract and verify the owner and tax year.

Inherited land

Search the deceased owner, estate, heirs, trust, probate records and recorded conveyances.

Value explanation

Separate market value, appraised value, taxable value and homestead savings

STEP 1 Market value

RCAD’s opinion of the property’s market value as of January 1.

STEP 2 Net appraised value

The value after an applicable homestead cap or non-homestead circuit breaker.

STEP 3 Taxable value

The value remaining after exemptions for each taxing unit.

“Homestead Savings” is not the homestead exemption. RCAD explains that homestead savings represents the difference created by the residence-homestead appraisal limitation. It can rise, fall or disappear while the actual exemption remains on the account.
Land acreage and land class
Road frontage, access and location
Building square footage and use
Year built, quality and condition
Added or removed improvements
Residence-homestead exemption
Homestead savings or circuit breaker
Agricultural productivity value
Do not calculate the final tax bill from market value alone. The amount due depends on net appraised value, exemptions, taxing-unit rates, tax ceilings, credits, payment timing and penalties.
2026 appraisal limitations

Distinguish the 10% homestead cap from the 20% circuit breaker

RESIDENCE HOMESTEAD 10% appraisal limitation

The residence-homestead limit generally restricts annual appraised-value growth to 10%, plus qualifying new improvements, after the limitation takes effect.

The owner must qualify for the homestead exemption.

OTHER QUALIFYING REAL PROPERTY 20% circuit breaker

The Texas Comptroller lists a 2026 value threshold of $5.32 million or less for qualifying non-homestead real property.

Agricultural, timber and certain other specially appraised property is excluded.

Local-page discrepancy: RCAD’s general circuit-breaker page still describes a $5 million amount, while the Texas Comptroller’s 2026 guidance lists the inflation-adjusted maximum as $5.32 million. Verify the limitation shown on the individual 2026 property account.
No circuit-breaker application

The appraisal district should apply the benefit automatically when the property qualifies.

Ownership requirement

The property generally must be owned for the required preceding calendar period before the limitation applies.

Sale can reset value

A transfer can remove the prior owner’s limitation until the new owner becomes eligible.

New improvements added

Qualifying new-improvement value is added outside the normal percentage limitation.

Temporary provision

The Comptroller states that the circuit breaker expires December 31, 2026.

Market value can still rise

The limitation affects appraised value, not the district’s market-value conclusion.

Correct-office routing

Use RCAD, the Tax Office or County Clerk for the correct question

Appraisal, tax collection and recorded-property documents are maintained separately
Your question Correct starting point What to prepare
What is the appraised value? Runnels Central Appraisal District Property ID, tax year and disputed value field.
Why is an exemption missing? Runnels Central Appraisal District Application proof, identification and qualification date.
Does agricultural appraisal apply? Runnels Central Appraisal District Acreage, use history, production, lease and map evidence.
Where do I pay property taxes? Runnels County Tax Assessor-Collector Tax account, owner, year, amount and payment method.
Did my payment post? Runnels County Tax Assessor-Collector Receipt, confirmation, amount, date and tax year.
Who legally owns the land? Runnels County Clerk or title professional Grantor, grantee, legal description and recording period.
Who owns the minerals? County Clerk records plus mineral-title professional Mineral deeds, probate, leases, division orders and legal description.
Is the parcel boundary accurate? Surveyor plus recorded deeds and plats Deed, prior survey, plat, easements and title file.
Who sets the tax rate? Each local taxing unit Property account and complete taxing-unit list.
Account corrections

Correct the record that controls the inaccurate information

Incorrect appraisal owner Confirm that the deed, probate or heirship instrument was recorded and send the reference to deeds@runnelscad.org.
Incorrect mailing address RCAD requires mailing-address changes in writing. Use the official Address Change Request or send a signed written request.
Incorrect owner-name format Use RCAD’s Request to Change or Standardize Owner Name when the deed is correct but the account wording needs revision.
Incorrect acreage or legal description Compare the deed, metes and bounds, plat and survey before requesting a mapping or appraisal change.
Incorrect building information Prepare measurements, photographs, permits, plans, demolition records or condition reports.
Separate or combined accounts RCAD publishes forms to split accounts, merge accounts and address undivided-interest taxation.
Incorrect mineral account Gather mineral deeds, probate records, operator details, division orders and the appraisal account number.
Incorrect tax payment Contact the Tax Office with the statement, account, year, receipt and transaction confirmation.
A correction request is not an automatic substitute for a missed protest. Statutory appraisal-roll correction motions apply only to specific errors and have their own requirements, deadlines and payment rules.
Homestead and exemption filing

Prepare the correct Runnels County exemption application

Residence homestead

Confirm ownership, principal-residence status, occupancy date and identification requirements.

