Cherokee County Appraisal District See CAD and Tax 2026

by
Cherokee County, Texas · Homes, timber, rural land, minerals, exemptions, protests, taxes and deeds

Follow a Cherokee County Parcel From the Piney Woods Appraisal Map to the Correct Tax Collector

Start with Cherokee Central Appraisal District when you need a property ID, owner lookup, land or improvement value, exemption, timber or agricultural appraisal, business account, mineral record, map or appraisal protest.

Cherokee County has two official local payment systems plus cross-county school and city jurisdictions. Confirm the exact taxing unit and collector on the current statement before paying.

Search official Cherokee CAD records Find the correct tax collector Check timber or rural land
Property ID Owner or business name Street or FM road Geographic ID Abstract or subdivision Tax year
PINEY WOODS PARCEL COMPASS VERIFYING ACCOUNT
SEARCH → MATCH → ROUTE → SAVE
Do not pay through the first Cherokee County tax page you find. Cherokee CAD operates one official payment portal, while the Cherokee County Tax Assessor-Collector operates another. Bullard, Troup and Carlisle-area accounts may also involve Smith County or Rusk County collection. The collector shown on the current tax statement controls.
Official district

Cherokee Central Appraisal District, commonly called Cherokee CAD.

Chief appraiser

Jan Lowry, R.P.A., R.T.A.

CAD office

107 E. Sixth Street, Rusk, Texas 75785.

Office hours

Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:30 PM.

2026 search status

The public search displayed preliminary-value language during the July 31, 2026 review.

Start with your task

What do you need from the Cherokee County property record?

FIND A PROPERTY Search the official appraisal account

Use property ID, owner, address, geographic ID, abstract or subdivision.

Follow the search workflow
TIMBER OR RURAL LAND Verify the land category

Compare acreage, market value, productivity value, timber use, map location and legal description.

Use the timber and land workflow
CHECK VALUE Separate every value field

Review land, improvements, market value, appraised value and each jurisdiction’s taxable value.

Understand appraisal values
PROTEST OR CORRECT Use the new taxpayer portal

Register with the Owner ID and eFile PIN from the appraisal notice when online filing is available.

Prepare the protest file
PAY TAXES Match the unit to its collector

County, city, school and cross-county accounts may use different official payment routes.

Find the collector
CHECK DEED OR LIEN Use County Clerk records

Prepare names, document type, date range and legal description before requesting the instrument.

Review deed-record steps

Go directly to the Cherokee County property task

Begin with the official appraisal record. Continue to the tax or deed system only after confirming the property ID, tax year and taxing unit.

Official-route finder

Choose the correct Cherokee County office before leaving this page

Select the task. This helper does not store or transmit property information; it only displays the appropriate official route.

Recommended starting point Open Cherokee CAD Property Search and begin with the property ID when available.
Existing article image preserved

Use the Cherokee CAD screenshot to recognise each search tab

Cherokee CAD property-search screen showing By Owner, By Address, By ID, ARB Search and Advanced Search
1. By Owner Use a shortened owner name and try the last name first.
2. By Address Start with the street number and street name. Remove extra wording when no result appears.
3. By ID Use the property ID from the appraisal notice or prior record for the most direct match.
4. ARB Search Use available protest-status, informal-date, hearing-date and board fields.
5. Advanced Search abstracts, subdivisions, geographic IDs, neighborhoods and business-account fields.
Live-data warning The screenshot is only a visual guide. Verify current values, exemptions and protest status in the live portal.
Search-field guidance

Choose the Cherokee CAD field that matches the property

Start with one strong field and add filters only when needed
Search field Best use What to verify
Property ID A known account from an appraisal notice or prior record. Tax year, owner, property type and legal description.
Owner name Individuals, spouses, estates, trusts, companies and timber owners. Try prior owners and reasonable name variations.
Street address Rusk, Jacksonville, Alto, Wells and other addressed properties. A rural tract may not use a normal situs address.
Geographic ID Parcel, map, survey and rural-land research. It is an appraisal identifier, not a surveyed boundary.
Abstract Timber tracts, acreage and land without a street address. Match survey, tract, acreage and map location.
Subdivision Platted lots and properties within a named addition. Compare lot, block, phase and recorded plat.
Doing Business As Business personal property indexed under a trade name. Compare the legal company name, DBA and physical situs.
Mobile-home park A manufactured home that may be separate from the land. Search the land and home accounts independently.
ARB fields Tracking protest status and hearing information. The written hearing notice controls.
Tax year Comparing prior values, ownership, exemptions and protest history. Do not substitute a prior year for the current notice.
Property-record decoder

