Texas Property Tax Calculator 2026: Estimate Now

Texas property-tax estimator · Separate taxing units, exemptions, caps and escrow

Estimate the Texas Tax Bill Each Local Taxing Unit May Create

A reliable Texas estimate cannot simply subtract one exemption from one combined rate. School districts, counties, cities and special districts can use different taxable values and exemption amounts.

This calculator estimates each taxing unit separately, applies fixed and percentage exemptions, tests qualifying appraisal limitations, shows tax-only monthly escrow and estimates possible protest savings.

No login No property ID required Runs in your browser Separate local tax units Printable result
TEXAS TAX LEDGER ENGINE CALCULATING
APPRAISED VALUE
VALUE → EXEMPTIONS → RATE → ESTIMATE
This tool does not produce an official property-tax bill. Your appraisal district controls appraised and taxable values. Local taxing units adopt tax rates. Your tax assessor-collector or other collection office controls the official bill, balance, penalties, payment and receipt.
No state property tax

Texas property taxes are imposed by local taxing units.

Rates are per $100

A rate of 1.25 means $1.25 per $100 of taxable value.

2026 school homestead

The statewide school-district exemption is $140,000.

Tax-only escrow

Monthly results exclude insurance and lender cushions.

Official review

Texas rules and source links reviewed July 2026.

Choose your calculation

What do you need the Texas property-tax estimate to answer?

CURRENT OWNER Estimate the coming bill

Use current appraisal values, adopted rates and exemptions shown for the exact property.

Start the detailed estimate
HOME BUYER Replace the seller’s assumptions

Estimate without exemptions, caps or ceilings that may end after ownership changes.

Use the buyer checklist
HOMESTEAD Estimate exemption savings

Apply the school exemption only to the school row and enter local exemptions separately.

Understand exemption inputs
AGE 65 OR DISABLED Test additional school relief

Apply the additional statewide school exemption and verify local optional amounts and ceilings.

Review senior and disability limits
PROTEST PLANNING Estimate possible tax savings

Compare the current calculation with a supportable target appraised value.

Estimate protest impact
ESCROW REVIEW Compare tax with lender collection

Use the annual and monthly tax estimate as one part of an escrow analysis.

Understand the monthly result

Go directly to the calculation or explanation you need

Interactive multi-unit calculator

Estimate Texas property tax using separate taxable values

Enter the property values first. Then add every school, county, city, utility, hospital, college, emergency-service or other district shown on the official property record or tax statement.

Private browser calculation
Use the current CAD market value or a reasonable planning estimate.
Leave blank when entering a known current appraised value without a cap calculation.
Do not enter ordinary repair or maintenance costs.
The calculator will use the lower of market value or the estimated limitation value.
Enter only a supportable target value to estimate possible annual savings.
Optional. Used to estimate net first-year protest savings.
Important: the two statewide exemption helpers affect the school-district row only. Enter county, city and special-district exemptions in their own rows.

Taxing units attached to the property

Calculation method

Texas property-tax formula in plain English

Starting value Market or limited appraised value
Unit-specific relief Fixed and percentage exemptions
×
Unit calculation Tax rate ÷ 100
For each taxing unit: estimated tax equals that unit’s taxable value multiplied by its adopted tax rate and divided by 100. Add the unit results to estimate the total.
Why divide by 100?

Texas tax rates are generally stated as dollars of tax per $100 of taxable value.

Why separate the units?

A school district may use a $140,000 homestead exemption while a city or county uses a different local exemption.

Why calculate savings separately?

An exemption saves tax only at the rate of the taxing unit that grants that exemption.

Find accurate inputs

Use the tax rates attached to the exact Texas property

Two homes in the same city can have different total rates when they are located in different school districts, municipal utility districts, emergency service districts, hospital districts or other special districts.

Open the official appraisal-district property record Find the property ID, taxable values and list of taxing units attached to the parcel.
Open the official tax statement or tax account The prior bill normally lists each taxing unit, its taxable value, rate and tax amount.
Enter each unit separately Add school, county, city, community college, hospital, MUD, ESD, drainage and other districts shown for the property.
Use adopted rates when estimating an official-year bill Proposed, no-new-revenue and voter-approval rates are not automatically the final adopted rate.
Verify current-year availability Current-year rates may not be final early in the appraisal and protest season. Use the prior rate only as a clearly labelled planning assumption.
Do not add percentage rates incorrectly. A displayed rate of 1.250000 is already $1.25 per $100, which is mathematically equivalent to 1.25% for this calculation. Do not enter 0.0125 in the rate field.
Value selection

