Property Tax Resources · Refugio County, Texas
Coastal Bend ranch and oil country — Refugio County’s 0.90% effective rate falls below both medians, where cattle ranching, hunting leases, and Coastal Bend oil production define a small community with deep Texas mission history.
Sources: Population — U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024 estimates; County Debt — Texas Bond Review Board (FY2025)
🔴 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.
Refugio County lies on the Coastal Bend between Corpus Christi and Victoria, with Refugio as its county seat — a community whose name traces to Mission Nuestra Señora del Refugio, one of the last Spanish missions established in Texas. The county’s economy runs on cattle ranching, hunting leases, and some oil and gas production. Its small size and rural character have kept it largely outside the reach of South Texas suburban expansion.
At 0.90%, Refugio County’s effective rate falls below both the state and national medians. For agricultural landowners and mineral interest owners in a county this size, few protests are filed — which means valuation errors can accumulate unchallenged. 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.
Refugio 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 Refugio County.
Enter the date your Notice of Appraised Value was mailed to find your exact filing deadline.
Every taxing unit in Refugio 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.
View Refugio County Tax Rates →| Taxing Entity | Type | Rate (2025 adopted) |
|---|---|---|
| Refugio County | County | $0.8000/$100 |
| Austwell-Tivoli ISD | School District | $1.0469/$100 |
| Refugio ISD | School District | $0.8516/$100 |
| Woodsboro ISD | School District | $1.2338/$100 |
2025 adopted rates per Texas Comptroller Tax Rates & Levies (source). City, MUD, college and other special-district rates may also apply depending on your parcel. Your total depends on which districts your property falls in — verify current rates at your county appraisal district.
What your Notice means and exactly what to do — and by when — after it arrives.
How the Texas homestead exemption lowers your taxable value, including recent changes.
When a property tax consultant is worth it for protesting your appraisal.
Lesser-known special valuations that can cut the taxable value of qualifying land.
The state office that oversees appraisal districts and protects taxpayers.
Who sets your county’s values and why that role matters to your bill.
Search your account at refugiocad.org. Know your Notice of Appraised Value and the deadline printed on it.
File online, by mail, or in person at Refugio County Appraisal District: P.O. Box 156, Refugio, TX 78377. 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, 1836Refugio County’s name comes from the last Spanish mission built in Texas — a place of refuge in a landscape that demanded resilience. The founders of the Republic wrote that no property shall be taken without consent and just compensation. That principle of refuge and fair dealing applies to the Refugio County rancher and the Coastal Bend oil royalty owner as fully as to anyone in Texas. Look up your value. File your protest. Coastal Bend heritage deserves fair assessment.
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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