Understand what each Cherokee CAD field proves

Use the appraisal record as a route to the controlling document
Field What it identifies What it does not prove Best next action
Property ID The appraisal account maintained by Cherokee CAD. That every tax collector uses the same number. Use it when contacting CAD and matching tax statements.
Owner shown The owner carried for appraisal administration. Complete title, heirship, liens or mineral ownership. Review recorded instruments when legal ownership matters.
Situs address The physical location carried by CAD. The mailing address, city limits or complete legal description. Compare the map and taxing-unit list.
Legal description An abbreviated lot, block, subdivision, abstract or tract reference. A complete description suitable for conveyance. Obtain the recorded deed, plat or survey.
Acreage The acreage used for appraisal administration. Surveyed or legally guaranteed acreage. Verify through deed, plat and licensed survey.
Market value CAD’s opinion of market value as of January 1. A guaranteed sale price or final tax bill. Review sales, condition and equal-appraisal evidence.
Productivity value Special appraisal for qualifying agricultural or timber land. Continued qualification after a use change. Review use history and rollback exposure.
Exemptions Approved homestead, age, disability, veteran or other exemption codes. That every taxing unit grants the same exemption. Review taxable value by jurisdiction.
Taxable value Value remaining after exemptions for one taxing unit. The live balance, penalty, payment or receipt. Open the collector’s current tax account.
Taxing units County, school, city and other entities tied to the property. That one office collects every line. Match every unit to the current statement and collector.
Parcel and location research

Use the Cherokee CAD interactive map instead of outdated block maps

Cherokee CAD’s county block-map page states that block maps are no longer supported. Use the live interactive map for current appraisal-map research.
Open the official interactive map Open Cherokee CAD Interactive Map
Locate the account with a strong identifier Use the property ID, geographic ID, owner, address, abstract, subdivision or legal description.
Compare nearby parcels Review approximate parcel shape, road frontage, neighboring tracts, water features and visible improvements.
Return to the appraisal page Confirm that the map and property record use the same ID and legal reference.
Separate surface and mineral research The parcel map does not establish every mineral, royalty or leasehold interest.
Use legal evidence for legal decisions Obtain the deed, plat, title evidence and professional survey before fencing, conveying or resolving a boundary.
The official search warns that legal descriptions and acreage are for appraisal-district use. Verify them before using the information in a deed, survey instruction or legal document.
Timber and rural land

Review Cherokee County timber appraisal separately from ordinary agricultural value

Timberland has its own productivity-appraisal method. In 2026, the statewide capitalization rate is 7.77 percent for timberland, compared with 10 percent for agricultural or open-space land.
Market value

Shows the land’s market value without the timber productivity reduction.

Timber productivity value

Reflects qualifying timber production rather than ordinary market or development value.

Restricted-use timber

Special rules may apply when land is placed under an approved aesthetic-management, critical-wildlife or streamside-management plan.

Prepare these timber-management records

Timber-management plan
Stand type and acreage
Planting or regeneration history
Harvest and thinning records
Forester reports or contracts
Road, access and boundary maps
Receipts and dated photographs
Prior productivity-appraisal history
Do not compare a timber tract only by price per acre. Consider timber age, species, site quality, access, frontage, utilities, easements, topography, water, improvements, restrictions and sale timing.
Open timber and special-appraisal forms Review timber resources and reports
Mineral and royalty interests

Search a Cherokee County mineral account separately from the surface tract

Use the relevant property-type filter Do not search only ordinary real property when the question concerns a mineral or royalty account.
Search owner-name variations Try individuals, estates, trusts, operators, partnerships and abbreviated company names.
Use property ID, owner ID or geographic ID These identifiers may locate the account when no useful street address exists.
Compare the abstract and legal description Confirm the appraisal location before connecting the account to a surface parcel.
Check the tax year Ownership and value can change between appraisal years.
Save the complete account Record the property ID, owner, legal reference, value, mailing address and year.
Use recorded instruments for title Review mineral deeds, reservations, assignments, leases, probate records and related instruments through the County Clerk.
The appraisal owner line is not complete mineral-title proof. Severances, reservations, assignments, probate and fractional interests can require a landman, title company or attorney.
Value explanation

Separate market value, appraised value and taxable value

STEP 1 Market value

Cherokee CAD’s opinion of the property’s market value on January 1.