Choose market, appraised or taxable value correctly

Each value answers a different Texas property-tax question
Value What it means When to use it Common mistake
Market value The appraisal district’s opinion of market value as of January 1. Use as the starting point when estimating an appraisal limitation or testing a buyer scenario. Applying every tax rate directly to market value when exemptions or limitations exist.
Appraised value The value after an applicable residence-homestead cap, circuit breaker or special appraisal limitation. Use as the starting value before subtracting unit-specific exemptions. Assuming appraised value and market value must always match.
Taxable value The value remaining for a taxing unit after applicable exemptions and limits. Use the official unit-specific taxable value when estimating an existing bill. Assuming every taxing unit has the same taxable value.
Productivity value A special appraisal value for qualifying agricultural or open-space land. Use the official special-appraisal taxable value rather than normal market value where applicable. Treating agricultural appraisal as a fixed homestead exemption.
Exemption inputs

Enter Texas exemptions by taxing unit—not as one combined deduction

2026 statewide school exemption: a qualifying residence homestead receives a $140,000 school-district exemption. A qualifying homeowner who is age 65 or older or disabled may receive an additional $60,000 school exemption.
How to enter common exemptions into the calculator
Exemption type Where it may apply Calculator action What to verify
General residence homestead Statewide school exemption plus possible local options. Use the school-homestead checkbox; enter local amounts in their own rows. The property is the owner’s principal residence and the exemption is approved.
Age 65 or older Additional school exemption and possible local county, city or district exemptions. Use the age-65 or disabled checkbox and enter local amounts separately. Qualification date, tax ceiling and local optional exemptions.
Disabled person Additional school exemption and possible local relief. Use the additional-school checkbox only when qualified. Required disability documentation and any local option.
Disabled veteran Amount depends on the qualifying veteran category and disability rating. Enter the official fixed exemption for each unit or use zero taxable value when a total exemption applies. VA documentation, ownership, residence and surviving-spouse rules.
Local percentage homestead exemption Only to a local taxing unit that adopted it. Enter the adopted percentage in that unit’s percentage field. Minimum amounts, current adoption and the official taxable value.
Agricultural or wildlife appraisal Qualifying land is appraised using productivity rather than normal market value. Use the official appraised or taxable value rather than entering it as a normal exemption. Qualification, acreage, use and possible rollback-tax exposure.
Appraisal limitations

Understand what the calculator’s 10% and 20% limitations estimate

Residence-homestead limitation

For an eligible residence homestead, the appraised value generally cannot exceed the lower of market value or the prior appraised value plus 10% and qualifying new improvements.

The limitation generally begins January 1 of the tax year after the owner first qualifies for the homestead exemption.

2026 non-homestead circuit breaker

Qualifying real property other than a residence homestead may be limited to the lower of market value or the prior appraised value plus 20% and qualifying new improvements.

For 2026, the qualifying property-value ceiling is $5,320,000, and the temporary limitation is scheduled to expire after December 31, 2026.

An appraisal limitation is not a tax-rate cap and does not freeze the tax bill. Taxes can still change because taxable values, exemptions, rates, new improvements and taxing-unit boundaries can change.
The calculator does not determine legal eligibility. Review the current appraisal-district record and official Texas Comptroller guidance before relying on either limitation.
Home-buyer planning

Estimate Texas property tax without relying on the seller’s current bill

The seller’s bill may be much lower than the buyer’s future bill. The seller may have a residence-homestead cap, age-65 ceiling, disability benefit, veteran exemption, agricultural appraisal or local exemption that will not transfer.
Search the exact appraisal account Confirm the property ID, current market value, appraised value, exemptions and taxing units.
Use a realistic post-purchase value Consider the current market value and potential appraisal after the sale rather than assuming the capped seller value continues.
Remove seller-only exemptions and ceilings Add only exemptions the buyer reasonably expects to qualify for and file.
Enter every local taxing unit Pay special attention to MUD, PID, ESD, hospital, college and other special-district charges.
Compare the result with the lender estimate Ask whether the lender used the seller bill, purchase price, estimated future value or another assumption.
Keep an annual buffer Early-year estimates may use prior rates because current adopted rates are not yet available.

Buyer input checklist

Current CAD market value
Expected post-purchase appraisal
Every taxing unit and rate
Buyer’s expected exemption eligibility
Special-district boundaries
Agricultural or special appraisal status
New construction not yet fully appraised
Lender escrow and insurance assumptions
Age 65 or disabled planning

Do not confuse an exemption, tax ceiling, instalment option and deferral

Additional exemption

The statewide school exemption for a qualifying age-65 or disabled homeowner is separate from the general homestead exemption.

School tax ceiling

A ceiling can limit qualifying school taxes, but additions and later adjustments can affect the amount.

Four instalments

Eligible homeowners may be able to pay qualifying homestead taxes in four instalments when statutory requirements are met.

Tax deferral

A deferral postpones collection under specific rules; it does not erase the tax, interest or lien.

