Property Tax Resources · Franklin County, Texas
Piney Woods lake country in Northeast Texas — Franklin County’s 0.89% rate is below the state median, but rising recreational and rural land values are pushing bills steadily higher.
Sources: Population — U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024 estimates; Effective Tax Rate & Avg Annual Bill — Ownwell (2024); Protest Success Rate — Texas Comptroller PTAD data, approximate.
🔴 2026 Protest Deadline: May 15, 2026 — or 30 days after your Notice of Appraised Value is mailed, whichever is later. Miss this date and you waive your right to protest.
Franklin County sits in the Piney Woods of Northeast Texas, where Cypress Springs Lake and Lake Bob Sandlin draw recreational buyers and retirees from Dallas and beyond. Mount Vernon is the county seat, and the county’s rural-residential mix has seen land values climb as DFW buyers discover the area. At 0.89%, Franklin County’s effective rate is one of the lower ones in East Texas — but the combination of rising values and steady rates produces compounding bills.
More than half of Franklin County property owners who protested in 2024 achieved reductions. For recreational and rural landowners who purchased property several years ago at prices well below current appraisals, the informal settlement process often yields results. Your deadline to protest is May 15, 2026 or 30 days from the mailing date of your Notice of Appraised Value.
Official CAD site — appraisal notices, exemption applications, and district contact information.
Search your property record, view current appraised value, and verify exemption status.
Franklin County Appraisal District protest procedures, online filing portal, and deadline information for the current year.
Every taxing entity’s proposed rate, adopted rate, and public hearing schedule for Franklin County.
Enter the date your Notice of Appraised Value was mailed to find your exact filing deadline.
Every taxing unit in Franklin County — your school district, city, county — must publish its proposed rate and hold a public hearing before adopting any rate exceeding the no-new-revenue rate. These meetings are open. Your voice is on the record.
| Taxing Entity | Type | Rate (2024 approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | County | ~$0.38/$100 |
| Mount Vernon ISD | School District | ~$0.88/$100 |
| Winnsboro ISD | School District | ~$0.85/$100 |
| City of Mount Vernon | City | ~$0.32/$100 |
| Multiple Special Districts | Special District | Varies |
Rates shown are approximate 2024 adopted rates. Verify current rates at franklin.countytaxrates.com. Special districts vary by location — check your tax statement for all entities billing your property.
Search your account at franklin-cad.org. Know your Notice of Appraised Value and the deadline printed on it.
File online, by mail, or in person at Franklin County Appraisal District: P.O. Box 720, Mount Vernon, TX 75457. Deadline: May 15, 2026 or 30 days after your notice was mailed.
Recent sales of comparable properties, your purchase price, photos of condition issues, and repair estimates all strengthen your case.
Before your ARB hearing, a CAD appraiser may offer to settle. Review any offer carefully before accepting — you can accept or proceed to the formal hearing.
The Appraisal Review Board is independent of the CAD. Present your evidence clearly and concisely. Most hearings run 15–30 minutes.
Disagree with the ARB ruling? You may appeal to district court, binding arbitration, or SOAH (properties over $1 million).
“No person’s particular services shall be demanded, nor property taken or applied to public use, unless by the consent of himself or his representative, without just compensation being made therefor.”
— Section 13, Declaration of Rights, Republic of Texas, 1836
Franklin County is lake and timber country — the kind of Texas that doesn’t make the headlines but holds the same fundamental property rights as any other county in the state. The founders wrote the Declaration of Rights to protect all Texans’ property from arbitrary government exaction, not just the urban homeowner or the major landowner. When appraisal values climb faster than rural income supports — driven by recreational demand from outside the community — the protest system exists precisely to correct that gap. Look up your value. File your protest. Your right to a fair valuation doesn’t depend on your county’s size.
For informational and educational purposes only. Property-Taxes-Texas.com is a citizen advocacy and education resource. Nothing on this site constitutes legal, financial, tax, or appraisal advice. We are not attorneys, CPAs, or licensed appraisers. Consult a licensed Texas attorney, qualified financial advisor, or certified appraiser for guidance specific to your situation. Deadlines, rates, and statutes are subject to change — verify all details with your county appraisal district or the Texas Comptroller before acting.
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