Age 65 or older

Review the additional school exemption, local county amount, tax ceilings, instalments and deferral rules.

Disabled person

Prepare the Social Security award letter or other required qualification evidence and identification.

Disabled veteran

Use the appropriate veteran or surviving-spouse application and attach current eligibility documents.

Inherited homestead

An heir may need a deed, probate, affidavit of heirship, ownership percentage and occupancy information.

Other exemptions

RCAD publishes charitable, religious, cemetery, solar, wind, cotton-storage and other statutory forms.

RCAD’s current homestead information lists up to $140,000 for the school-district general residence-homestead exemption and up to an additional $60,000 for qualifying age-65 or disabled homeowners for school taxes. Local benefits vary by taxing unit and should be checked on the individual account.
Selected local exemption information published by RCAD for 2026
Benefit Published amount or effect What to verify
School general homestead Up to $140,000 Correct school district and current-year account.
School age-65 or disabled Up to an additional $60,000 Qualification date and school-tax ceiling.
Runnels County age-65 RCAD publishes a $5,000 local exemption County taxable value and ceiling status.
Homestead appraisal limit Generally 10%, plus new improvements Effective year and ownership or exemption change.
Disabled-veteran exemption Varies by disability rating and qualification VA documentation and each taxing-unit line.

Prepare these items before filing

RCAD property or account ID
Owner name exactly as carried by RCAD
Texas driver licence or accepted identification
Ownership and occupancy dates
Age, disability or veteran evidence
Deed, trust, probate or heirship records
Correct property and filing year
Submission receipt, email or postmark proof
Border-property warning: RCAD states that homestead treatment can require staff review when a property straddles Runnels County and Coke, Tom Green, Taylor or another county.
Agricultural special-use appraisal

Document qualifying Runnels County agricultural use before filing

Agricultural appraisal is not an exemption from tax. RCAD explains that qualifying land is valued according to productivity rather than ordinary market value.
Livestock use

Cattle, sheep, goats and other animals generally must support a qualifying food or resource-production purpose.

Crop production

Wheat, cotton, milo and other crops must meet the degree of intensity typical for the county.

Wildlife management

The land must have qualifying prior agricultural status and an established wildlife-management plan.

Beekeeping

RCAD states that qualifying beekeeping acreage must be at least 5 acres and not more than 20 acres.

Lease arrangements

Keep the written lease, lessee information, use dates, livestock or crop details and payment evidence.

Change of use

Ask about rollback-tax exposure before converting qualifying agricultural land to another primary use.

Prepare a complete agricultural file

Property IDs for every tract
Legal descriptions and parcel map
Acreage by land-use category
Three-to-five-year or required use history
Livestock, crop or production records
Leases and lessee statements
Receipts, expenses and sales records
Dated photographs and management records
RCAD publishes April 30 as the ordinary agricultural-application deadline. Late applications can incur a 10% penalty, and RCAD states that applications are not accepted after the appraisal roll is certified.
Read every RCAD letter about agricultural status. Failure to return an application, questionnaire or requested proof can cause the special-use appraisal to be removed and may create substantial tax consequences.
Business personal property

Prepare a complete Runnels County business-property rendition

RCAD requires businesses and other owners of income-producing tangible personal property to render equipment, furniture, fixtures, inventory and other taxable assets.
Business name, entity and DBA
Physical business location
Personal-property account number
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
Original cost and acquisition year
Inventory and raw materials
Disposed, sold or moved assets
Handwritten signature and filing proof
Normal deadline

RCAD publishes April 15 as the ordinary rendition deadline.

Extension

A written 30-day extension request must be submitted before the normal deadline.

Late penalty

Failure to file timely can produce a penalty equal to 10% of the taxes imposed on the property.

Business closes after January 1

The property can remain taxable for that year because January 1 is the ownership and appraisal date.

Business transfer

Send written documentation, a bill of sale or affidavit identifying the transfer date and new owner.

Penalty waiver request

A written waiver request may be filed within the period stated in the penalty notice and must include supporting evidence.

