Property Tax Resources · Harris County, Texas
The largest county in Texas — Harris County’s 4.8 million residents face a 1.62% effective rate and $4,406 median annual bill, with dozens of overlapping taxing entities adding complexity to every property owner’s burden.
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.
Harris County is the most populous county in Texas and the third most populous county in the United States, home to the city of Houston and a sprawling network of incorporated cities, unincorporated communities, and a vast array of Municipal Utility Districts. The county’s property tax structure is among the most complex in the state — a typical Houston homeowner may be billed by HISD or another ISD, Harris County, a MUD, a hospital district, a flood control district, and a port authority, all in the same tax statement.
At a 1.62% effective rate with a $4,406 median annual bill, Harris County property taxes are significant — and Harris County property owners are among the most active protesters in Texas. Nearly two-thirds achieved reductions in 2024. HCAD handles millions of accounts and the informal settlement process is a real avenue for value reduction. If your appraised value increased this cycle, filing a protest is one of the highest-return uses of a few hours of your time.
Official CAD site — appraisal notices, exemption applications, and district contact information.
Search your property record, view current appraised value, and verify exemption status.
Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD) 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 Harris County.
Enter the date your Notice of Appraised Value was mailed to find your exact filing deadline.
Every taxing unit in Harris 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.) |
|---|---|---|
| Harris County | County | ~$0.36/$100 |
| Houston ISD | School District | ~$0.85/$100 |
| Cypress-Fairbanks ISD | School District | ~$0.93/$100 |
| Katy ISD | School District | ~$0.93/$100 |
| Spring ISD | School District | ~$0.89/$100 |
| Harris County Flood Control | Special District | ~$0.03/$100 |
| Houston Community College | College District | ~$0.09/$100 |
| Multiple MUDs | Special District | Varies — often $0.10–$0.60/$100 |
| Multiple Special Districts | Special District | Varies |
Rates shown are approximate 2024 adopted rates. Verify current rates at harris.countytaxrates.com.
Search your account at hcad.org. Know your Notice of Appraised Value and the deadline printed on it.
File online, by mail, or in person at Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD): 13013 Northwest Fwy., Houston, TX 77040. 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
Harris County is where more Texans live than anywhere else in the state — and where the complexity of overlapping taxing entities has made the property tax system opaque enough that most property owners don’t know what they’re paying or why. The founders of the Republic wrote that no property shall be taken without consent and just compensation, and that all political power is inherent in the people. Every MUD levy, every school district rate, every county assessment that exceeds what the evidence supports is a violation of that principle — and the protest system is the mechanism to push back. In 2023 alone, Harris County property owners saved more than $254 million through protests. Look up your value. File your protest. Four million Texans shouldn’t leave that money on the table.
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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