Property Tax Resources · Hill County, Texas
Blackland Prairie and I-35 corridor country south of DFW — Hill County’s 1.16% effective rate falls on agricultural land and rural residential property increasingly pressured by Waco and DFW 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.
Hill County lies on the Blackland Prairie between Dallas-Fort Worth and Waco, with Hillsboro as its county seat. The county’s economy runs on agriculture — cotton, grain, cattle — and has historically been rural in character. But its location on I-35, within commuting distance of Waco and accessible to DFW, has begun drawing residential development and land buyers that didn’t exist a decade ago.
At 1.16%, Hill County’s effective rate is above the national median. For longtime agricultural landowners, the arrival of non-farm comparable sales can push market-value appraisals well above what the land produces. 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.
Hill 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 Hill County.
Enter the date your Notice of Appraised Value was mailed to find your exact filing deadline.
Every taxing unit in Hill 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.) |
|---|---|---|
| Hill County | County | ~$0.45/$100 |
| Hillsboro ISD | School District | ~$0.90/$100 |
| Covington ISD | School District | ~$0.87/$100 |
| City of Hillsboro | City | ~$0.38/$100 |
| Multiple Special Districts | Special District | Varies |
Rates shown are approximate 2024 adopted rates. Verify current rates at hill.countytaxrates.com.
Search your account at hillcad.org. Know your Notice of Appraised Value and the deadline printed on it.
File online, by mail, or in person at Hill County Appraisal District: P.O. Box 416, Hillsboro, TX 76645. 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
Hill County farming families have worked Blackland Prairie soil through drought and depression, and the land they hold is theirs by right and by work. The founders wrote explicitly that no property shall be taken without consent and just compensation — and when suburban growth inflates comparable sales in ways that push farm valuations beyond what the operation can support, the protest system is the test. Look up your value. File your protest. The Blackland Prairie belongs to the people who work it.
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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