Do not assume an unprofitable or home-based business has no rendition duty. RCAD states that income-producing property must be reported regardless of the business’s profitability.
Oil, gas, mineral and industrial property

Separate mineral appraisal from surface-property and title research

RCAD contracts specialized oil, gas and mineral appraisal services to Wardlaw Appraisal Group. RCAD also states that it cannot provide preliminary mineral-account information under its legal guidance.
Search the mineral owner separately Use the individual, estate, trust, company or partnership shown on the notice, statement or division order.
Confirm the mineral account and tax year A surface tract and a mineral interest can have unrelated account numbers and owners.
Compare lease and operator information Match the legal description, operator, lease name, owner and tax year with your private records.
Contact Wardlaw for specialized appraisal questions RCAD lists Wardlaw Appraisal Group at 210-448-2000 and 16601 North Blanco Road, Suite 100, San Antonio, Texas 78232.
Use County Clerk records for title Search mineral deeds, royalty deeds, assignments, probate documents, leases and other recorded instruments.
Keep appraisal and title issues separate A mineral account can explain appraisal and tax treatment but cannot establish a complete mineral chain of title.
Surface estate

Land and improvements may be owned independently from the minerals.

Mineral estate

The mineral interest can have a separate owner, value, lease and property-tax account.

Royalty or working interest

Ownership decimal, production and expense evidence may require specialized review.

A mineral-tax account does not prove the royalty decimal or payment entitlement. Use recorded documents, operator records, division orders and qualified mineral-title assistance before making a legal conclusion.
2026 protest and correction status

Do not confuse an ordinary protest with a statutory appraisal-roll correction

Ordinary 2026 protest filing is closed. RCAD states that June 1, 2026 was its deadline and that no further ordinary submissions will be accepted. Staff also states that it cannot make a value-changing account adjustment for an owner who did not file a timely protest.
Timely protest already filed

Continue responding to hearing notices, evidence requests, informal-review communication and ARB deadlines.

No protest was filed

Do not submit an ordinary protest form and assume it preserves rights. Call RCAD to discuss the account and future-year preparation.

Clerical or ownership error

A written correction request may address a non-value clerical issue, but it does not reopen an ordinary value protest.

One-third over-appraisal motion

RCAD lists Form 50-230 for a qualifying statutory motion. Strict eligibility and tax-payment requirements apply.

Residence-homestead one-fourth motion

RCAD lists Form 50-869 for a qualifying residence-homestead over-appraisal claim.

General roll-correction motion

Form 50-771 may apply to certain errors defined by the Tax Code. It is not a general late-protest form.

Call script after missing the ordinary protest deadline
I did not file a timely 2026 ordinary protest for property ID [number]. I am not asking you to accept a standard late protest. The account appears to contain [specific clerical, ownership, exemption or statutory error]. Please tell me whether an administrative correction or a specific appraisal-roll motion may apply and what payment and evidence requirements must be met.
Prepare now for 2027. Save the current account, photograph property condition, retain repair estimates, organise comparable properties and confirm mailing or electronic-delivery information before next year’s notices.
Appraisal Review Board preparation

Prepare for a hearing when a timely 2026 protest is already pending

Runnels County ARB hearings are normally conducted during June and July. RCAD provides a formal-hearing procedure, affidavit forms and a public protest-hearing database.
Identify the account

State the property ID, owner, property type, legal description and tax year.

State the exact issue

Explain whether the dispute concerns value, unequal appraisal, property facts, exemption or special appraisal.

Give the requested result

State the requested value or correction before presenting supporting detail.

Label each exhibit

Number photographs, comparable properties, repair estimates, maps, leases and reports.

Address RCAD evidence

Identify the specific sale, adjustment, property characteristic or assumption you dispute.

Preserve the written order

Keep the ARB decision and immediately review any available appeal deadline.

The ARB is independent from RCAD’s appraisal staff. It hears timely appraisal disputes but does not set tax rates, collect payments, determine title or survey property boundaries.
Property-tax search and payment