The calculator does not reproduce a tax ceiling automatically. Compare the calculated school tax with the official ceiling amount shown by the appraisal district or tax office.
Protest planning

Estimate whether a supported value reduction could change the tax bill

Enter a possible reduced value in the calculator only after identifying evidence that could support it. A lower market value does not always produce the same reduction in taxable value when an appraisal limitation is already controlling.

Market-value protest

Use sales, condition, repair, location and property-characteristic evidence tied to January 1.

Unequal appraisal

Compare similarly situated properties and account for meaningful differences.

Property-data correction

Document incorrect square footage, class, condition, features, land use or completion percentage.

Estimated tax savings are not guaranteed protest savings. The final result depends on the value ordered or agreed, the taxable-value effect, exemptions and adopted rates.
Mortgage planning

Understand what the monthly escrow result includes

Included by this calculator
  • Estimated annual property tax divided by 12
  • Taxing units and exemptions entered by the user
  • Any appraisal limitation calculated by the tool
Not included automatically
  • Homeowners or flood insurance
  • Mortgage insurance
  • Lender escrow cushion
  • Prior-year escrow shortage or surplus
  • HOA, PID assessment or non-property-tax charge
A lender may collect more than one-twelfth of the estimated tax during an escrow adjustment, new loan setup or shortage-repayment period.
Worked calculations

Texas property-tax examples that keep exemptions separate

Example 1: Qualifying residence homestead

Illustrative rates only—not a county or city rate recommendation
Taxing unit Rate Exemption Taxable value on $350,000 Estimated tax
School district 0.950000 $140,000 $210,000 $1,995
County 0.400000 $0 $350,000 $1,400
City 0.550000 $0 $350,000 $1,925
Special district 0.200000 $0 $350,000 $700
The illustrated annual total is $6,020. Subtracting $140,000 from the entire property before applying every rate would incorrectly reduce county, city and special-district taxes.

Example 2: Buyer should not copy the seller’s capped value

Seller’s current account

Market value: $500,000

Capped appraised value: $365,000

School exemption and age-65 ceiling may apply.

Buyer planning assumption

Use a realistic post-sale value near the current market level.

Apply only exemptions the buyer expects to qualify for.

Do not assume the seller’s tax ceiling transfers.

Accuracy checks

Common Texas property-tax calculator mistakes

Correct these inputs before relying on an estimate
Mistake Why the result becomes inaccurate Better action
Using only the county rate The bill may include school, city, MUD, ESD, hospital, college and other taxes. Enter every taxing unit attached to the parcel.
Subtracting one exemption from the combined rate Exemptions can differ by taxing unit. Enter exemptions in the row for the unit granting them.
Entering 0.0185 for a 1.85 rate The calculator already divides a per-$100 rate by 100. Enter 1.85 when the official rate is 1.850000.
Using seller taxable value Seller caps, exemptions and ceilings may not continue. Build a buyer-specific post-sale estimate.
Calling repairs new improvements Ordinary repairs and maintenance generally are not treated as new improvements for the cap formula. Use the appraisal district’s official new-improvement amount.
Using proposed rates as final A proposed or voter-approval calculation is not necessarily the adopted rate. Verify the adopted rate when it becomes available.
Treating monthly tax as full escrow Insurance and lender cushions are not included. Add the lender’s insurance and escrow assumptions separately.
Calculating delinquent payoff manually Penalty, interest, attorney fees and postponed delinquency dates can change the balance. Request the live payoff from the collection office.
Bill and payment timing

Know when a Texas property-tax estimate becomes an official balance

Tax bills are generally due on receipt

The official tax statement identifies the amount, property, taxing units and delinquency date.

January 31 is the normal payment deadline

In most cases, taxes unpaid after the applicable deadline become delinquent and begin accruing penalty and interest.

Late bills can have a later date

When an original bill is mailed after January 10, the delinquency date may be postponed to provide the required payment period.

Use the delinquency date printed on the official bill. Do not use this calculator for a delinquent payoff. Contact the tax collection office for the exact balance, penalty, interest and collection fees.
Official verification

Use these Texas resources to replace estimates with official numbers

Texas tax-rate data

Review statewide school, county, city and special-district rates reported to the Comptroller.

Open official rate data
Property-tax exemptions

Verify homestead, age, disability, veteran and other exemption rules.

Open exemption guidance
Property valuation rules

Review residence-homestead limitations, the temporary circuit breaker and appraisal basics.

Open valuation guidance
Payment guidance

Check normal deadlines, postponed delinquency dates and payment responsibilities.

Read payment guidance
Texas property-tax forms

Find current exemption, protest, rendition and other official forms.

Open official forms
Local official records

Use the appraisal district for values and exemptions, and the tax office for the bill and receipt.

