Hill County Appraisal District CAD Tax and Property Guide 2026

Hill County, Texas · Property search, certified values, maps, taxes, minerals, exemptions and protests

Navigate Hill County Property Records From Lake-Area Parcel to Verified Tax Account

Start with Hill County Appraisal District when you need the property ID, geographic ID, appraisal owner, situs address, legal description, acreage, market value, taxable value, exemption, agricultural appraisal, mineral account or business-personal-property record.

Hill County uses several tax-collection routes. Hill CAD collects for many jurisdictions, the Hill County Tax Office collects others, and Whitney ISD collects its own taxes. Confirm the collector shown for the exact property before paying.

Property ID Geographic ID Owner name Street name Abstract or subdivision Tax year
HILL COUNTY PARCEL NAVIGATOR 2026 VALUES CERTIFIED
SEARCH → MAP → VERIFY → PAY OR PROTEST
The appraisal district, tax office and County Clerk perform different jobs. Hill CAD appraises property, administers exemptions and special valuations, handles appraisal protests and collects taxes for certain entities. The Hill County Tax Office collects other tax lines. The County Clerk records deeds, liens, releases and plats.
2026 value status

The official eSearch portal states that 2026 values are certified.

CAD office

1407 Abbott Avenue, Hillsboro, Texas 76645.

District workload

Hill CAD serves 39 taxing entities and collects for 21 jurisdictions.

Chief Appraiser

Mike McKibben.

Official review

Links and local procedures reviewed July 28, 2026.

Start with the task

Choose the correct Hill County property route

FIND A PROPERTY Search Hill CAD

Use owner, address, ID or Advanced search, then confirm the legal description and parcel map.

Follow the search steps
CHECK VALUE Review certified appraisal data

Compare land, improvements, market value, appraised value, taxable value and exemptions.

Understand the value fields
PAY TAXES Identify the collector first

Hill CAD, the County Tax Office and Whitney ISD do not collect the same set of accounts.

Use the payment workflow
PROTEST VALUE Save the property record

Identify the exact value or account problem, file on time and keep proof of submission.

Prepare a protest
CHECK A DEED Use County Clerk land records

Search recorded deeds and liens rather than treating the CAD owner field as proof of title.

Follow the deed-record route
MINERAL OR FARM ACCOUNT Use the specialised workflow

Mineral, agricultural and wildlife accounts require different evidence from a normal residence.

Review special property

Go directly to the Hill County task

The sections below provide exact action paths, local routing, documents to prepare and mistakes to avoid.

Existing article image preserved

Use the Hill CAD search screen field by field

The existing property-search image from this article is preserved below. It shows the official eSearch layout, including direct access to the homepage, interactive map, taxpayer portal and agent portal.

Hill CAD official property search showing By Owner, By Address, By ID, ARB Search and Advanced tabs
Hill CAD eSearch portal. The live tax year and certification banner can change during the appraisal cycle, so use the current portal rather than relying on the screenshot alone.
1 · By OwnerStart with the last name or a distinctive organisation name.
2 · By AddressUse only the street name when the complete address fails.
3 · By IDBest for a known property ID, owner ID or geographic ID.
4 · ARB SearchReview protest status, hearing dates and ARB fields.
5 · AdvancedSearch abstract, subdivision, property type, tax year and other fields.
After clicking Search: confirm the property ID, geographic ID, legal description, acreage, property type and owner before relying on the value or selecting a payment option.
Search-method selector

Choose the Hill CAD field most likely to find the record

Hill eSearch supports detailed searches for real, personal, mineral and mobile-home accounts
Search method Best use How to search What to verify
Owner name Homes, land, trusts, estates and business ownership. Start with the last name or one distinctive entity word. Property type, legal description and location.
Street address Addressed property in Hillsboro, Whitney, Itasca, Hubbard and other communities. Try the street name alone if a full address fails. City, subdivision, property ID and owner.
Property ID Appraisal notices, tax records, prior accounts and office correspondence. Enter the complete number without extra spaces. Tax year, geographic ID and property type.
Geographic ID Rural tracts, parcel mapping and legal-description research. Copy the full ID shown on the account. Abstract, acreage and map location.
Abstract or subdivision Unaddressed acreage, farms, ranches and platted developments. Use Advanced search and select the matching list entry. Survey, lot, block, tract and acreage.
Mobile-home park or condo Accounts sharing one park or building address. Select the park or condominium and compare individual accounts. Unit, owner, property type and identifiers.
Doing Business As Business-personal-property and dealer accounts. Enter the DBA or one distinctive business word. Legal owner, situs and property type.
ARB Search Protest and hearing research. Use protest status, informal date, formal date or hearing information. Property ID, tax year and hearing status.
Search troubleshooting