STEP 2 Appraised value

The value after an applicable residence-homestead or non-homestead limitation.

STEP 3 Taxable value

The value after exemptions for each county, school, city or other taxing unit.

Homestead limitation

The annual appraised-value increase is generally limited to 10 percent plus qualifying new improvements after the cap begins.

2026 circuit breaker

Qualifying non-homestead real property valued at $5.32 million or less may receive the temporary 20 percent limitation.

Agricultural rate

The 2026 statewide capitalization rate for qualifying agricultural or open-space land is 10 percent.

Timber rate

The 2026 statewide capitalization rate for qualifying timberland is 7.77 percent.

The non-homestead circuit breaker expires December 31, 2026 under current law. Agricultural, timber and certain other specially appraised properties are excluded from that limitation.
Do not estimate the final bill from market value alone. The bill depends on each unit’s taxable value, exemptions, adopted rate, collector, penalties and payment history.
Appraisal-notice review

Read the Notice of Appraised Value before deciding what to protest

Property identity

Confirm the property ID, owner, mailing address, situs, property type and legal description.

Land and improvements

Separate the land, house, commercial building, barn, shop and other improvements.

Rural-land details

Review acreage, abstract, land category, access and map location.

Prior-year change

Identify whether the increase came from land, improvements, new construction, classification or cap calculation.

Exemptions and special appraisal

Check homestead, age, disability, veteran, agricultural and timber status.

Deadline and credentials

Record the protest deadline, Owner ID and eFile PIN shown on the notice.

Save four items together: the appraisal notice, current property page, portal confirmation and evidence list.
Search troubleshooting

Fix common Cherokee CAD search problems before calling

Change one search element at a time
Problem Likely reason Practical fix
Owner search returns nothing The record may use another name order, spouse, trust, estate or business. Search only the first or last name.
Too many owner results appear The owner may have several real, mineral or business accounts. Add the property type, street, abstract or geographic ID.
Complete address fails The situs may use another suffix, direction or rural-road format. Search only the street name.
Timber tract has no address The property may be indexed by abstract, geographic ID or legal description. Use Advanced Search and the interactive map.
Manufactured home is missing The home may be separate from the underlying land. Search mobile-home and real-property account types.
Business account is missing The account may use a DBA or legal company name. Search business-name variations and personal-property records.
New buyer is not shown The deed may still be processing into CAD records. Confirm the recorded instrument and ask CAD what ownership proof it needs.
Tax amount differs between portals The portals may cover different jurisdictions. Match every taxing unit and collector on the current statement.
Old block-map link does not help Cherokee CAD states county block maps are no longer supported. Use the live interactive map.
Prepared Cherokee CAD call script
I am researching property ID [number] / geographic ID [number] for [owner, address, abstract or legal description], tax year [year]. The account currently shows [specific value, exemption, ownership or land detail]. I need help with [exact question]. Which form, department or document should I use?
Cherokee County scenarios

Use a different workflow for Rusk, Jacksonville, timber land and cross-county districts

Rusk residence

Confirm Rusk ISD, City of Rusk, county and lateral-road taxable values and collectors.

Jacksonville property

Review Jacksonville ISD, City of Jacksonville, county and any other account lines separately.

Alto or Wells property

Confirm city limits rather than relying only on the postal address.

New Summerfield property

Verify the exact school, city and collector because published routing lists are not always complete.

Bullard-area property

City and school tax questions may route through the Smith County Tax Office.

Troup-area property

A Cherokee County parcel can involve Troup ISD or City of Troup and a Smith County collection route.

Carlisle ISD property

The Cherokee CAD Truth-in-Taxation page directs Carlisle ISD tax questions to the Rusk County Tax Office.

Timber or farm tract

Use the abstract, geographic ID, productivity value, management records and interactive map.

Lake or vacant land

Review frontage, access, utilities, flood context, restrictions, topography and recorded easements.

