Harris County Property Tax Guide 2026
Complete guide to Harris County (Harris CAD) property tax — rates, deadlines, payment options, and how to protest your appraisal in Houston and surrounding areas.
Key Dates
- Payment due
- February 1, 2027
- Notices mailed
- Usually April
- 2027 protest deadline
- May 17, 2027
- or the 30th day after your notice is mailed, if later
- The 2026 deadline was May 15, 2026. A late notice still gives 30 days from its mailing date, and the 30th day moves to the next business day when it falls on a weekend or holiday.
- ARB Hearings
- Usually May to September
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 Central Appraisal District 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. Harris CAD provides a public iFile portal at owners.hcad.org where homeowners file protests online and, if they opt in to iSettle, upload evidence within five days of filing, 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?
- Harris CAD 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: Harris CAD 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.
- Harris CAD 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.
Free. No account required.
How to Protest Your Property Tax
File online with iFile at owners.hcad.org, Harris CAD's Electronic Filing and Notice System. If you opt in to iSettle, you can upload appraisal evidence, condition photos and comparable sales within five calendar days of filing. For a formal hearing in person, bring four printed copies.
Pull the "property record card" from the Harris CAD 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 Harris CAD 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 Harris CAD 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 Harris CAD appraiser before the formal ARB hearing. Settling at the informal stage 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 $140,000 off school taxable value and a 10% cap on annual value increases.
- $140,000 school district exemption
- 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 $60,000 school district exemption
- 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 search.hcad.org and search by address, owner name, or 13-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.