Fix a missing or incorrect Hill CAD result

Try another official search route before assuming the property is missing
Problem Likely reason Practical fix
Owner search returns nothing The record may use a spouse, trust, estate, company or different name order. Search only the first or last name, then narrow with the address or ID.
Address is not recognised The account may use a shortened street, rural route, county-road number or different situs format. Use only the street name, then try the map or property ID.
Lake-area property opens the wrong parcel Several lots may share a road name, subdivision or mailing address. Match the subdivision, lot, block, geographic ID and map shape.
Rural acreage has no normal address The property may be indexed by abstract, geographic ID or legal description. Use Advanced search and the interactive map.
Recently purchased property shows the seller The recorded deed may still be processing into the appraisal system. Confirm recording with the County Clerk and save the instrument reference.
Mineral account is not under the expected address Mineral interests can be indexed by lease, operator, owner or separate account identifiers. Search the owner and property type, then contact the mineral appraiser.
Pay Taxes button is missing The account may be collected by another office, or the tax detail has not been opened. Open the full account and confirm the collecting entity.
Values differ from an older notice The saved notice may show preliminary data or a different tax year. Select 2026, confirm the certified status and compare the complete value history.
Call script for a search or account problem
I am researching Hill CAD property ID [number] or geographic ID [number] for tax year 2026. The property is at [address or legal description]. The account currently shows [owner, acreage, exemption or value], but I need help with [exact issue]. Which document or department controls this correction?
Account-field decoder

Understand what the Hill CAD account does and does not prove

Use each field to choose the next official record
Field What it identifies What it does not prove Best next action
Property ID The Hill CAD appraisal account. That every collector uses the same account number. Save it for forms, calls, protests and payment matching.
Geographic ID A parcel identifier associated with appraisal mapping. A surveyed boundary. Compare it with the interactive map.
Owner shown The owner carried for appraisal and tax administration. Complete legal title or lien status. Use County Clerk land records when ownership matters.
Situs address The physical location assigned to the appraisal account when available. The mailing address or complete deed description. Compare the map and recorded deed.
Legal description The abstract, subdivision, lot, block, tract or other property reference shown. The entire legal description or exact boundary. Match it with the deed, plat or survey.
Market value CAD’s opinion of market value as of January 1. A guaranteed sale price or final tax bill. Compare local sales, condition and equal-appraisal evidence.
Appraised value The value after an applicable appraisal limitation. The amount taxed by every entity. Continue to taxable value and exemptions.
Taxable value Value after applicable exemptions for a taxing unit. The current balance, penalties or payment status. Open the collecting office’s live tax record.
Property type Whether the account is real, personal, mineral, mobile-home or another category. That the classification and characteristics are correct. Document any incorrect type, use or improvement detail.
Taxing units The entities that may impose tax on the property. That one office collects every line. Confirm the collector for each account before payment.
Value explanation

Separate market value, appraised value and taxable value

VALUE 1 Market value

Hill CAD’s opinion of what the property would sell for under normal market conditions as of January 1.

VALUE 2 Appraised value

The value after an applicable appraisal limitation, such as a qualifying residence-homestead limitation.

VALUE 3 Taxable value

The value after exemptions. It may differ for the county, school district, city, college and emergency-service district.

Do not calculate the bill from market value alone. Tax depends on taxable value, adopted rates, exemptions, ceilings, credits, penalties, collection fees and payment history.
Value notices no longer show a tax estimate. Use Hill County Truth in Taxation to review estimated taxes and the rate-setting process.
Special property workflows

Use the correct route for mineral, agricultural and lake-area property

Mineral accounts

Hill CAD contracts with Thomas Y. Pickett & Company to appraise mineral accounts. Save the mineral account, owner, lease, operator and tax year before calling.