Office routing

Send each Cherokee County property question to the correct record holder

Appraisal, tax collection and legal recording are separate functions
Your question Correct starting point What to prepare
What is the appraised value? Cherokee Central Appraisal District Property ID, year and disputed value component.
Why is an exemption missing? Cherokee CAD Application, eligibility proof and filing confirmation.
Why is timber or agricultural appraisal missing? Cherokee CAD Use history, acreage, management plans, leases and photographs.
How do I protest value? Cherokee CAD Taxpayer Portal and ARB Notice, deadline, requested result and evidence.
How much county tax is due? Cherokee County Tax Assessor-Collector County account, owner, property and tax year.
How much city or school tax is due? Collector shown on the statement Exact taxing-unit name, account and year.
Did a payment post? The collector that received the payment Receipt, amount, date, account and confirmation.
Who legally owns the property? Cherokee County Clerk or title professional Grantor, grantee, recording date and legal description.
Is the boundary correct? Licensed surveyor, title company or attorney Deed, plat, survey and title evidence.
Who assigns a rural 911 address? East Texas Council of Governments public-safety services Parcel location, access road and ownership information.
Record corrections

Correct the Cherokee County system that owns the inaccurate information

Incorrect owner in CAD records Confirm the recorded deed or probate instrument and ask Cherokee CAD what ownership proof it requires.
Incorrect mailing address Update the CAD record and separately verify the address used by every applicable collector.
Incorrect building characteristic Prepare measurements, photographs, plans, permits, repair records or an appraisal.
Incorrect acreage or legal description Compare the deed, plat and survey. A CAD-map correction cannot settle a legal boundary dispute.
Incorrect timber or land category Prepare management records, use history, acreage information and dated photographs.
Incorrect tax payment Contact the collector that received the money with the account, year, amount and confirmation.
Homestead and other exemptions

Verify every Cherokee County exemption before estimating taxes

Residence homestead

Confirm ownership, principal-residence use and the correct appraisal account.

Age 65 or older

Review the additional school exemption, school-tax ceiling and possible installment or deferral options.

Disabled person

Prepare qualifying Social Security disability documentation when requested.

Disabled veteran

Use the form matching the veteran’s disability rating or total-exemption category.

Inherited residence

Prepare available death, probate, heirship, utility and ownership documents.

Local-option exemptions

City, county and school exemption treatment can differ, so read every taxable-value line.

Prepare these items before filing

Property ID and owner ID
Owner name exactly as displayed
Property and mailing addresses
Texas driver licence or identification
Occupancy or qualification date
Age, disability or VA documentation
Deed, probate or heirship evidence
Submission or mailing confirmation
Texas school districts currently provide a $140,000 general residence-homestead exemption. Qualifying owners who are age 65 or older or disabled receive an additional $60,000 school-district exemption.
Late filing can still be available. A residence-homestead application may generally be filed up to two years after the taxes become delinquent. Other exemptions have different late-filing periods.
Open Cherokee CAD forms Open taxpayer portal Contact Cherokee CAD
Agricultural and open-space land

Review agricultural productivity value separately from timber value

Agricultural and timber appraisal are special valuation systems. Qualifying land is valued according to productive capacity, but the property owner must satisfy use-history, intensity and application requirements.
Agricultural cap rate

The 2026 statewide rate for qualifying agricultural or open-space land is 10 percent.

Timber cap rate

The 2026 statewide rate for qualifying timberland is 7.77 percent.

Rollback exposure

A change to nonqualifying use can create additional taxes and interest for prior years.

Agricultural or timber-use history
Lease or operator agreement
Livestock, crop or timber records
Acreage and parcel map
Fences, water and improvements
Receipts and dated photographs
Wildlife or timber-management plan
Prior special-appraisal history
Buying land with a productivity value does not guarantee continued qualification. Verify the existing use, management history, future plan and rollback exposure before closing.
Open agricultural, timber and wildlife forms Review productive-valuation guides
Business personal property

Prepare a Cherokee County business rendition with current 2026 records

Who generally files

A business owning tangible personal property used to produce income generally files an annual rendition.

What may be reported

Inventory, machinery, equipment, furniture, fixtures, tools and income-producing vehicles.

Normal deadline

Most renditions are due April 15, subject to available extension procedures.

Legal business name and DBA
Physical Cherokee County location
Property ID or owner ID
Asset descriptions and acquisition years
Original-cost information
Inventory records when applicable
Moved or disposed asset evidence
Extension confirmation
For 2026, income-producing tangible personal property with a total taxable value of $125,000 or less in one taxing unit is exempt in that unit under current Texas law.
Cherokee CAD publishes a 2026 business-personal-property depreciation and trend-factor schedule. Use the current schedule rather than copying a prior-year table.
Open rendition forms Open 2026 BPP information
Appraisal protest workflow