Find local property-tax offices
Editorial accountability

How this Texas property-tax calculator was improved

Mahesh Kumar, editor of AppraisalDistrict.org

One accurate calculator instead of duplicated generic tools

This regenerated version preserves the editor image from the existing page while replacing the earlier combined-rate calculator and duplicated sitewide helper with one purpose-built Texas property-tax application.

The new calculator separates taxing units, supports fixed and percentage exemptions, applies the 2026 statewide school exemptions correctly, estimates qualifying appraisal limitations, itemises tax by unit and clearly distinguishes tax-only escrow from a lender’s complete escrow payment.

AppraisalDistrict.org is an independent informational website. It is not a Texas appraisal district, tax assessor-collector, taxing unit, mortgage lender or the Texas Comptroller.

Calculator answers

10 Texas property-tax calculator questions

1. How do I calculate Texas property tax?

Calculate taxable value separately for each taxing unit, multiply that taxable value by the unit’s rate divided by 100, and add all unit estimates together.

2. What property value should I enter?

Use the current CAD market value and prior appraised value when testing an appraisal limitation. When the official current appraised value is already known, enter it as the market-value input and choose the option that does not estimate a cap.

3. What tax rate should I use?

Enter the adopted rate for every taxing unit attached to the exact parcel. Use the official tax statement, tax account, appraisal record or taxing-unit rate publication.

4. Does Texas have one statewide property-tax rate?

No. Texas has no state property tax. School districts, counties, cities and other local taxing units adopt rates.

5. What is the Texas school homestead exemption for 2026?

The statewide school-district residence-homestead exemption is $140,000 for a qualifying principal residence. Do not automatically subtract it from county, city or special-district taxable values.

6. How does the residence-homestead appraisal cap work?

For an eligible homestead, appraised value generally cannot exceed the lower of market value or the prior appraised value plus 10% and qualifying new improvements. The limitation normally begins in the year after the owner first qualifies for the homestead exemption.

7. Can a home buyer use this calculator?

Yes. Buyers should use a realistic post-sale value and only exemptions they expect to qualify for. Do not assume the seller’s cap, ceiling or exemption transfers.

8. Does the monthly result equal my full escrow payment?

No. It is estimated property tax divided by 12. Insurance, mortgage insurance, escrow cushions, shortages and other lender charges are not included.

9. Can the calculator estimate protest savings?

Yes. Enter a possible reduced appraised value. The tool compares estimated tax before and after the reduction and subtracts optional evidence or filing costs.

10. Why might the official bill be different?

The official bill may use unit-specific taxable values, adopted rates, tax ceilings, proration, special appraisal, corrections, credits, penalties, interest or payment history not fully represented in an educational calculation.

Free Appraisal District Property Tax Helper

Search Smarter, Estimate Taxes, Check Exemptions and Prepare for a Protest

Use this free tool before you visit a county appraisal district, property search portal, tax office, or exemption page. It helps you understand property value, taxable value, possible savings, protest value, and the next official step.

Start Property Helper
8 toolsSearch helper, tax estimate, exemption savings, protest prep and more.
For all countiesWorks as a sitewide tool on every appraisal district article.
No loginNo name, email, property ID or private information required.
Mobile-firstBuilt for visitors checking property records from a phone.

What do you need help with today?

Choose your main reason for visiting. The tool will show the best next step and quick estimate.

Homeowners

Use this tool to check your appraisal notice, exemption savings, protest value, and official next step.

Buyers and investors

Use the tax calculator before trusting only the sale price or mortgage estimate.

Property Search Helper

Use this when a county property search portal is confusing. It shows which search method is usually best.

Property Tax Estimate Calculator

Estimate annual property tax using appraised value, assessment ratio, exemptions, and combined tax rate.

Homestead and Exemption Savings

Estimate how much a homestead, senior, disability, veteran, or local exemption may reduce tax.

Appraisal Notice Review

Compare last year value with this year value and see whether the increase deserves closer review.

Property Tax Protest Savings

Estimate possible savings if your appraised value is reduced after protest, correction, evidence review, or appraisal review board hearing.

Property Tax Protest and Exemption Checklist

Use this checklist before you file a protest, apply for exemption, or call the appraisal district.

Useful tip

Before calling, write your property ID, owner name, property address, and question on paper. It saves time.

Common mistake

Do not call the CAD to pay tax bills unless the local article says they collect taxes. In many counties, the tax office collects payment.

Official Resource Finder

Enter county and state to create safe searches for official CAD pages, property search, tax payment, exemptions, maps, forms, and protest help.

CAD vs Tax Office

  • Appraisal District: value, exemptions, ownership records, maps, protest.
  • Tax Office: tax bill, payment, receipt, delinquent balance, penalty.

Best place to use this

Add this tool after the first major content section or before the FAQ area. It gives visitors a reason to interact before leaving the page.

Important estimate note

This tool gives educational estimates only. Final values, exemptions, tax rates, bills, payments, and deadlines must be confirmed with official county sources.

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