Agricultural land

1-d-1 open-space appraisal values qualifying land according to agricultural productivity rather than ordinary market value.

Lake Whitney-area property

Match the subdivision, lot, block, road, lake proximity and parcel map. Do not treat shoreline appearance as proof of legal access or boundary.

Wildlife management

Wildlife use has eligibility, prior-qualification and management requirements. Undeveloped land does not qualify automatically.

Mobile homes

Search the owner, park, property type and ID. Ownership changes may require manufactured-housing documentation.

Low-income housing

Hill CAD publishes a low- and moderate-income housing capitalisation-rate resource for qualifying appraisal matters.

Mineral appraisal contact

Maria May
Thomas Y. Pickett & Company
(972) 430-9115
mariam@typco.com

Agricultural appraisal resources

Hill CAD publishes local agricultural qualification guidelines, a 1-d-1 application and a farm-and-ranch survey guide.

Open agricultural guidance
Agricultural valuation is not an exemption for vacant land. Hill CAD states that the land must be devoted primarily to qualifying agricultural production. A change of use can create additional tax under Texas law.
Exemption action centre

Apply for the correct Hill County exemption or special appraisal

Residence homestead

For a qualifying principal residence. Confirm ownership, occupancy, identification and the tax year requested.

Age 65 or older

Review the additional exemption, school-tax ceiling and possible instalment or deferral rules.

Disabled person

Use the residence-homestead application and provide the documentation required for disability qualification.

Disabled veteran

Use the correct veteran or surviving-spouse application and attach current Veterans Affairs documentation.

1-d-1 agricultural appraisal

Prepare land-use history, acreage, leases, maps, production records and the local agricultural questionnaire or evidence.

Other exemptions

Religious, charitable, vehicle, pollution-control and other applications have separate qualifications and documents.

Open Hill CAD’s official forms page Open Hill CAD Forms
Choose the application that matches the situation Do not use a general homestead form for agricultural, veteran, charitable or business-property relief.
Match the appraisal account Enter the owner, property ID and property address exactly as shown by Hill CAD.
Attach required documentation Hill CAD states that homestead applications must include a driver licence copy or other information required by the Tax Code. An affidavit may also be required.
Submit to Hill CAD Mail completed forms to P.O. Box 416, Hillsboro, Texas 76645, or use an authorised electronic method when available.
Keep proof of filing Save the application, attachments, portal confirmation, certified-mail receipt or stamped copy.
Recheck the property record Confirm that the exemption or special appraisal appears for the correct year and taxing units.
Missed the normal April 30 filing date? Some exemptions and special appraisals have late-filing provisions or penalties. Contact Hill CAD promptly and ask which rule applies to the specific application and tax year.
Appraisal protest

Build a Hill County protest around one clear issue

General deadline: most protests are due by May 15 or 30 days after the Notice of Appraised Value was delivered, whichever is later. The deadline printed on the individual notice controls.
Save the certified property record and notice Keep the property ID, geographic ID, legal description, land, improvements, values, exemptions and deadline.
Identify the protest reason Examples include market value, unequal appraisal, incorrect square footage, wrong acreage, missing exemption, property condition, special appraisal or mineral value.
File through the taxpayer portal or in writing Open Hill CAD Taxpayer Portal
Keep proof of filing Save the portal timestamp, email, certified-mail receipt or stamped copy.
Request and review CAD evidence Compare the district’s sales, land class, property characteristics, condition and valuation method with the subject property.
Submit focused evidence Use comparable sales, equal-appraisal examples, photographs, repair estimates, measurements, leases, agricultural records or mineral documents tied to the issue.
Discuss an informal correction Ask the appraiser to explain the value and review any proposed change before the formal ARB hearing.
Prepare the formal presentation State the requested value or correction clearly and place the strongest evidence first.

