Property Tax Resources · Bell County, Texas
Bell County
Property Taxes
Home to Fort Cavazos, Killeen, Temple, and Belton — a Central Texas county where property values and tax disputes have both surged.
🔴 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.
Bell County spans Central Texas from Belton to Killeen to Temple — a military-anchored community surrounding Fort Cavazos that has seen steady population growth and escalating appraisal values over the past decade. The Tax Appraisal District of Bell County manages over 185,000 parcels with a combined estimated value topping $55 billion. That is a lot of property, and a lot of opportunity for errors that cost you money.
Bell County is one of the few Texas counties where the appraisal district is also a consolidated tax office — it both appraises property and collects taxes, though it does not set the rates. Protest rates have climbed steadily, reaching 15% of parcels by 2024, and success rates for commercial property owners filing formally have run as high as 67%. Residential owners who file informally see meaningful settlements too. If your value went up, it is worth the time.
Bell County Resources
Tax Appraisal District of Bell County
Official CAD site — appraisal notices, exemption applications, and district contact information.
Property Look-Up
Search your property record, view current appraised value, and verify exemption status.
File Your Protest Online
Bell CAD Taxpayer Online Portal — file your protest, manage your account, and opt into electronic communications.
Truth in Taxation
Every taxing entity’s proposed rate, adopted rate, and public hearing schedule for Bell County.
📅 Protest Deadline Calculator
Enter the date your Notice of Appraised Value was mailed to find your exact filing deadline.
Truth in Taxation — Your Right to Be Heard
Every taxing unit in Bell 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.
Photo: Bell County Courthouse, Belton, Texas. Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain.
Who Taxes Bell County Property Owners
| Taxing Entity | Type | Rate (2024 approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Bell County | County | ~$0.33/$100 |
| Killeen ISD | School District | ~$1.09/$100 |
| Temple ISD | School District | ~$0.97/$100 |
| Belton ISD | School District | ~$1.00/$100 |
| Copperas Cove ISD | School District | ~$1.05/$100 |
| City of Killeen | City | ~$0.74/$100 |
| City of Temple | City | ~$0.53/$100 |
| Multiple MUDs & Special Districts | Special District | Varies |
Rates shown are approximate 2024 adopted rates. Verify current rates at bell.countytaxrates.com. MUDs and special districts vary by location — check your tax statement for all entities billing your property.
How to Protest Your Bell County Property Taxes
Look Up Your Value
Search your account at esearch.bellcad.org. Know your Notice of Appraised Value and the deadline printed on it.
File Your Protest
File online at the taxpayer portal or in person at a Bell CAD office: Belton — 411 E. Central Ave.; Killeen — 301 Priest Dr.; Temple — 205 E. Central Ave. Deadline: May 15, 2026 or 30 days after your notice was mailed.
Gather Your Evidence
Recent sales of comparable homes, your purchase price, photos of condition issues, and repair estimates all strengthen your case.
Try Informal Resolution
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.
Present to the ARB
The Appraisal Review Board is independent of the CAD. ARB hearings in Bell County run June through August. Present your evidence clearly and concisely.
Appeal If Needed
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
Bell County is a military community — soldiers, veterans, and their families who have served this country and come home to find their property taxes nearly doubled in a decade. The Tax Appraisal District of Bell County manages over 185,000 parcels. With 20 full-time appraisers, mass appraisal models drive most valuations — and those models make mistakes. Look up your value. File your protest. Use every office that’s available to you in Belton, Killeen, and Temple. The people running this system work for you.