Property Tax Resources · Mills County, Texas
Central Texas Hill Country edge ranching country — Mills County’s 0.98% effective rate is just below the national median, where Goldthwaite serves ranchers and farmers on the Colorado River’s upper tributaries.
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.
Mills County occupies the transition between the Edwards Plateau and the Lampasas Cut Plain in Central Texas, with Goldthwaite as its county seat. The county’s economy runs on sheep, goats, cattle, pecans, and the hunting leases that have become increasingly important across the Hill Country edge. Goldthwaite sits on the Colorado River’s tributaries in terrain that is quintessential Texas ranch country.
At 0.98%, Mills County’s effective rate falls just below the national median. For ranching operations whose values have been influenced by Hill Country spillover demand from the Austin and San Antonio metros, agricultural productivity valuations that haven’t been recently verified may be producing bills that overstate what the land actually generates. 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.
Mills 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 Mills County.
Enter the date your Notice of Appraised Value was mailed to find your exact filing deadline.
Every taxing unit in Mills 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.) |
|---|---|---|
| Mills County | County | ~$0.40/$100 |
| Goldthwaite ISD | School District | ~$0.88/$100 |
| City of Goldthwaite | City | ~$0.30/$100 |
| Multiple Special Districts | Special District | Varies |
Rates shown are approximate 2024 adopted rates. Verify current rates at mills.countytaxrates.com.
Search your account at millscad.org. Know your Notice of Appraised Value and the deadline printed on it.
File online, by mail, or in person at Mills County Appraisal District: P.O. Box 565, Goldthwaite, TX 76844. 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
Mills County’s ranchers work land that has been in Texas agricultural production since before the Republic, raising the same sheep and goats and cattle that have defined Central Texas for generations. The founders wrote that no property shall be taken without consent and just compensation. When Hill Country demand inflates comparable sales beyond what ranching income justifies, the protest system is the correction. Look up your value. File your protest. Central Texas ranch country deserves accurate assessment.
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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