Evidence checklist

Notice of Appraised Value
Saved Hill CAD property record
One-page explanation of the requested result
Comparable sales or unequal-appraisal table
Dated photographs
Repair estimates or condition reports
Survey, acreage or measurement evidence
Agricultural, mineral or business records when relevant
ARB hearing preparation

Present a concise case to the Hill County Appraisal Review Board

The Appraisal Review Board is separate from the appraisal district. Its role is to hear and resolve appraisal disputes submitted through a timely protest, challenge or correction motion.
Practical ARB presentation order
Part What to present What to avoid
Opening Property ID, protest reason and requested value or correction. A long introduction unrelated to the disputed year.
Property facts Correct size, acreage, use, improvements and condition. Unsupported estimates or assumptions.
Value evidence Adjusted sales, equal-appraisal comparisons, income evidence or land-use records. Comparables without dates, locations or property details.
Response to CAD The specific district evidence you dispute and why. Arguments based only on the total tax bill.
Closing Repeat the requested decision and strongest supporting fact. Leaving the board to guess what result you want.
Missed a hearing? Hill CAD’s adopted procedures describe limited routes for requesting a new hearing after a failure to appear. A written good-cause request may have a very short deadline, so contact the ARB coordinator immediately.
Tax bills and payment

Pay the correct Hill County account without losing the receipt

Search the property in Hill CAD eSearch Open the official property search
Open the complete tax detail Match the property ID, owner, legal description, tax year and taxing units.
Identify the collecting office Hill CAD Tax Collections, the Hill County Tax Office and Whitney ISD collect different sets of entities.
Use the green Pay Taxes button when Hill CAD collects the account The button appears after opening the property record. Select the years and amounts to include in the payment cart.
Review the payment fee Hill CAD publishes a 2.3% credit/debit-card fee and a $1.50 electronic-check fee. Confirm the live fee before authorising payment.
Save the confirmation Keep the property ID, tax year, amount, fee, date, collector and confirmation number.
Recheck the account Online payments commonly take two to three business days to post, and electronic checks can take longer.
Hill CAD Tax Collections payment details published at the time of review
Method or situation Published detail What to verify
Credit or debit card 2.3% service fee Review the live fee before final submission.
Electronic check $1.50 service fee Check account and routing numbers carefully.
Telephone payment Call 866-549-1010 and use bureau code 8020114 Electronic checks are not available through the phone route.
Partial payment An amount other than the full balance can be entered online A partial payment does not extend the delinquency date or create a payment agreement.
Posting time Usually two to three business days; electronic checks may take longer Recheck the account and retain the confirmation.
A partial payment does not stop a tax suit or foreclosure, extend a delinquency date or create a payout agreement. Hill CAD states that payment arrangements must be approved and made in writing.
Local collection routing

Find which Hill County office collects each tax line

Collection routing published by Hill CAD
Collector Examples of entities collected Contact or next step
Hill CAD Tax Collections Abbott, Aquilla, Blum, Bynum, Covington, Hillsboro, Hubbard, Itasca, Malone, Mount Calm and Penelope school or city accounts; Whitney city; Carl’s Corner and other listed entities. Search the Hill CAD account and use the Pay Taxes button when available.
Hill County Tax Office Hill County, lateral road, ESD #1, ESD #2, Hill College, Tehuacana WCID, City of Mertens and City of Penelope. Use the Hill Tax property-search and payment portal.
Whitney ISD Whitney Independent School District Contact Whitney ISD Tax Office at 254-694-2409.
One property can require more than one collector. Save a receipt from every collector and verify that each taxing-unit balance posted correctly.
Recorded ownership documents

Use the Hill County Clerk for deeds, liens, releases and plats

The owner displayed by Hill CAD is an appraisal entry. The Hill County Clerk maintains real-property records and provides online land-record searches.

Open the official County Clerk page Open Hill County Clerk
Use the online land-record search Search grantor and grantee names, approximate recording dates and document types.
Match the legal description Compare the abstract, subdivision, lot, block, tract and acreage with the CAD account.
Save the recording reference Record the instrument number, volume and page, recording date and parties when available.
Order the correct copy Confirm whether a plain or certified copy is required for an appraisal correction, lender, title company or legal filing.
Use a title professional for title conclusions A public-record search does not replace a complete title examination, survey or legal advice.
Hill County Clerk
80 North Waco Street, First Floor
Hillsboro, Texas 76645