Build a Cherokee CAD protest around one clear appraisal issue

2026 deadline context: most protests were due by May 15 or the 30th day after delivery of the Notice of Appraised Value, whichever was later. The date printed on the notice controlled.
Save the complete property account Keep the property ID, owner, property type, legal description, land, improvements, values, exemptions and tax year.
Choose the exact protest ground Common issues include market value, unequal appraisal, incorrect property facts, exemption denial or special-appraisal denial.
Open the taxpayer portal Cherokee CAD’s former eProtest page now directs property owners to the new portal. Open Cherokee CAD Taxpayer Portal
Register with notice credentials Use the Owner ID and eFile PIN printed on the appraisal notice.
Preserve filing proof Save the timestamp, confirmation, protest grounds and uploaded evidence.
Request and review CAD evidence Compare the district’s sales, property characteristics, schedules and land categories with your records.
Use evidence matching the property Use home sales for a residence, timber records for timberland, asset records for business property and legal documents for ownership corrections.
Attempt an informal resolution Present a short organised summary and evaluate any proposed change before the formal hearing.
Prepare a focused ARB presentation State the requested value or correction first and show the strongest evidence.
Keep the written ARB order The order applies to the protested year and begins the timeline for any further appeal.

Evidence packet checklist

Notice of Appraised Value
Saved Cherokee CAD account
Requested-result summary
Comparable-sales table
Equal-appraisal comparison
Dated property photographs
Repair estimates or professional reports
Timber, agricultural or business records
“My taxes are high” does not identify an appraisal issue. Focus on market value, equal appraisal, property facts, exemption eligibility or classification.
Appraisal Review Board

Prepare for the Cherokee County ARB hearing

The ARB is separate from Cherokee CAD’s appraisal staff. It decides disputes properly submitted through protests, taxing-unit challenges and correction motions.
Read the hearing notice

Confirm the date, time, location, participation method and evidence-delivery instructions.

Review the CAD evidence

Mark inaccurate facts, unsuitable comparisons and unsupported adjustments.

State a precise result

Ask for a specific value, exemption, land category or record correction.

Practical hearing preparation
Before the hearing What to do Why it matters
Confirm the format Check whether the hearing is in person, by telephone, video or affidavit. Check-in and evidence instructions can differ.
Organise exhibits Number photographs, sales, maps, estimates and supporting records. The board can follow a clearly labelled packet more easily.
Address the correct year Use evidence tied to the January 1 appraisal date and protested tax year. Later events may have limited relevance.
Practise a short statement Explain the account, error, strongest evidence and requested result. Hearing time is limited.
Save the ARB order Keep the written decision and record the date received. Further appeal deadlines may run from the order.
Review ARB information Open hearing guides and taxpayer remedies
New taxpayer portal

Register for Cherokee CAD online services with the correct credentials

The portal registration page requires an Owner ID and eFile PIN from the appraisal notice. Owners who do not have a current PIN can use the portal’s PIN-request form with the property ID, owner ID and email address.
Open the Taxpayer Portal Open Cherokee CAD Taxpayer Portal
Choose registration Use the taxpayer option rather than the separate appraisal-agent portal.
Enter the Owner ID and eFile PIN Copy the credentials exactly from the Notice of Appraised Value.
Complete your contact information Provide the requested name, phone number and email address.
Create a secure password The portal requires at least eight characters plus upper- and lowercase letters, a number and a special character.
Wait for registration approval when required The portal states that login may become available after CAD approval.
Save every confirmation Keep account-registration, electronic-communication and appeal-filing confirmations.
Portal registration is not the same as filing a protest. After registering, open the correct property and complete the appeal submission before the deadline.
Multiple collection routes

Match each Cherokee County taxing unit to the current collector

Cherokee CAD’s Truth-in-Taxation page publishes different contacts for county, local school and city, Smith County-area and Rusk County-area accounts. Cherokee CAD also operates an official payment portal listing many county, city and school entities.
Published routing should be checked against the current tax statement
Taxing unit or account type Published starting point What to verify
Cherokee County and lateral road Cherokee County Tax Assessor-Collector Use the county tax account, year and discount instructions.
Alto ISD, Jacksonville ISD, Rusk ISD and Wells ISD Cherokee Central Appraisal District payment route Match the school account and collector on the statement.
Cities of Alto, Jacksonville, Rusk and Wells Cherokee Central Appraisal District payment route Confirm the property is actually inside city limits.
Bullard ISD, City of Bullard and City of Troup Smith County Tax Office is identified on Cherokee CAD’s Truth-in-Taxation page Use the current statement because collector arrangements can change.
Carlisle ISD Rusk County Tax Office is identified on Cherokee CAD’s Truth-in-Taxation page Do not confuse Rusk County with the City of Rusk or Rusk ISD.
New Summerfield ISD, Troup ISD, City of New Summerfield or another line Collector printed on the current statement Published routing pages are not always complete or updated simultaneously.
Official pages contain overlapping collection information. Cherokee CAD’s 2025 rate sheet states that it collects the entities listed on that sheet, while the Truth-in-Taxation page routes county and certain cross-county accounts elsewhere. Use the current statement and live payment account as the source of truth.
Tax search, payment and receipt verification

