Property Tax Resources · Jeff Davis County, Texas
Davis Mountains ranch country and the highest county seat in Texas — Jeff Davis County’s 0.77% effective rate is among the lowest in the state, falling on remote ranching operations in the heart of the Trans-Pecos.
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.
Jeff Davis County is one of the most spectacularly remote counties in Texas, rising from the Chihuahuan Desert floor into the Davis Mountains where Fort Davis sits at 4,900 feet — the highest county seat in the state. The county is home to McDonald Observatory, some of the darkest skies in North America, and ranching operations that stretch across mountain terrain that has changed little since the frontier era. Its small population of roughly 2,200 residents makes it one of the most sparsely populated counties in Texas.
At 0.77%, Jeff Davis County’s effective rate is well below both the state and national medians. But on ranch and mountain property that has attracted growing interest from buyers seeking remoteness and dark skies, even a low rate on an inflated base produces unnecessary bills. In counties this small and remote, few protests are filed — and valuation errors persist 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.
Jeff Davis 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 Jeff Davis County.
Enter the date your Notice of Appraised Value was mailed to find your exact filing deadline.
Every taxing unit in Jeff Davis 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 Jeff Davis County Tax Rates →| Taxing Entity | Type | Rate (2025 adopted) |
|---|---|---|
| Jeff Davis County | County | $1.3735/$100 |
| Fort Davis ISD | School District | $0.7239/$100 |
| Valentine ISD | School District | $0.6822/$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 jeffdaviscad.org. Know your Notice of Appraised Value and the deadline printed on it.
File online, by mail, or in person at Jeff Davis County Appraisal District: P.O. Box 1249, Fort Davis, TX 79734. 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, 1836Jeff Davis County ranchers have worked the Davis Mountains through droughts that last decades and frosts that arrive without warning. The founders of the Republic wrote that no property shall be taken without consent and just compensation — a principle that protects the Fort Davis rancher as fully as the Austin homeowner, regardless of population or remoteness. Look up your value. File your protest. The Davis Mountains deserve fair treatment from the tax system.
