Harris County Property Tax: A 2025-2026 Homeowner's Guide

Receiving a notice from the Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD) can be a shock, especially if it values your property higher than you expected. If they overvalue your home, the property tax rates in Texas can suddenly put a major strain on your household budget.

Understanding the Harris County, Texas, property tax rate and how HCAD calculates your home value can help you avoid sticker shock. Even better, knowing what exemptions you can receive and how to file a protest can help lower your bill and protect your bank account.

Key Harris County Appraisal District Info

How Do I Read My HCAD Notice of Appraised Value?

You should receive a Harris County property tax appraisal notice in October or November. It will cover these key components:

• The market value is what HCAD believes your home would sell for in the current market.

• The appraised or assessed value is what HCAD uses exclusively for taxation.

• The taxable value is the appraised value minus any exemptions.

When comparing the market value to the assessed value, keep in mind that the assessed value is generally lower due to the homestead cap, which limits annual increases to no more than 10%. The taxable value, which is based on the appraised value, is the number the assessor uses to determine how much you owe in taxes for the year. As a result, a higher appraisal value leads to a higher tax bill.

Understanding Your Harris County Tax Bill

Your tax bill includes a lot of information, and some of it can be confusing. Here's a breakdown of the components using a Harris County, Texas property tax calculator to help you better understand what you owe and why.

How Is Your Tax Bill Calculated?

The assessor's office uses this formula for their tax calculations: Taxable value (according to the HCAD) x tax rates (from taxing units) = final bill

Taxing units are the different government entities that collect revenue from taxpayers. The total tax rate is the sum of all the rates from these local units, including:

• Houston Independent School District (ISD) or your associated school district

• City of Houston

• Harris County

• Harris County Flood Control District

While each government office or agency collects its own taxes, lowering your HCAD value reduces the amount you pay to all of them. As a result, your savings compound across all units if you can lower your home's taxable value.

How To Pay Your Property Taxes

Although you should receive a paper bill for your property taxes, you can look up a digital version online at the Harris County Tax Office website as well. The site will also show you the current property tax rate in Harris County, Texas, and when your taxes are due. Paying your property taxes on time prevents you from having to pay a penalty and interest.

You have several payment options, including e-checks, credit cards, and debit cards. Alternatively, you can pay over the phone via credit or debit card, mail a check, or visit the tax office to pay in person.

Which Exemptions Can Lower My Harris County Tax Bill?

A property tax exemption saves you money on taxes by reducing the taxable value of your home. These are the most common and beneficial exemptions for homeowners in Harris County:

• The General Residential Homestead Exemption is the foundational exemption available for primary residences. If you qualify, you'll receive a school district exemption of at least $40,000, and any taxing unit can offer an additional exemption of up to 20% of your home's value.

• The Over-65 Homeowners Exemption and Homeowners with Disabilities Exemption are available if you're over 65 years old or have a documented disability. Under these exemptions, school districts give an automatic

  $10,000 exemption; other taxing units may offer an exemption of at least $3,000; your school taxes won't increase unless you make home improvements, and you can indefinitely defer your tax payments with interest.

• The 100% Disabled Veteran's Homestead Exemption

  applies if you receive full disability payments from the Veterans' Administration due to a service-related condition. It exempts 100% of your home's value.

Homestead exemptions don't automatically apply to your tax bill, so you'll need to apply if you meet the eligibility requirements. The deadline for a new exemption application is typically April 30th, and you can submit the form through the HCAD website. After applying, check your homestead status with HCAD's property search tool.

How Do I Protest My Property Value in Harris County?

Exemptions are often the first step in lowering your bill, but if the underlying appraised value is too high, you'll need to appeal your Harris County appraisal. Filing an appeal allows you to dispute the value HCAD assigned to your home.

According to our Houston Area Property Tax Protest Patterns (Fall 2025) report, only 32% residential properties protested. Meaning, 866,623 didn't protest and likely left money on the table.

The most common approaches to reducing your bill include:

• Showing the market value is too high? Use factors like the purchase price or the condition of your home.

• Claiming unequal appraisal (often the most common and effective route): Find comparable properties in your area to show that your home's value is appraised higher.

If you decide to file a Harris County property tax protest, you'll need to collect strong evidence showing flaws in the HCAD property valuation. A list of comparable property values, estimates from home repair professionals, and photographs of structural damage are especially helpful.

Once you have all the information you need, you can submit your protest using the iFile system. On the site, you'll also find iSettle, which lets you resolve your protest by agreeing to a settlement with HCAD. If you can't reach a settlement, however, you may have to attend an Appraisal Review Board (ARB) hearing for further discussion.

Missed the Deadline? Here’s How To Plan for 2026

If you miss the protest deadline, you can still start getting ready to save money next year. Start by verifying your exemptions. Ensure you've claimed all the available exemptions you're eligible for, such as the Texas homestead exemptions. You can file some of these exemptions year-round rather than waiting for the next deadline.

Then, make sure you know when property taxes are due in Harris County, Texas — typically January 31st — so you can pay on time. Set an additional reminder for the May 15th deadline in case you want to protest your tax bill.

Ownwell Is Your Expert Partner for Harris County Protests

Filing a DIY appeal of your Harris County, Texas property taxes is possible, but the process is time-consuming and sometimes complicated. And you may not have access to the unequal appraisal comps you'll need to make a case against HCAD's valuation.

Working with Ownwell offers several advantages:

• Expert evidence: including the best comps for market value and unequal appraisal

• Time savings: avoiding the hassle of data gathering, filing, and hearings

• Higher success rate: with a greater chance of getting a lower appraised value for your home

In 2023, Harris County property owners saved more than $254 million through their tax protests.

Working with the experts at Ownwell — who understand the nuances of property taxes in Harris County, Texas — can help you lower your bill and take part in those savings.

Enter your property address to see how much money you're leaving on the table.