Harris County Property Tax Guide 2026
Complete guide to Harris County (HCAD) property tax — rates, deadlines, payment options, and how to protest your appraisal in Houston and surrounding areas.
Key Dates
- Payment due
- January 31, 2026
- Notices mailed
- April 2026
- Protest deadline
- May 15, 2026
- ARB Hearings
- July-September 2026
Tax rates
Average Total (Harris): 2.0% - 2.5%
- School district
- ~1.0-1.3%
- County
- ~0.34%
- City
- ~0.5-0.7%
- Special Districts
- Varies (MUD/Special Districts)
About Harris Property Tax
Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) manages over 1.9 million property accounts — the largest appraisal district in Texas — covering Houston, Pasadena, Baytown, and hundreds of smaller municipalities. Property owners here contend with an unusually layered tax structure: in addition to the standard county, city, and school district levies, many neighborhoods fall within Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) that add separate tax bills for water, sewer, and drainage infrastructure. The Harris County Flood Control District also assesses a dedicated levy. Neighboring Fort Bend County and Montgomery County share similar MUD structures, while Galveston County and Brazoria County to the south often have lower overall rates. HCAD provides a public iFile portal that allows homeowners to file protests online 24/7 and upload evidence directly, and its ArcGIS-based Parcel Viewer gives access to sales comparables and neighborhood data without visiting the district office.
Average Home Value
$350,000
Typical Annual Tax
$7,700/year
Official Resources - Harris
Why Protest in Harris?
- HCAD appraises at 100% of market value — any overestimate directly increases your tax bill across all overlapping jurisdictions including MUDs and the Flood Control District.
- Unequal appraisal (Tex. Tax Code §41.43) is especially effective in Harris County: HCAD appraises at inconsistent rates across neighborhoods, and the published ratio studies support this claim.
- MUD tax rates often exceed 1% on their own, meaning even a modest value reduction produces meaningful savings when multiplied across all taxing entities.
- HCAD publicly releases hearing outcomes and ARB settlement data, so you can calibrate your target value based on what comparable properties actually settled for in prior years.
Check your savings potential
Enter your address to see your current tax bill and estimate how much you could save by protesting.
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How to Protest Your Property Tax
Use the HCAD iFile portal (hcad.org) to file online — you can attach appraisal evidence, photos of condition issues, and comparable sales data before your scheduled hearing.
Pull the "property record card" from the HCAD Parcel Viewer to verify square footage, year built, and quality grade; errors on these inputs are the most common basis for value reductions.
Prepare an unequal appraisal argument using the HCAD neighborhood sales ratio — look for properties similar in size and age that appraised at a lower ratio to market than your property.
If your home is in a MUD, identify the MUD number through the HCAD parcel viewer and factor in the MUD tax rate when calculating your total effective tax rate before deciding whether to protest.
Request an informal settlement with the HCAD appraiser before the formal ARB hearing; HCAD resolves roughly 80% of protests at the informal stage, which is faster and avoids the ARB queue.
Payment Information
Mail Payment
Harris County Tax Office, P.O. Box 4622, Houston, TX 77210
Property tax exemptions
Homestead Exemption
For your primary residence. Provides $100,000 off school taxes and a 10% cap on annual value increases.
- $100,000 exemption from school district taxes
- Up to 20% exemption from county/city taxes
- 10% annual cap on appraised value increases
Over-65 Exemption
Additional benefits for seniors 65 and older, including a school tax freeze and optional tax deferral.
- Extra $10,000+ exemption from school taxes
- School tax ceiling frozen at age 65 amount
- Optional deferral of all taxes until sale
Disabled Veteran Exemption
For veterans with a VA disability rating. Exemption amount depends on disability percentage.
- 10-69% disability: $5,000-$10,000 exemption
- 70-100% disability: $12,000+ exemption
- 100% disabled: Complete tax exemption
Apply through your county appraisal district. You only need to apply once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Go to public.hcad.org/records and search by address, owner name, or 10-digit account number. The parcel viewer at arcweb.hcad.org shows your property on a map with overlapping districts.
Cities in Harris County
City-specific property tax guides for Harris County — rates vary by jurisdiction.
Compare with Nearby Counties
| County | Avg. Tax Rate | Major City | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Bend County | 2.2% - 2.7% | Sugar Land | View Guide |
| Montgomery County | 2.0% - 2.5% | Conroe | View Guide |
| Brazoria County | 2.0% - 2.6% | Pearland | View Guide |
| Galveston County | 2.0% - 2.5% | Texas City | View Guide |
Check your savings potential
Enter your address to see your current tax bill and estimate how much you could save by protesting.
Free. No account required.