Property Tax Resources · Kaufman County, Texas
Kaufman County
Property Taxes
Forney, Terrell, and one of the fastest-growing corridors in DFW — mass appraisal models can’t keep up with this market, and homeowners are paying for it.
Property Tax Resources · Kaufman County, Texas
Forney, Terrell, and one of the fastest-growing corridors in DFW — mass appraisal models can’t keep up with this market, and homeowners are paying for it.
Population: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 estimate. Effective tax rate: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024. Avg annual bill: calculated from Census ACS median home value. Protest success rate: TaxDrop.com 2024 (90% ARB, 19,730 protests filed).
🔴 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.
Kaufman County is caught between two growth waves. Forney — one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas for years — is maturing, while Terrell and the eastern edge of the county are just beginning their surge. The Kaufman Central Appraisal District is applying mass-appraisal models across a market in two very different phases, pulling older homes toward new-construction values without accounting for age, condition, or the builder incentives baked into those comparable sales. The result: homeowners systematically overvalued, and every major ISD in the county carrying the maximum debt service rate of $0.50 per $100 — meaning a successful protest compounds across every taxing entity billing your property.
In 2024, about 20% of Kaufman County property owners protested — and 74% of informal protests resulted in a reduction. That number should be far higher. The tools and steps below are your starting point.
Official CAD site — appraisal notices, exemption applications, and district contact information.
Search your property record, view your current appraised value, and verify exemption status.
Kaufman CAD protest procedures, filing options, and deadline information for the current protest period.
Every taxing entity’s proposed rate, adopted rate, and public hearing schedule for Kaufman County.
Enter the date your Notice of Appraised Value was mailed to find your exact filing deadline.
Every taxing unit in Kaufman County — your school district, city, and 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: Kaufman County Courthouse, Kaufman, Texas. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
| Taxing Entity | Type | Rate (2024 approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Kaufman County | County | ~$0.2777/$100 |
| Forney ISD | School District | ~$1.2869/$100 |
| Kaufman ISD | School District | ~$1.2552/$100 |
| Terrell ISD | School District | ~$1.1305/$100 |
| Crandall ISD | School District | ~$1.2869/$100 |
| City of Forney | City | ~$0.4068/$100 |
| City of Kaufman | City | ~$0.6500/$100 |
| City of Terrell | City | ~$0.7000/$100 |
| Multiple MUDs & Special Districts | Special District | Varies — can add 0.50%+ |
Rates shown are approximate 2024 adopted rates. If your property is in a newer development with a Municipal Utility District, your effective rate may be significantly higher. Verify current rates at kaufman.countytaxrates.com and check your tax statement for all entities billing your property.
Search your account at kaufman-cad.org. Confirm your Notice of Appraised Value and the protest deadline printed on it.
File online, by mail, or in person at Kaufman CAD: 3950 S. Houston St., Kaufman, TX 75142. Deadline: May 15, 2026 or 30 days after your notice was mailed.
Challenge new-construction comps directly — show the age, condition, and builder-incentive differences between your home and what the CAD used to value it. That’s where most reductions are won in Kaufman County.
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 Kaufman 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
Kaufman County is growing because families want what it offers — affordability, land, and distance from the city. But the appraisal district’s models are erasing that affordability with valuations built on new-construction comparables that have nothing to do with a 15-year-old home in an established neighborhood. The founders of this Republic were explicit: property is not to be taken without consent and just compensation. Show up. Look up your value. File your protest. Attend the hearings. The people setting these rates are your neighbors. They work for you — as long as you hold them to 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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