Pay Runnels County property taxes through the county Tax Office

RCAD expressly states that tax collection information, including delinquencies, is not available from the appraisal district. The Runnels County Tax Assessor-Collector maintains tax information and payment services.
Save the correct RCAD property account Record the owner, property ID, legal description and tax year before moving to the tax system.
Open the official county Tax Office page Open Runnels County Tax Assessor-Collector
Click Taxpayer Information Site The county links its authorized Southwest Data tax-information service from the official page.
Search the exact property Use the property ID, owner, address or legal description supported by the tax portal.
Review every available tax year A current-year payment does not automatically clear an older delinquency or separate mineral or personal-property account.
Confirm the current amount Penalty, interest and collection costs can make an old statement or screenshot inaccurate.
Review the electronic-payment charge Confirm all credit-card, debit-card or e-check fees before submitting payment.
Save the receipt Keep the tax account, property ID, year, amount, fee, payment date and confirmation number.
Verify posting before paying again Contact the Tax Office when a recent payment has not appeared rather than immediately submitting a duplicate.
Ballinger Tax Office
201 S. Broadway Street
Ballinger, Texas 76821

Mailing: P.O. Box 517
Ballinger, Texas 76821

325-365-2339
Fax: 325-365-5884
susan.hallford@runnelscounty.org

Winters Tax Office
110 N. Main Street
Winters, Texas 79567

325-754-4941

County notice: closed Monday and Tuesday; open Wednesday through Friday.

Posted Tax Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-11:55 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.-4:45 p.m. The Winters office follows the county’s separate Wednesday-Friday schedule.
Do not send a property-tax payment to Runnels CAD. The CAD and Tax Office have separate mailing addresses and separate legal responsibilities.
Taxing-unit check

Read every local taxing unit attached to the property

A Runnels County account can include county, city, school, water, hospital and emergency-service entities. The actual combination depends on the parcel’s location.

Runnels County

The county taxing unit appears on property located within Runnels County.

School districts

Ballinger, Miles, Winters, Olfen, Bronte, Panther Creek, Novice or Jim Ned may apply by location.

Cities

City of Ballinger, City of Winters or City of Miles may appear on property inside municipal boundaries.

Hospital districts

North Runnels Hospital District or Ballinger Memorial Hospital District may apply.

Water districts

Lipan-Kickapoo Water District or Valley Creek WCID can apply to specific property.

Emergency services

Runnels County ESD No. 1 may appear on eligible accounts.

Do not compare tax bills using only market value. Two similarly valued properties can have different exemptions, school districts, hospital districts, city taxes or special-district charges.
Deeds, liens and official records

Use the Runnels County Clerk when legal ownership matters

The County Clerk’s official page links an online public-record portal with property-record indexes and images from 1997 to the present. Property records from 1991 through 1996 are available as an index without document images.
Open the official County Clerk page Open Runnels County Clerk
Click Official Public Records The county links its authorized online index and image service. Open Official Public Records
Search grantor and grantee variations Try current and former owners, spouses, estates, trusts, ranches, companies and spelling variations.
Select the correct date range Narrow the search around a purchase, inheritance, refinance, lien, release or mineral conveyance.
Compare the legal description Match the abstract, survey, subdivision, lot, block, tract and acreage with the RCAD account.
Save the recording reference Keep the document type, parties, recording date, instrument number, volume and page.
Order the correct copy Confirm whether the lender, title company, court or government office requires a plain or certified document.
Runnels County Clerk
613 Hutchings Avenue, Room 106
Ballinger, Texas 76821

325-365-2720
Fax: 325-365-3408

County Clerk: Jennifer Hoffpauir

Posted public hours

Monday-Friday: 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Closed noon-1:00 p.m. for lunch.

Call before mailing a recording or ordering a certified copy.

The owner shown by RCAD is not a complete title search. Recorded deeds, liens, probate orders, mineral conveyances and other instruments may affect ownership even when the appraisal account has not yet changed.
Buyer, owner and heir due diligence

Complete these checks before buying or inheriting Runnels County property

Confirm the surface parcel

Match the property ID, geographic ID, legal description, acreage and map location.

Search mineral records

Determine whether separate mineral or royalty accounts and recorded mineral conveyances exist.

Review tax balances

Check every available year and obtain a current delinquent payoff when appropriate.

Search deeds and liens

Review official public records and obtain title assistance for a complete ownership conclusion.

Recalculate exemptions

The seller’s homestead, senior exemption, tax ceiling and appraisal limit may not transfer.

Check the circuit breaker

A change of ownership can remove the prior owner’s non-homestead appraisal limitation.

Review agricultural status

Confirm whether special-use appraisal continues and whether a use change can create rollback taxes.

Verify improvements

Compare houses, barns, shops, manufactured homes, equipment and other structures.

Preserve closing records

Keep the deed, title policy, survey, closing statement, tax records and application receipts.

