Howard County Appraisal District Howard CAD 2026

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Howard County, Texas · Big Spring homes, Coahoma and Forsan property, rural land, minerals, oilfield assets and tax records

Verify a Howard County Property from Appraisal Search to Tax Receipt

Howard Central Appraisal District provides separate tools for property search, maps, online forms, taxpayer accounts and protests. The search covers ordinary homes as well as rural acreage, manufactured homes, businesses, mineral interests and industrial property.

This guide shows what to enter, how to confirm the correct account, how to interpret preliminary 2026 values and when to move from Howard CAD to the Tax Assessor-Collector or County Clerk.

Search official Howard CAD records Open the interactive map Find the correct workflow
Owner, address or ID Real, personal or mineral 2026 preliminary values Online forms and protest Certified Payments Deeds and legal records
HOWARD COUNTY PROPERTY ROUTER VERIFYING ACCOUNT
OWNER + PROPERTY TYPE + YEAR MATCHED
HOWARD CAD PROPERTY RECORD
2026 status warning: The official property-search portal states that 2026 values are preliminary and may change before certification. Howard CAD’s downloads page currently publishes the 2025 certified real-property and mineral appraisal rolls. Do not describe an online 2026 value as final unless the district confirms certification.
Chief Appraiser

Julie Duke

CAD office

315 S. Main Street, Big Spring

Search status

2026 values are currently labelled preliminary.

Tax payment

Howard County Certified Payments bureau code 3654351

Guide reviewed

Official sources checked July 28, 2026

Start with the task

Which Howard County property service do you need?

This tool runs locally in the browser and does not collect an owner name, property ID, email address, value or payment information.

PROPERTY SEARCH Owner, address or account

Use Owner, Address, ID or Advanced Search and verify the property type and tax year.

Follow the search walkthrough
RURAL OR OILFIELD Abstract, Geo ID or mineral account

Use the legal description, abstract, property ID and interactive map when a street address is unreliable.

Review rural and mineral steps
EXEMPTION Homestead, age, disability or ag use

Use the current form or taxpayer portal, attach the required proof and retain submission evidence.

Open the exemption workflow
APPRAISAL PROTEST 2026 value and evidence

Confirm the account-specific deadline, save the preliminary record and use Howard CAD’s online protest route.

Prepare a protest file
PROPERTY TAX Balance, payment or receipt

Use the Tax Assessor-Collector and verify the account before entering the Certified Payments bureau code.

Follow payment steps
RECORDED DOCUMENT Deed, lien, plat or probate record

Use the County Clerk self-service portal because the CAD owner field is not a title record.

Search official property records

Jump directly to the Howard County property task

Existing article image retained

Recognise the Howard CAD search screen

Howard County Appraisal District property-search screen showing owner, address, ID, ARB and advanced search tabs
Existing Howard CAD property-search image retained from the previous article. The screenshot shows tax year 2025, while the live portal now includes 2026 preliminary values. Follow the live portal whenever labels or years differ.
1 By Owner
Enter an individual name in surname-first order.
2 By Address
Use the street name alone when a complete address fails.
3 By ID
Use Property ID, Owner ID or Geographic ID for a precise match.
4 Advanced
Narrow by abstract, subdivision, neighbourhood, legal description or property type.
Property-result decoder

Understand what the appraisal record proves

Use the CAD record to identify the account, then consult the controlling office when necessary
Record field What it identifies What it does not prove Best next action
Property ID The Howard CAD appraisal account. A County Clerk instrument number. Save it for forms, protests and tax questions.
Owner ID An owner record associated with one or more accounts. That every associated account is the same property type. Review all real, personal, mobile-home and mineral results.
Geographic ID A mapping or geographic reference. A surveyed legal boundary. Compare the interactive map, deed and survey.
Owner name The owner displayed for appraisal administration. Complete legal title or every mineral interest. Verify ownership through the County Clerk.
Situs address The physical location displayed by Howard CAD. The complete legal description or parcel boundary. Compare legal, map and recorded records.
Legal description A lot, block, subdivision, abstract, survey or tract reference. Every deed call, easement, reservation or exception. Open the recorded deed or plat.
Market value The district’s market-value estimate for the selected appraisal year. The sale price, taxable value or final tax bill. Review property facts and market evidence.
Appraised value Value after an applicable appraisal limitation or special appraisal. The tax amount due. Check homestead caps or productivity appraisal.
Taxable value Value remaining after applicable exemptions for a taxing unit. The bill without the unit’s adopted tax rate. Review the Tax Office account.
Taxing units County, city, school, college and water-district entities attached to the account. That every property with the same mailing city has identical rates. Use only the units shown on the exact account.
Search troubleshooting