Use the correct Cherokee County tax portal and preserve the discount

Route 1: Cherokee County and lateral-road accounts

Open the official county tax website Open Cherokee County Tax Office
Open Search and Pay Property Tax Search County Tax Accounts
Choose the strongest search field Search by account number, owner name, owner mailing address or property location.
Use the required account format The county portal states that account-number searches require the dashes shown on the tax statement.
Simplify the property-location search Enter the street number and street name without a street type or direction.
Review paid and unpaid accounts Use the account-type, inactive-account and paid-status filters when researching older records.
Protect the early-payment discount Pay the account in full with one form of payment during October, November or December if claiming the published discount.
Save and verify the receipt Keep the account, tax year, amount, payment method and confirmation number.
Partial-payment warning: the County Tax Office states that partial payments are accepted, but a partial payment during October, November or December voids the discount and makes the base amount due.

Route 2: Accounts billed through Cherokee CAD

Open the Cherokee CAD payment portal Open Cherokee CAD Search and Pay
Search the property Match the owner, property ID, legal description and tax year.
Confirm the billed taxing units Verify that the school, city or other intended account appears in the payment portal.
Review the payment method and fee Cherokee CAD accepts check, credit card, debit card and money order and requests exact penny change for cash transactions. Confirm electronic fees at checkout.
Save a separate receipt A Cherokee CAD receipt may not cover county or cross-county statements.
2026 tax-year timing: January 31, 2027 falls on a Sunday. Under the usual next-business-day rule, a normal timely-payment date generally moves to Monday, February 1, 2027. Each statement controls.
Payment follow-up script
I paid tax account [number] for tax year [year] on [date]. The amount was [amount], and the confirmation number was [number]. Please confirm which taxing units were included and whether the payment posted to the correct account and year.
Search county tax accounts Search Cherokee CAD-billed accounts Open Truth in Taxation
Recorded property documents

Use the Cherokee County Clerk for deeds, liens, releases and certified records

The County Clerk maintains official county records. The county’s public page does not provide a clearly labelled direct land-record search portal, so confirm the current search and copy process with the Clerk before relying on a commercial database.
Open the official County Clerk page Open Cherokee County Clerk
Prepare grantor and grantee names Include current and prior owners, spouses, estates, trusts, partnerships and companies.
Identify the document type Ask for deeds, deeds of trust, liens, releases, easements, plats, mineral deeds, leases or assignments.
Prepare a recording-date range Use the approximate purchase, refinance, probate, lien, release or mineral-transfer date.
Compare the instrument with the CAD account Match the parties, legal description, abstract, lot, block, acreage and recording information.
Ask about online availability Confirm whether the needed index and document image are available remotely or require an office search.
Request a certified copy when required An unofficial printout may not satisfy a lender, court, title company or government office.
Use a title professional for conclusions Clerk staff preserve records but do not replace a title examination or legal opinion.
Cherokee County Clerk

Laverne Lusk

Mailing: P.O. Box 420
Rusk, Texas 75785

Phone: (903) 683-2350
Fax: (903) 683-2457

Before visiting

Call to confirm the physical counter location, hours, online-search availability, copy cost and certification fee.

Bring the parties’ names, document type, approximate date and legal description.

Rural 911 addressing

Use ETCOG—not Cherokee CAD—for a new rural emergency address

Cherokee CAD states that 911 addressing has moved to the East Texas Council of Governments.
Open ETCOG Public Safety Services Open ETCOG Public Safety Services
Prepare the parcel location Have the property ID, legal description, access road, map coordinates or nearby address available.
Separate an emergency address from a deed address A 911 address helps emergency response but does not alter legal title or the recorded legal description.
Update related records afterward Once assigned, verify the new address with Cherokee CAD, utilities, postal service and other applicable offices.
Buyer, heir and landowner checks

Complete these checks before relying on Cherokee County property data

Confirm the surface parcel

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

Search mineral interests

Do not assume the surface owner also owns every mineral or royalty interest.