The seller’s current tax bill may not predict the buyer’s future tax. Ownership changes can affect homestead caps, exemptions, agricultural appraisal, circuit-breaker eligibility, tax ceilings and taxable value.
Electronic notices

Enroll carefully in RCAD electronic communication

RCAD’s electronic notification system can provide certain Notices of Appraised Value, hearing notices, ARB orders, dismissal letters, exemption or agricultural applications, rendition forms and other property-tax communications.
Open the official enrollment page Open RCAD Electronic Notice Enrollment
Enter the property and contact information carefully Use an email address that is checked frequently throughout appraisal season.
Understand the legal effect Failure to notice an email generally does not invalidate an appraisal, tax lien, deadline or collection action.
Save the enrollment confirmation Keep a PDF or screenshot showing the property, email address and date submitted.
Watch spam and filtered folders Search for RCAD messages regularly during notice and hearing season.
Rescind the election in writing The agreement remains effective until rescinded in writing or until ownership changes.

Electronic delivery does not replace personal deadline tracking. Record expected appraisal, protest, rendition and application dates independently.
Public information requests

Request RCAD records that are not already available online

Search existing public resources first Check the property database, parcel map, forms, reports, meeting records and protest-hearing database.
Describe the requested record precisely Include the property ID, owner, legal description, year, record type and requested data fields.
Use RCAD’s official request route Requests may be submitted through the online tool, mail, fax or in person. Open RCAD Open Records Request
Request electronic delivery when practical A focused electronic request can reduce copying and staff-research costs.
Respond to a written cost estimate RCAD states that failure to respond within the stated period can cause the request to be treated as withdrawn.
Use the correct custodian Send deed and recorded-document requests to the County Clerk and tax-payment records to the Tax Office.

RCAD may require a deposit or prepayment for a qualifying large request. Narrowing a request to specific properties, years and data fields can make it faster and less expensive.
Annual property-tax calendar

Important Runnels County appraisal and tax dates

Appraisal and ownership date Property ownership, condition, use and market value are generally considered as of January 1.
Application preparation Assemble homestead, agricultural, veteran, business and address-change documents early.
Normal business rendition deadline RCAD requires business-personal-property renditions by April 15 unless a timely extension applies.
Normal exemption and agricultural date RCAD publishes April 30 for homestead and 1-d-1 agricultural applications, subject to specific late-filing provisions.
Notices of Appraised Value Read the value, exemptions, account details and property-specific protest deadline immediately.

RCAD’s published 2026 protest deadline The ordinary 2026 deadline has passed and the district states that no further ordinary submissions are accepted.

ARB hearings and roll equalization Timely protests proceed through informal review and formal ARB hearings.

Truth-in-Taxation period Local taxing units publish proposed rates, hearing information and adopted tax rates.

Tax statements Review the account, taxing units, exemptions, amount due and payment instructions.

Normal tax-payment deadline Most current-year property taxes are payable without delinquency through January 31, subject to weekend, holiday and special-payment rules.

The date printed on the individual notice, application, hearing letter or tax statement controls. General dates do not replace a property-specific deadline.
USPS postmark warning: RCAD has warned that new Postal Service processing can delay the date placed on ordinary mail. Request a hand-applied postmark at a retail counter for a deadline-sensitive filing or use an accepted electronic or in-person method.
Verified local contacts

Runnels CAD, Tax Office and County Clerk contact details

Runnels Central Appraisal District
505 Hutchings Avenue
Ballinger, Texas 76821-5819

Mailing:
P.O. Box 524
Ballinger, Texas 76821-0524

Phone, SMS and fax:
325-365-3583
support@runnelscad.org

Chief Appraiser: Stoney Hariman

Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., closed noon-1:00; Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., open during lunch.

Runnels County Tax Assessor-Collector
201 S. Broadway Street
Ballinger, Texas 76821

Mailing:
P.O. Box 517
Ballinger, Texas 76821

325-365-2339
Fax: 325-365-5884
susan.hallford@runnelscounty.org

Tax Assessor-Collector: Susan Hallford

Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-11:55 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.-4:45 p.m.

Runnels County Clerk
613 Hutchings Avenue, Room 106
Ballinger, Texas 76821

325-365-2720
Fax: 325-365-3408

County Clerk: Jennifer Hoffpauir

Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; closed noon-1:00.

