Property Tax Resources · Duval County, Texas
South Texas oil country with a long history of hard taxation — Duval County’s 2.33% effective rate is one of the highest in the region, and most owners never protest.
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.
Duval County occupies a stretch of South Texas brush country between the Nueces River and Laredo, with San Diego as its county seat. The county sits atop the Piedras Pintas salt dome and overlies the Freer oil field — mineral wealth that has long driven both the local economy and complicated appraisal calculations. Duval has a long history of machine politics and opaque government, which makes independent vigilance over tax rates and appraisals more important, not less.
With a 2.33% effective rate, Duval County property owners pay among the highest rates in South Texas relative to appraised value. Many owners — particularly smaller residential and agricultural landowners — do not protest, even when their valuations are inconsistent with comparable sales. Your right to protest is independent of anyone else’s decision not to.
Official CAD site — appraisal notices, exemption applications, and district contact information.
Search your property record, view current appraised value, and verify exemption status.
Duval 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 Duval County.
Enter the date your Notice of Appraised Value was mailed to find your exact filing deadline.
Every taxing unit in Duval 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.) |
|---|---|---|
| Duval County | County | ~$0.50/$100 |
| San Diego ISD | School District | ~$0.97/$100 |
| Freer ISD | School District | ~$1.00/$100 |
| Benavides ISD | School District | ~$0.90/$100 |
| City of San Diego | City | ~$0.38/$100 |
| Multiple Special Districts | Special District | Varies |
Rates shown are approximate 2024 adopted rates. Verify current rates at duval.countytaxrates.com. Special districts vary by location — check your tax statement for all entities billing your property.
Search your account at duvalcad.org. Know your Notice of Appraised Value and the deadline printed on it.
File online, by mail, or in person at Duval County Appraisal District: P.O. Box 809, San Diego, TX 78384. 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
Duval County has a complicated history with transparency and public accountability. The founders of the Republic understood exactly why that transparency was necessary — they wrote it into the Declaration of Rights directly: all political power is inherent in the people, and government is instituted for their benefit. When taxing units set rates without full public disclosure, or when appraisal districts value property inconsistently across owners, they violate that principle. You have the right to the same treatment as every other property owner in this county. Look up your value. File your protest. Show up to the rate hearings. Government in Duval County works better when residents pay attention.
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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