Mailing:
P.O. Box 398
Hillsboro, Texas 76645

(254) 582-4030
(254) 582-4012
Fax: (254) 582-4003
countyclerk@co.hill.tx.us

In-person recording requirement: the County Clerk states that, beginning September 1, 2025, a person presenting a real-property document for filing in person must provide photo identification.
A deed does not instantly update every appraisal and tax system. Save the recorded instrument reference and contact Hill CAD when the appraisal owner remains incorrect after processing.
Record correction routing

Send each Hill County correction to the office that controls it

Incorrect appraisal owner Confirm the recorded deed, probate document or ownership evidence and provide Hill CAD with the requested documentation.
Incorrect mailing address Use Hill CAD’s Change of Address Request and confirm whether the collecting office also needs a separate update.
Incorrect acreage or legal description Compare the deed, survey, plat, geographic ID and map before requesting a CAD review.
Incorrect building details Prepare measurements, photographs, plans, permits or other evidence showing the correct size, use or condition.
Missing exemption Provide the application, identification, qualification date and filing confirmation to Hill CAD.
Incorrect tax payment Contact the collector shown on the account with the receipt, amount, tax year and confirmation number.
Correction and protest are different. A correction fixes inaccurate account information. A protest challenges a protestable appraisal-district action and has its own filing deadline.
Business personal property

Search, render and verify a Hill County business account

Search the DBA

Use Doing Business As in Advanced search if the legal owner name does not locate the account.

Select personal property

Separate business-personal-property accounts from real, mineral, mobile-home or automobile records.

Confirm the situs

Check where the assets were located and used on January 1 of the tax year.

Review the asset schedule

Compare equipment, furniture, machinery, inventory and other taxable assets with the account.

File the rendition

Most business-personal-property renditions are due April 15, with an extension available after a timely written request.

Dealer inventory

Motor vehicle, vessel, heavy equipment and manufactured-housing dealers use separate declaration and monthly statement forms.

Professional data access

Download Hill CAD appraisal exports and map files

Hill CAD publishes downloadable appraisal information for researchers, consultants, developers and advanced property users. At the time of review, the page listed map shape files updated July 1, 2026 and a 2024 appraisal-data export updated July 20, 2026.

Map shape files

Useful for GIS analysis, parcel mapping and spatial research. Review the file date and coordinate information before use.

Appraisal data export

Useful for bulk property analysis, but the published file name and data year may differ from the update date.

Research limitation

Bulk data can become stale. Verify any decision-sensitive parcel through the live eSearch record.

2026 action calendar

Important Hill County appraisal and tax dates

Appraisal and qualification date Most ownership, use, condition, market-value and exemption questions begin with the property’s status on January 1.
Most rendition statements Most business-personal-property renditions are due April 15. A timely written request can generally extend the deadline to May 15.
Many exemption and special-appraisal applications April 30 is the normal deadline for many exemption, agricultural and other special-appraisal applications, subject to specific late-filing rules.
Normal protest deadline Most protests are due by May 15 or 30 days after the appraisal notice was delivered, whichever is later.
Tax-rate process Proposed and adopted local tax-rate information generally becomes available through Truth in Taxation during late summer.
Tax bills generally begin Collecting offices generally issue bills during or after October once rates and tax rolls are available.
Normal payment deadline Property taxes generally must be paid by January 31 to avoid delinquency, subject to weekend, holiday and late-bill rules.
Use the date printed on the individual notice or bill. A general calendar cannot account for late notices, supplemental bills, corrected accounts or special filing provisions.
Verified local contacts

Hill County appraisal, tax and land-record offices

Hill County Appraisal District
1407 Abbott Avenue
Hillsboro, Texas 76645

Mailing:
P.O. Box 416
Hillsboro, Texas 76645-0416

Phone: (254) 582-2508
Fax: (254) 582-3654
Email: hcad@hillcad.org

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.

Chief Appraiser: Mike McKibben

Hill County Tax Assessor-Collector

Krystal A. Hightower, PCC

126 South Covington Street
Hillsboro, Texas 76645

Mailing:
P.O. Box 412
Hillsboro, Texas 76645

Phone: (254) 582-4000
Fax: (254) 582-4001
Email: khightower@co.hill.tx.us

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.