Fix a missing, duplicate or incorrect Howard CAD result

Change one search element at a time
Problem Likely reason What to try
Full owner name returns nothing The record may use surname-first order, initials, a spouse, trust, estate or company variation. Search the surname or main business word alone.
Complete address fails The situs address may be abbreviated or formatted differently. Search only the street name, then narrow the results.
Rural tract has no reliable address The property may be indexed by abstract, legal description, Geo ID or owner. Use Advanced Search and the interactive map.
Manufactured home is missing It may be classified separately from the land or ordinary real estate. Change the property type and search the owner, park or ID.
Mineral interest is not visible The search may be limited to real property or the interest uses another owner format. Select the mineral property type and use the account, owner or legal information.
Recent buyer is not shown The deed or ownership update may still be processing. Confirm recording with the County Clerk, then give Howard CAD the instrument details.
2026 value differs from the notice The online value is preliminary and may have changed before certification. Confirm the tax year, notice date, protest status and current value with Howard CAD.
Tax balance differs from the CAD value Tax rates, exemptions, payments, penalties and interest affect the bill. Use the Tax Assessor-Collector’s account and current payoff information.
Call Howard CAD: 432-263-8301 Email Howard CAD Open the parcel map
Rural land, agriculture, minerals and oilfield property

Separate the surface parcel from special appraisal accounts

Rural real property

Search the owner, Property ID, Geographic ID, abstract, legal description and map. Review all adjoining or related accounts.

Open-space land

Compare market value with productivity value and document the qualifying agricultural or wildlife use.

Mineral or industrial

Use the correct property type and do not confuse a mineral, pipeline, industrial or business account with the surface land.

Create a parcel inventory List every Property ID, owner, legal description, acreage, property type and taxing-unit combination connected to the land.
Use the abstract and legal description Advanced Search supports abstract and legal-description fields that can be more reliable than a rural road address.
Open the interactive map Use the map for approximate location, neighbouring accounts and parcel context. Open Howard CAD Interactive Map
Compare market and productivity values Qualifying agricultural or wildlife land may have a productivity-based appraised value below market value.
Review Howard CAD’s local guidelines Use the district’s Open Space Guidelines and agricultural-value questions before filing or changing land use. Open agricultural and wildlife forms
Document actual use Prepare leases, livestock or crop records, production history, fencing, water, maps, photographs and wildlife-management reports.
Separate mineral ownership Mineral, royalty and lease interests can have different owners and accounts from the surface parcel.
Ask before changing use Development or nonqualifying use can affect special appraisal and may create additional tax consequences.
A CAD map or mineral account is not a boundary survey or mineral-title report. Use recorded documents and qualified professional assistance when acreage, access, easements, reservations or mineral ownership affect a transaction.
Local Howard County situations

Adjust the search to the property’s location and use

Big Spring residence

Verify the City of Big Spring, Big Spring ISD, Howard College, county and groundwater-district lines, plus the correct homestead status.

Coahoma home

Confirm the City of Coahoma and Coahoma ISD rather than assuming Big Spring city or school taxes apply.

Forsan property

Verify the City of Forsan, Forsan ISD, property description and every special district shown on the account.

Sands ISD rural land

Use the legal description and map and confirm Sands ISD on the exact account.

Borden ISD overlap

Howard CAD lists Borden ISD as an active taxing unit. Check the school district attached to the rural parcel.

Stanton ISD overlap

Some Howard County property can be connected to Stanton ISD. Do not infer the district from the mailing address.

Oilfield or industrial site

Separate land, structures, pipelines, industrial improvements, equipment and mineral accounts before comparing values.

Manufactured home

Search the owner and mobile-home park and determine whether the home and land are represented by separate accounts.

Recently purchased property

Search the seller and buyer, verify deed recording and confirm that the correct owner, mailing address and exemptions appear.