Review the deed and liens

Obtain recorded instruments and a title examination when ownership risk matters.

Check all collectors

Obtain county, CAD-billed and cross-county statements when applicable.

Recalculate exemptions

The seller’s homestead exemption, cap or tax ceiling may not transfer.

Review timber or agricultural status

Confirm qualifying history, management requirements and rollback exposure.

Check access and utilities

Review recorded easements, road access, water, electricity and 911 addressing.

Verify improvements

Compare the CAD record with houses, barns, shops, mobile homes and other structures.

Save the closing file

Keep the deed, title policy, survey, closing statement, tax receipts and exemption confirmation.

The seller’s tax bill may not predict the buyer’s future bill. Ownership, exemptions, appraisal caps, timber use, agricultural qualification and collector assignments can change after closing.
2026 property-tax calendar

Important Cherokee County appraisal and tax dates

Property status and valuation date Most ownership, use, condition, exemption and market-value questions begin with the property’s status on January 1.
Most business personal property renditions Most renditions are due April 15, subject to available extension procedures.
Many exemption and special-appraisal applications Many homestead, agricultural, timber and wildlife applications are due before May 1, subject to late-filing rules.
Normal appraisal protest deadline Most protests are due May 15 or the 30th day after delivery of the appraisal notice, whichever is later.
Typical ARB hearing period Follow the date, time, location and participation instructions on the hearing notice.
Truth-in-Taxation period Review proposed rates, estimated taxes, public meetings and adopted-rate information.
Tax statements and discount period generally begin Cherokee County’s Tax Office publishes discount rules for October, November and December accounts.
Normal 2026 tax-year payment timing Because January 31, 2027 is a Sunday, the normal timely-payment date generally moves to Monday, February 1, 2027.
The property-specific document controls. Use the date printed on the notice, application, hearing notice, ARB order or tax statement.
Verified local contacts

Cherokee County appraisal, tax and recorded-property offices

Cherokee Central Appraisal District
107 E. Sixth Street
Rusk, Texas 75785
Mailing: P.O. Box 494, Rusk, Texas 75785

Phone: (903) 683-2296
Fax: (903) 683-6271
Email: info@cherokeecad.net

Chief Appraiser: Jan Lowry, R.P.A., R.T.A.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:30 PM.

CAD visit guidance

Appraisers are commonly available Tuesday through Thursday during value-review periods, while fieldwork can reduce in-office availability.

Call before travelling with a deadline-sensitive question.

Cherokee County Tax Assessor-Collector
135 S. Main, Courthouse
Rusk, Texas 75785

Phone: (903) 683-5478
Fax: (903) 683-2362
Email: tax.shondap@cocherokee.org

Tax Assessor-Collector: Shonda McCutcheon Potter

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:30 PM.

Jacksonville Tax Office
301 W. Commerce Street
Jacksonville, Texas 75766

Phone: (903) 586-9051
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:30 PM.

Alto Tax Office
109 W. San Antonio Street
Alto, Texas 75925

Phone: (936) 858-3960
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 8:00 AM-4:00 PM.
Closed for lunch: noon-12:30 PM.

Cherokee County Clerk
Mailing: P.O. Box 420
Rusk, Texas 75785

Phone: (903) 683-2350
Fax: (903) 683-2457

County Clerk: Laverne Lusk

Call to confirm the physical records-counter location and hours.

Weather closure note: Cherokee CAD states that it follows Rusk ISD’s inclement-weather closure schedule.
Official action links

Official Cherokee County property resources

Cherokee CAD homepage

Use for official notices, services, contacts and office updates.

Open Cherokee CAD
Property search

Search owner, address, property ID, ARB and advanced appraisal fields.

Open property search
Interactive map

Locate appraisal parcels, timber tracts and surrounding property context.

Open interactive map
Taxpayer Portal

Register, review property information, manage communication and file eligible appeals.

Open taxpayer portal
Forms

Find homestead, veteran, timber, agricultural, wildlife, rendition and protest forms.

Open forms
Tax information

Review tax rates, exemptions, productive-valuation guides and BPP schedules.

Open tax information
Appraisal reports

Review reappraisal plans, annual reports and timber resources.

Open appraisal reports
Public information

Review protest, valuation, exemption, business-property and 911-addressing brochures.

Open public information
CAD payment portal

Search accounts billed through the Cherokee CAD collection system.

Search CAD-billed taxes
County Tax Office

Use for county tax contacts, locations, payment questions and official notices.