Hill County Clerk
80 North Waco Street, First Floor
Hillsboro, Texas 76645

Mailing:
P.O. Box 398
Hillsboro, Texas 76645

(254) 582-4030
(254) 582-4012
Fax: (254) 582-4003
countyclerk@co.hill.tx.us

Mineral appraisal help

Maria May
Thomas Y. Pickett & Company
(972) 430-9115
mariam@typco.com

Call before travelling for a deadline-sensitive task. Confirm holiday closures, required identification, accepted payment methods and which office controls the service.
Official action links

Official Hill County property resources

Hill CAD homepage

Find notices, reports, forms, staff, tax collections and public information.

Open official Hill CAD
Property search

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

Open property search
Interactive map

Compare parcel location, nearby property and appraisal-map context.

Open parcel map
Taxpayer portal

Access property details, documents, electronic communications, applications and eligible protest services.

Open taxpayer portal
CAD forms

Find homestead, veteran, agricultural, rendition, dealer and protest forms.

Open official forms
Hill CAD tax collections

Check collection assignments, payment instructions, fees and telephone payment information.

Open collection information
Hill County Tax Office

Search accounts collected by the county office, obtain receipts and review tax-office services.

Open Tax Office
Truth in Taxation

Review estimated taxes, proposed rates and adopted taxing-unit information.

Open tax-rate portal
County Clerk land records

Search recorded deeds, liens, releases and plats.

Open County Clerk
Editorial accountability

How this Hill County guide was rebuilt

Mahesh Kumar, editor of AppraisalDistrict.org

Existing images preserved and official workflows expanded

This version retains the property-search screenshot and editor image already published on the page while replacing the shorter article with complete search instructions, screenshot guidance, parcel verification, certified-value explanation, exemption filing, protest preparation, tax-collector routing, mineral assistance, deed research and record-correction steps.

Official information was reviewed through Hill County Appraisal District, Hill CAD eSearch, the taxpayer portal, Hill CAD Tax Collections, the Hill County Tax Assessor-Collector, the Hill County Clerk and Texas Comptroller county-directory resources.

AppraisalDistrict.org is an independent informational website and is not operated by Hill County Appraisal District or Hill County.

Hill County answers

10 common Hill County appraisal questions

1. What is the official Hill County property-search website?

Use the official Hill CAD eSearch portal. It provides By Owner, By Address, By ID, ARB Search and Advanced options.

2. Can I search Hill County property by owner name?

Yes. Select By Owner and begin with the last name. If the search fails, Hill CAD recommends trying only the first or last name, then narrowing the result with an address or identifier.

3. Why does a Hill CAD address search return no result?

The account may use an abbreviated street, rural route, county-road format, subdivision description or different situs address. Try only the street name, then use the property ID or interactive map.

4. Are Hill County 2026 appraisal values certified?

Yes. The official Hill CAD eSearch portal currently states that 2026 values are certified. Confirm the selected tax year before comparing the account with an older notice.

5. How do I protest a Hill County appraisal?

Use the Hill CAD taxpayer portal when eligible or submit a written Notice of Protest. Most protests are due by May 15 or 30 days after the appraisal notice was delivered, whichever is later. The notice deadline controls.

6. Where can I apply for a Hill County homestead exemption?

Use the official Hill CAD forms page. Homestead applications must include a driver licence copy or other information required by the Tax Code, and an affidavit may be required in certain situations.

7. Where can I pay Hill County property taxes online?

Search the property through Hill CAD eSearch and use the green Pay Taxes button when Hill CAD collects the account. Some tax lines are collected by the Hill County Tax Office, while Whitney ISD collects its own taxes, so verify the collector first.

8. Who handles Hill County mineral appraisal questions?

Hill CAD contracts with Thomas Y. Pickett & Company for mineral appraisals. Contact Maria May at (972) 430-9115 or mariam@typco.com.

9. Does the Hill CAD owner field prove legal ownership?

No. It is an appraisal record. Use the Hill County Clerk’s land-record services for deeds, liens, releases, plats and other recorded legal instruments.

10. Who should I call for a Hill County tax receipt or delinquent balance?

Contact the collector shown for the account. Hill CAD Tax Collections can be reached at (254) 582-2508. The Hill County Tax Assessor-Collector can be reached at (254) 582-4000.

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