Homestead, age, disability, veteran and land-use forms

File through Howard CAD and verify the benefit afterward

Homestead filing is free. Howard CAD specifically warns property owners about companies charging to prepare homestead documents. Use the official district forms or taxpayer portal.
Find the correct property account Save the Property ID, owner, address and legal description.
Open Online Forms or the Taxpayer Portal The taxpayer portal allows owners to access property details, request electronic communication and manage applications. Open Howard CAD Taxpayer Portal
Select the correct application Howard CAD publishes residence homestead, disabled-veteran, agricultural, wildlife, deferral and other exemption forms.
Read identification requirements The current homestead application explains the driver’s-licence, address-match and affidavit requirements.
Attach eligibility documents Age, disability, veteran status, agricultural use and wildlife management require different supporting records.
Submit using an authorised method Use the online form, portal, mail or delivery method identified by Howard CAD.
Keep proof of filing Save the confirmation, email, certified-mail tracking or stamped copy.
Reopen the property record Confirm that the exemption appears on the correct account and tax year after processing.
Check taxable value by taxing unit Local exemption percentages and fixed exemption amounts can differ among the county, city, school, college and water district.

Examples from Howard CAD’s current published exemption table

Verify all amounts for the current tax year before relying on them
Taxing unit Published residence-homestead treatment Published over-65 amount
Howard County 20% local option, subject to the statutory minimum $12,000
City of Big Spring 20% local option, subject to the statutory minimum $5,000
City of Coahoma 20% local option, subject to the statutory minimum $4,000
City of Forsan 20% local option, subject to the statutory minimum $4,000
Howard College 20% local option, subject to the statutory minimum $12,000
Permian Basin UWCD 10% local option, subject to the statutory minimum $12,000
Open Howard CAD Online Forms Browse downloadable forms Review exemption amounts
Business personal property and industrial assets

Report the assets owned or possessed on January 1

Howard CAD states that income-producing tangible personal property must be rendered. This can include furniture, fixtures, equipment, machinery, computers, inventory, raw materials, finished goods, work in process and leasehold improvements.

Prepare an asset-level rendition file
Information Why it matters Useful support
Business owner and DBA Connects the assets to the correct business and location. Entity records, prior account and site information.
Furniture and equipment Identifies taxable operating assets. Description, acquisition date and original cost.
Inventory and materials Inventory can require separate reporting and valuation treatment. Representative inventory and accounting records.
Vehicles and mobile equipment Commercial vehicles and oilfield equipment may require detailed classification. VIN, ownership, use, location and acquisition records.
Leased assets The user and legal owner may be different parties. Lease agreement and lessor information.
Disposed or relocated assets An outdated list can overstate property remaining at the location. Sale, disposal, transfer or relocation documents.
Howard CAD publishes an April 15 rendition deadline and states that a written 30-day extension is available. If a business does not receive a packet, the district instructs the owner to request forms rather than waiting past the deadline.
Read Howard CAD rendition guidance Open rendition forms
Online protest and ARB preparation

Challenge the appraisal issue—not merely the tax bill

Deadline warning: For most Texas properties, the ordinary deadline is May 15 or 30 days after the appraisal notice was mailed, whichever is later. Use the exact deadline printed on the notice. By July 28, 2026, the ordinary deadline has passed for many accounts.
Save the complete 2026 record Capture the Property ID, owner, property type, preliminary market value, appraised value, taxable value, land, improvements and exemptions.
Identify the exact issue Focus on market value, unequal appraisal, incorrect property details, acreage, ownership, exemption denial, agricultural qualification or business assets.
Check physical property facts Review living area, improvement class, condition, age, land size, outbuildings, mobile-home information and property type.
Gather issue-specific evidence Use photographs, repair estimates, surveys, purchase documents, comparable sales, income information, leases or asset records.
Open Howard CAD Online Protest Use the official eProtest system when the account is eligible and retain proof of filing. Open Howard CAD Online Protest
Request or review the district evidence Compare Howard CAD’s property characteristics, sales and appraisal model with your own information.
Prepare for informal review State the requested correction clearly and lead with the strongest evidence.
Choose the hearing method Howard CAD states that owners may present evidence by affidavit, attend by telephone or request an in-person hearing.
Watch for the ARB hearing notice Howard CAD states that the ARB will provide hearing information at least 14 days before the scheduled date.
Keep the decision and appeal dates Preserve the ARB order, envelope, hearing evidence and deadline for any further appeal.
The Howard County Appraisal Review Board is separate from the appraisal office. It hears disputes submitted through protests, challenges and correction procedures; it does not manage the district’s daily appraisal work.
Tax balance, payment and receipt

