Property Tax Resources · Lee County, Texas
Austin Chalk and Czech heritage country between Austin and Houston — Lee County’s 1.29% effective rate falls on Giddings homeowners and rural landowners increasingly pressured by Austin metro growth.
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.
Lee County lies between Austin and Houston on US-290, with Giddings as its county seat — a Czech heritage community in the Wendish and Sorbian immigrant corridor that settled Central Texas in the nineteenth century. The county sits in the Austin Chalk oil formation and has seen periodic energy activity alongside its agricultural economy. More recently, its location on the Austin-Houston corridor has made it attractive to urban buyers seeking rural acreage within an hour’s drive of the capital.
At 1.29%, Lee County’s effective rate is above the national median. Austin corridor demand has pushed rural land values upward, and agricultural landowners whose valuations reflect non-farm comparable sales may be paying more than the productivity of their land justifies. More than half of those who protested in 2024 achieved reductions. Your deadline is May 15, 2026.
Official CAD site — appraisal notices, exemption applications, and district contact information.
Search your property record, view current appraised value, and verify exemption status.
Lee 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 Lee County.
Enter the date your Notice of Appraised Value was mailed to find your exact filing deadline.
Every taxing unit in Lee 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.) |
|---|---|---|
| Lee County | County | ~$0.48/$100 |
| Giddings ISD | School District | ~$0.92/$100 |
| Lexington ISD | School District | ~$0.88/$100 |
| City of Giddings | City | ~$0.38/$100 |
| Multiple Special Districts | Special District | Varies |
Rates shown are approximate 2024 adopted rates. Verify current rates at lee.countytaxrates.com.
Search your account at leecad.org. Know your Notice of Appraised Value and the deadline printed on it.
File online, by mail, or in person at Lee County Appraisal District: P.O. Box 1089, Giddings, TX 78942. 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 — 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
Lee County’s Wendish and Czech farming families came to Central Texas seeking land they could own and work without government interference — and the founders wrote exactly that protection into the Declaration of Rights. When Austin metro expansion drives land values beyond what farming income supports, and the appraisal district captures those values without challenge, the founders’ principle is being tested. Look up your value. File your protest. Heritage farmland on the Austin corridor deserves a fair valuation.
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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