Open County Tax Office
County tax search

Search paid, unpaid and inactive county tax accounts.

Search county taxes
Tax estimator

Create an educational county and lateral-road tax estimate.

Open tax estimator
Truth in Taxation

Review proposed rates, estimated taxes and taxing-unit contacts.

Open tax transparency
County Clerk

Use for recorded deeds, liens, plats, copies and certifications.

Open County Clerk
Texas Comptroller directory

Cross-check active taxing units and published local contacts.

Open Cherokee County directory
Editorial accountability

How this Cherokee County guide was rebuilt

Mahesh Kumar, editor of AppraisalDistrict.org

Independent research organised around complete property-owner tasks

This version preserves the Cherokee CAD property-search screenshot and editor image already used by the article while replacing the shorter guide with complete search, map, timber, agricultural, mineral, exemption, business-property, protest, ARB, payment and deed-record workflows.

The update adds Cherokee CAD’s new Taxpayer Portal, current registration credentials, unsupported block-map warning, ETCOG 911-addressing route, 2026 agricultural and timber capitalization rates, the $125,000 business-personal-property exemption, county discount rules and detailed collector routing.

Official resources reviewed include Cherokee Central Appraisal District, Cherokee County Tax Assessor-Collector, Cherokee County Clerk, the official tax portals and current Texas Comptroller property-tax guidance.

AppraisalDistrict.org is an independent informational website and is not operated by Cherokee CAD, Cherokee County, Smith County, Rusk County or any local taxing unit.

Cherokee County answers

10 common Cherokee County appraisal and property-tax questions

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

The official website is cherokeecad.com. The district’s formal name is Cherokee Central Appraisal District.

2. How do I search Cherokee County property records?

Use the official Cherokee CAD property search. Search by property ID, owner, address or Advanced Search and confirm the legal description, property type and taxing units.

3. Why does a Cherokee CAD owner or address search show no result?

The search may be too specific, the record may use another owner-name order or address format, or the property may be indexed by abstract, subdivision, geographic ID or legal description. Shorten the search and try Advanced Search.

4. How do I find Cherokee County timber land or rural acreage?

Use the property ID, owner, geographic ID, abstract, subdivision or legal description and compare the result with the official interactive map.

5. Does Cherokee CAD collect property taxes?

Cherokee CAD operates an official payment portal for many local school and city accounts. The Cherokee County Tax Assessor-Collector operates a separate county portal, and some cross-county entities use Smith County or Rusk County. Follow the collector printed on the current statement.

6. Can I file a Cherokee CAD protest online?

Yes, when the property and notice qualify. The former eProtest page now directs taxpayers to the Cherokee CAD Taxpayer Portal. Registration uses the Owner ID and eFile PIN from the appraisal notice.

7. What was the Cherokee County appraisal protest deadline for 2026?

Most 2026 protests were due by May 15 or the 30th day after delivery of the Notice of Appraised Value, whichever was later. The deadline printed on the individual notice controlled.

8. What happens if I make a partial tax payment during discount months?

The Cherokee County Tax Office states that a partial payment made during October, November or December voids the discount and makes the base amount due. Verify the live account before paying.

9. Where can I obtain a Cherokee County deed, lien or certified property record?

Contact the Cherokee County Clerk with the grantor and grantee names, document type, approximate recording date and legal description.

10. Where is Cherokee Central Appraisal District located?

Cherokee Central Appraisal District is located at 107 E. Sixth Street, Rusk, Texas 75785. The main phone number is (903) 683-2296.

Accuracy, ownership and official-use notice

AppraisalDistrict.org is an independent informational resource. It is not Cherokee Central Appraisal District, the Cherokee County Appraisal Review Board, Cherokee County Tax Assessor-Collector, Cherokee County Clerk, Smith County Tax Office, Rusk County Tax Office or the Texas Comptroller.

Property owners, values, exemptions, taxing units, collector assignments, balances, discount rules, fees, forms, staff, office hours and deadlines can change. Verify the live official record before filing, paying, travelling, purchasing or making a legal or financial decision.

Cherokee CAD maps, acreage, owner fields and abbreviated legal descriptions are intended for appraisal research. They should not replace a recorded deed, title examination, mineral-title review, plat, timber evaluation or professional survey.

Official-source review completed July 31, 2026. Primary sources reviewed include Cherokee Central Appraisal District, Cherokee County Tax Assessor-Collector, Cherokee County Clerk and Texas Comptroller property-tax resources.

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