Pay through the Howard County Tax Assessor-Collector

Official payment route: Howard County links to Certified Payments and publishes bureau code 3654351. Verify the live county page before entering payment information.
Search the property account first Use Howard Property Search and confirm the owner, Property ID, tax year, property description and taxing units. Open Howard Property Search
Open the official Tax Assessor-Collector page Start from Howard County rather than a payment advertisement or unsolicited message. Open Howard County Tax Office
Confirm the bureau code The county page currently publishes Certified Payments bureau code 3654351.
Enter the account information carefully Confirm the account number, owner, tax year and amount due before continuing.
Review the convenience fee Read the payment processor’s current fee and final total before authorising the transaction.
Save the confirmation Keep the account number, tax year, amount, date, payment method, bureau code and confirmation number.
Confirm posting Recheck the account after processing to ensure the payment was applied to the correct property and year.
Call before duplicating a payment Contact 432-264-2232 when a payment is pending, rejected, posted to the wrong account or not reflected online.
Open Certified Payments Call Tax Office: 432-264-2232 Verify bureau code
Latest adopted rates currently published

Use 2025 rates for historical comparison—not as final 2026 rates

Howard CAD’s current rate page lists 2025 adopted rates. Final 2026 rates are adopted later in the tax cycle, generally after appraisal-roll certification and public Truth in Taxation procedures. Do not label the figures below as final 2026 rates.
2025 tax rates published by Howard CAD, per $100 of taxable value
Taxing unit 2025 rate Property-check reminder
Howard County 0.301711 County rate
City of Big Spring 0.678903 Only property inside the city
City of Coahoma 0.303210 Only property inside the city
City of Forsan 0.200287 Only property inside the city
Sands ISD 0.959600 Verify school boundary
Big Spring ISD 0.752678 Verify school boundary
Coahoma ISD 0.886900 Verify school boundary
Borden ISD 0.783850 Applies only where shown on account
Forsan ISD 0.866850 Verify school boundary
Stanton ISD 0.771967 Applies only where shown on account
Howard College 0.216637 College-district rate
Permian Basin UWCD 0.001897 Verify district presence

Illustrative 2025 combinations

Big Spring example

County + City of Big Spring + Big Spring ISD + Howard College + Permian Basin UWCD = 1.951826 per $100.

Coahoma example

County + City of Coahoma + Coahoma ISD + Howard College + Permian Basin UWCD = 1.710355 per $100.

Forsan example

County + City of Forsan + Forsan ISD + Howard College + Permian Basin UWCD = 1.587382 per $100.

These are illustrations only. A property outside city limits, in another school district or outside a special district will have a different combination. Exemptions and taxable values can also differ by unit.
Open Howard CAD Tax Rates Open Howard Truth in Taxation
Deeds, liens, plats and recorded ownership

Use the County Clerk self-service portal for legal records

The Howard County Clerk does not perform real-property searches for the public. The office directs users to its self-service records portal, where ordinary copies can be searched, purchased and printed. Contact the Clerk for certified-copy instructions.
Save the Howard CAD identifiers Record the owner, Property ID, Geographic ID, legal description, subdivision, abstract and address.
Open the County Clerk self-service portal Use the official county link rather than a commercial property-history service. Open Howard County Property Records
Search current and prior owner names Include trust, estate, business and spouse-name variations when relevant.
Compare the complete legal description The recorded deed may contain easements, reservations, exceptions and mineral language omitted from the CAD summary.
Review the recording sequence Check execution date, recording date, grantor, grantee and instrument information.
Purchase or print an ordinary copy when sufficient The self-service portal supports copy payment and printing.
Contact the Clerk for a certified copy Call 432-264-2213 for payment and delivery instructions when certification is required.
Give Howard CAD the deed information When ownership has not updated, provide the instrument number, recording date, grantee and Property ID.
The County Clerk publishes recording fees of $25 for the first page, $4 for each additional page and $0.25 for each name over five. Confirm current charges before recording a document.
Verified office routing

Contact the Howard County office that controls the issue

Howard Central Appraisal District

Use for property search, values, exemptions, agricultural appraisal, renditions, maps, online forms, taxpayer records and protests.