Specialized RCAD emails

Homestead: homesteads@runnelscad.org
Agriculture: agriculture@runnelscad.org
Business property: personalproperty@runnelscad.org
Deeds and address: deeds@runnelscad.org
Maps and GIS: maps@runnelscad.org

Ballinger street-name tip: RCAD uses “Hutchings Avenue” for its current office address, while some local county references use “Hutchins” for the courthouse address. Use the full office name and street number when navigating.
Official resource directory

Official Runnels County property, appraisal, tax and deed links

Runnels CAD homepage

Current appraisal notices, forms, reports, contacts, meetings and educational resources.

Open Runnels Central Appraisal District
Property-search gateway

Read the district disclaimer and continue to its authorized third-party search.

Start RCAD property search
Parcel map

Search by address, place, parcel/property ID or abstract number.

Open interactive map
Forms library

Download exemptions, renditions, protests, corrections, agricultural and special-appraisal forms.

Open RCAD forms
Agricultural guidance

Review qualifying uses, beekeeping acreage, deadlines, intensity standards and application help.

Open agriculture resources
Business-property guidance

Review rendition deadlines, depreciation, penalties, closures and transfers.

Open business-property resources
Protest-hearing records

Review hearing information compiled under Texas Tax Code Section 41.13.

Open protest-hearing database
Tax Office

Search tax information, make payments and request receipts or current balances.

Open Runnels County Tax Office
County Clerk records

Research deeds, liens, mineral conveyances and other recorded documents.

Open Runnels County Clerk
Editorial accountability

How this Runnels County guide was rebuilt

Mahesh Kumar, editor of AppraisalDistrict.org

Independent research with current local corrections and official action paths

The replacement article corrects outdated office information and adds the missing steps for the vendor property search, ArcGIS parcel queries, undivided-interest accounts, homestead savings, the inflation-adjusted 2026 circuit-breaker threshold, the closed 2026 protest period, statutory correction motions, electronic notices, Tax Office payment routing, County Clerk record coverage and Wardlaw mineral-appraisal contact.

The review used Runnels Central Appraisal District, RCAD Property Search, the online map, Forms, Homesteads, Agriculture, Business Personal Property, Circuit Breaker, Open Records, Electronic Notification and Protest Hearing resources; the Texas Comptroller county directory and 2026 circuit-breaker guidance; and the Runnels County Tax Assessor-Collector and County Clerk.

The author photograph was retained from the existing article. AppraisalDistrict.org is an independent informational website and is not operated by Runnels Central Appraisal District or Runnels County.

Runnels County answers

10 common Runnels County Appraisal District questions

1. What is the official Runnels County Appraisal District website?

The official website is RunnelsCAD.org. Use it for appraisal records, property-search access, maps, forms, exemptions, agricultural valuation, protests and district contacts.

2. How do I search Runnels County property records?

Open the official RCAD Property page, read the disclaimer and click Continue. Search by owner, address, property ID, geographic ID or an available legal-description field.

3. Does Runnels CAD collect property taxes?

No. RCAD handles appraisal records, values, exemptions, maps and appraisal protests. The Runnels County Tax Assessor-Collector handles tax bills, payments, receipts, penalties and balances.

4. Where can I pay Runnels County property taxes?

Begin from the official Tax Assessor-Collector page and click its Taxpayer Information Site. The Ballinger office is at 201 S. Broadway Street.

5. What was the 2026 Runnels County protest deadline?

RCAD published June 1, 2026 as the ordinary filing deadline. The district now states that the deadline has passed and no further ordinary protest submissions are accepted.

6. What is the 2026 circuit-breaker threshold?

The Texas Comptroller lists $5.32 million or less for qualifying non-homestead real property in 2026. Agricultural, timber and certain other specially appraised land is excluded.

7. Where can I find homestead and agricultural forms?

Use the official RCAD Forms page for residence homestead, veteran, agricultural, wildlife, rendition, address, protest and correction forms.

8. Who handles oil, gas and mineral appraisal questions?

RCAD contracts specialized mineral appraisal work to Wardlaw Appraisal Group. The district lists Wardlaw’s phone number as 210-448-2000.

9. Where can I search Runnels County deeds and liens?

Use the Runnels County Clerk and its Official Public Records portal. Property-record indexes and images cover 1997 to the present, with index-only records from 1991 through 1996.

10. What is the Runnels CAD phone number and address?

Runnels Central Appraisal District is at 505 Hutchings Avenue, Ballinger, Texas 76821. Call or text 325-365-3583. Mail correspondence to P.O. Box 524, Ballinger, Texas 76821.

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