In Williamson County, property taxes fund community services, including police and fire protection, schools, and local street and road maintenance. Those services benefit everyone in the county, from children to the elderly.
Texas doesn't have a flat property tax rate. Instead, locally elected officials set a tax rate each year. Williamson County offers several exemptions homeowners can use to reduce their Texas property rates.
Property Valuation Process
Two main entities handle property taxes in Williamson County: the Williamson County Tax Assessor Collector and Williamson Central Appraisal District (CAD).
The Williamson County Tax Assessor Collector's office accepts property tax payments. However, it's not responsible for property assessments or setting tax rates.
The Williamson CAD determines each property's value based on a market analysis. It also reviews exemption requests and property tax protests. Homeowners receive their annual notices of appraised value from Williamson CAD between April 1 and April 15 each year.
If you disagree with your home's appraisal or wish to claim an exemption, your request goes to Williamson CAD. The Williamson County Tax Assessor Collector's office can't help you.
Over the past three years, there's been a lot of fluctuation in property values in Williamson County. The current 2025 median market value is still 9.65% below 2022 levels.
Exemptions Available to Homeowners
You may qualify for the general Texas Homestead Exemption if it's your primary residence as listed on your current Texas identification card.
The Texas Homestead Exemption reduces the property's appraisal value by $100,000 for school district taxes. It also caps annual property appraisal increases at 10%. If you're unsure whether you currently have the exemption, you can check your Homestead Exemption status.
To obtain the Texas Homestead Exemption, you must submit a request to Williamson CAD. This can be a time-consuming process if you opt to do it yourself. If you prefer assistance, Ownwell can help you with a retroactive application for up to two years for missed exemptions.
Williamson County offers several other property tax exemptions. Assessors combine the total of all exemptions when determining home market value, so it's possible to get multiple breaks that reduce your tax burden.
Over 65 Exemption
The senior or over 65 exemption is available for resident homeowners who are over the age of 65. Only one homeowner must meet the age requirement. For instance, if a married couple jointly owns their home and one spouse is 66 and the other is 60, they may claim the exemption.
The exemption is also available for surviving spouses when the deceased homeowner was over 65, as long as they were at least 55 years old when their spouse died.
The over 65 Exemption provides a minimum $10,000 exemption granted by local school districts. It also establishes a cap on the dollar amounts paid toward county and road taxes.
Disabled Persons Exemption
Disabled individuals who receive Social Security Disability Benefits or Medicare Part A and B may qualify for the Disabled Persons Exemption. Individuals with a physician's statement indicating their disability may also be eligible. This exemption reduces the property's assessment value by at least $10,000 and freezes amounts owed for county and road taxes.
Similar to the Over 65 Exemption, surviving spouses may claim the exemption if their deceased spouse was eligible for it due to a disability.
Veteran Exemptions
Military veterans with a service-connected disability rating of at least 10% can claim a Veteran Exemption. The disability rating must be issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Currently, the exemption rates are:
Disability rating of 10%-29%: $5,000 exemption
Disability rating of 30%-49%: $7,500 exemption
Disability rating of 50%-69%: $10,000 exemption
Disability rating of 70%-100%: $12,000 exemption
All veterans who receive VA disability benefits can claim the full $12,000 exemption once they turn 65, regardless of their disability rating percentage.
The Veteran Exemption is also available to surviving spouses and minor children of disabled veterans or military service members who died in the line of duty.
Property Tax Rates and Calculations
Williamson County's property tax bills include a summary of each service provided and its applicable tax rate. You may see charges for your local school district, municipal utility provider, water control unit, emergency services, and road services. Together, they total the annual property tax owed for your home.
The Williamson County property tax rate for each service varies depending on your home's location and the applicable services. Rates vary across cities, school districts, emergency departments, and other units.
Every year, local officials calculate a tax rate that enables them to sustain operations for the services under their administration. The tax rate relies on a complex calculation that considers appraised home values, service costs, and estimated values of properties under protest. The final figure is put to a vote, and all local homeowners are invited to attend a public hearing to share their concerns.
Williamson County Tax Office updates the rates every August and September as they become effective. The overall Williamson County GWI property tax rate increased to 0.355670 for 2024, up from 0.333116 in 2023.
This means that for every $100 assessed on a property, homeowners will pay approximately $0.36 in 2024 versus $0.33 in 2023.
Williamson CAD applies newly approved tax rates to each homeowner's property appraisal after accounting for exemptions.
Rights and Remedies for Homeowners
Property tax bill trends indicate that the median Texas property tax rate is 1.67%, compared to the national average of 1.02%. However, Williamson County provides several ways residents can potentially reduce their bills.
Protests and Appeals Process
All homeowners have the right to appeal their property appraisal. Start the process by filing a protest online or in person with Williamson CAD. The protest form should list the property's details and reasons why you believe the property warrants a lower assessment.
You'll receive a response from the Williamson CAD after its review. It may include a settlement offer, which you can accept or refuse. You'll have to attend an informal hearing. The informal hearing is a 15-minute meeting with district staff. You can use the time to share your concerns and present evidence. The district staff may offer a settlement. If you accept, Williamson CAD will apply the new appraisal value to the property, and you'll owe property taxes on the amount, which often results in reimbursement.
If you refuse the offer, you can escalate to a formal hearing with the Appraisal Review Board (ARB). You'll state your case and provide relevant evidence for the ARB to consider. Its decision usually finalizes the protest. However, you can take your case to arbitration and go before a judge.
Legal Options for Homeowners
You can hire an attorney or other agent and property tax firm to represent you during the hearing. Williamson CAD allows third-party representatives to argue on your behalf.
Key Dates and Deadlines
Williamson County follows a schedule for assessments, protests, billing, and payments.
Important Dates for Tax Payments
Property taxes are due by January 31 of the year following the assessment. The balance will begin to accrue interest if Williamson County does not receive payment by then. Homeowners who qualify for certain exemptions (such as age 65 or older) have until this day to set up an installment payment plan.
Deadlines for Filing Exemptions and Appeals
Williamson CAD accepts exemption requests year-round. Even so, always apply for available exemptions as soon as you qualify. If you wait too long, Williamson County may deny it.
Homestead, Over 65, 100% Disabled Veteran, and Disabled Person exemptions have a two-year application window that starts the first year you qualify. Veterans who claim the Standard Disabled Veteran exemption have five years to apply for it.
Most exemptions don't require an annual application. However, Williamson CAD may require you to recertify your eligibility every few years.
After receiving their assessment, all homeowners have 30 days to file a property tax protest. The deadline to protest is generally May 15, but it may be extended later if Williamson County didn't send your notice by April 15. If you miss the deadline, you won't be able to appeal until next year!
Saving Money on Property Taxes with Ownwell
Ownwell leverages technology and local expertise to reduce your Williamson County, TX, property taxes. We can help you apply for homestead exemptions for that year and retroactively for up to two years across all U.S. states.
And if you'd like to appeal a property assessment, we're experts in that, too!