315 S. Main Street
Big Spring, Texas 79720-2520
Mailing: P.O. Drawer 1151, Big Spring, TX 79721-1151

432-263-8301
Fax: 432-263-8303
cad@howardcad.org

Chief Appraiser: Julie Duke

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

Howard County Tax Assessor-Collector

Use for tax bills, Certified Payments, receipts, penalties, interest, collection and tax-rate worksheet questions.

315 Main Street, Suite D
Big Spring, Texas 79721
Mailing: P.O. Box 1111, Big Spring, TX 79721

Tiffany Sayles
432-264-2232
Fax: 432-264-2282

County hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM.

Howard County Clerk

Use for deeds, liens, plats, recorded documents, probate records, copies and certification.

300 S. Main Street, Room 104
Big Spring, Texas 79720
Mailing: P.O. Box 1468, Big Spring, TX 79721

Jury Padron
432-264-2213
Fax: 432-264-2215

Hours: Monday–Thursday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM; Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM.

Prepare before calling
  • Property ID and Owner ID
  • Property type and year
  • Owner and prior owner names
  • Address and legal description
  • Appraisal notice or tax statement
  • Form, protest or payment confirmation
  • The exact correction or question
Official action centre

Open the exact Howard County property resource

Howard CAD homepage

Official notices, forms, exemptions, appraisal information and contact details.

Open Howard CAD
Property search

Search by owner, address, ID, abstract, subdivision, legal description or property type.

Open property search
Interactive map

Review approximate parcel location, neighbouring accounts and rural-property context.

Open interactive map
Taxpayer Portal

Register for property details, electronic communications and application management.

Open Taxpayer Portal
Online forms

File eligible homestead and other property-tax applications.

Open online forms
Online protest

File or manage an eligible Howard CAD appraisal protest.

Open Online Protest
Forms library

Homestead, agricultural, wildlife, rendition, deferral and ARB forms.

Open forms
Certified rolls

Download the latest published certified real and mineral appraisal-roll resources.

Open downloads
Tax rates

Review adopted rates currently published by Howard CAD.

Open tax rates
Tax Office

Verify payment instructions, bureau code and Tax Assessor-Collector details.

Open Tax Office
County property records

Search deeds, liens, plats and other recorded documents.

Open Clerk records
State directory

Verify the chief appraiser, Tax Assessor-Collector and active taxing units.

Open Comptroller directory
10 locally specific answers

Howard County Appraisal District FAQs

What is the official Howard County Appraisal District website?

The official website is howardcad.org. Use it for appraisal records, forms, exemptions, maps, online protests, tax rates and district contact information.

How do I search Howard County property records?

Use Howard Property Search. Search by owner, address, Property ID, Owner ID, Geographic ID, abstract, subdivision, neighbourhood or legal description.

Are 2026 Howard CAD values final?

No. The official portal currently labels 2026 values as preliminary and subject to change before certification. The downloads page currently publishes 2025 certified real-property and mineral appraisal rolls.

Who is the Howard County Chief Appraiser?

Howard CAD’s current staff page identifies Julie Duke as Chief Appraiser.

Where is Howard Central Appraisal District located?

The office is at 315 S. Main Street, Big Spring, Texas 79720-2520. The telephone number is 432-263-8301.

Where do I file a Howard County homestead exemption?

File through Howard CAD’s Online Forms, Taxpayer Portal or current downloadable form. Homestead filing is free; attach the identification required by the current application.

Can I protest a Howard CAD value online?

Yes, when the account is eligible. Use Howard CAD Online Protest. For most properties, the ordinary deadline is May 15 or 30 days after the appraisal notice was mailed, whichever is later; the notice date controls.

How do I pay Howard County property taxes?

Use the Howard County Tax Assessor-Collector’s official Certified Payments route. The county currently publishes bureau code 3654351. Verify the account, tax year, amount and convenience fee before paying.

Where can I search Howard County deeds and property records?

Use the Howard County Clerk Self-Service Website. Contact the Clerk at 432-264-2213 when a certified copy is required.

What is the difference between Howard CAD and the Tax Office?

Howard CAD appraises property, maintains appraisal records, processes exemptions and handles protests. The Howard County Tax Assessor-Collector calculates bills from certified values and adopted rates and handles payments, receipts, penalties and collection.

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