Leon County Courthouse in Centerville, Texas

Property Tax Resources · Leon County, Texas

Leon County
Property Taxes

East Texas piney woods at the I-45 corridor — Leon County’s 0.83% effective rate is among the lower in the state, but its location between Dallas and Houston is beginning to attract outside land buyers.

APPROX.
17,500
Residents
Outstanding
$8.4M
County Debt (FY2025)
FY2025
$506
Debt Per Resident

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.

Leon County sits astride I-45 between Dallas and Houston, with Centerville as its county seat. The county is pine and hardwood timber country at the transition between the East Texas Piney Woods and the Blackland Prairie. Its location on a major interstate corridor has historically been an asset for commerce — and increasingly attracts attention from land buyers seeking rural acreage within driving range of two major metros.

At 0.83%, Leon County carries one of the lower effective rates in Texas. But on timber and hunting land whose values have begun rising with corridor spillover demand, even a low rate on an inflating base produces growing bills. Half of those who protested in 2024 achieved reductions. Your deadline is May 15, 2026.

Property Tax Protest Service
Don’t want to fight this alone? Let Ownwell do it.
Ownwell protests Texas property taxes on contingency — you pay nothing unless they reduce your bill.
Get a Free Analysis →

Leon County Resources

Leon County Appraisal District

Official CAD site — appraisal notices, exemption applications, and district contact information.

Property Look-Up

Search your property record, view current appraised value, and verify exemption status.

File Your Protest

Leon County Appraisal District protest procedures, online filing portal, and deadline information for the current year.

Truth in Taxation

Every taxing entity’s proposed rate, adopted rate, and public hearing schedule for Leon County.

📅 Protest Deadline Calculator

Enter the date your Notice of Appraised Value was mailed to find your exact filing deadline.

Your protest deadline is:
Leon County Courthouse, Centerville, Texas

Truth in Taxation — Your Right to Be Heard

Every taxing unit in Leon 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 Leon County Tax Rates →

Who Taxes Leon County Property Owners

Taxing EntityTypeRate (2025 adopted)
Leon CountyCounty$0.4193/$100
Buffalo ISDSchool District$1.1105/$100
Centerville ISDSchool District$1.1353/$100
Leon ISDSchool District$0.7549/$100
Normangee ISDSchool District$1.1469/$100
Oakwood ISDSchool District$0.8813/$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.

Neighboring Counties

Anderson County Brazos County Freestone County Houston County Limestone County Madison County Robertson County

Texas Property Tax Guides

Notice of Appraised Value

What your Notice means and exactly what to do — and by when — after it arrives.

Homestead Exemption & the New Law

How the Texas homestead exemption lowers your taxable value, including recent changes.

Should You Use a Consultant?

When a property tax consultant is worth it for protesting your appraisal.

Agricultural & Wildlife Valuations

Lesser-known special valuations that can cut the taxable value of qualifying land.

Property Tax Assistance Division

The state office that oversees appraisal districts and protects taxpayers.

The Chief Appraiser’s Role

Who sets your county’s values and why that role matters to your bill.

SponsoredOwnwell handles your Leon County protest — evidence, filing, and hearings — on contingency.
No Win, No Fee →

How to Protest Your Leon County Property Taxes

1

Look Up Your Value

Search your account at leoncad.org. Know your Notice of Appraised Value and the deadline printed on it.

2

File Your Protest

File online, by mail, or in person at Leon County Appraisal District: P.O. Box 536, Centerville, TX 75833. Deadline: May 15, 2026 or 30 days after your notice was mailed.

3

Gather Your Evidence

Recent sales of comparable properties, your purchase price, photos of condition issues, and repair estimates all strengthen your case.

4

Try Informal Resolution

Before your ARB hearing, a CAD appraiser may offer to settle. Review any offer carefully — you can accept or proceed to the formal hearing.

5

Present to the ARB

The Appraisal Review Board is independent of the CAD. Present your evidence clearly and concisely. Most hearings run 15–30 minutes.

6

Appeal If Needed

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

Leon County sits between two of the largest cities in America but has managed to remain agricultural and rural in character. The founders wrote that no property shall be taken without consent and just compensation — and that protection extends to the Leon County timber farmer whose land is being eyed by urban buyers as much as it does to anyone in the state. Low rates don’t eliminate the right to an accurate appraisal. Look up your value. File your protest.

How to Protest Your Taxes →Find Another County →
Partner
Let a professional handle your Leon County protest.
Ownwell’s Texas experts file, negotiate, and fight on your behalf — from start to finish. You pay only if they save you money.
Get Your Free Estimate →