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Updated 2025 Tax Year

Hamilton County
Property Tax Guide

Everything you need to know about property taxes in Hamilton County, TX. Rates, due dates, exemptions, and how it affects your monthly payment.

9 Official Sources
8 min read
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Quick Facts
Tax Rate
$0.4140 per $100 assessed value (county base rate, varies significantly by district with school and municipal additions)
1st Due
Jan 31
Exemptions
5+ Available
Section 1

How Property Tax Works

Hamilton County, Texas operates under the state's property tax system to fund essential local services including schools, county operations, emergency services, and infrastructure maintenance. Property taxes are assessed annually on real estate and business personal property, with assessments based on market value as of January 1st each year. The Hamilton County Appraisal District determines property values, while various taxing entities set their respective tax rates.

The effective property tax rate in Hamilton County varies significantly depending on your specific location within the county due to overlapping taxing districts including school districts, municipalities, special utility districts, and other local entities. While the county's base rate is $0.4140 per $100 of assessed value for FY 2025-2026, total rates typically range from approximately 1.5% to 2.2% when combined with school district and other local taxes. Texas law provides several tax exemptions and assessment limitations, particularly for homestead properties, but these require timely application and are not automatically applied.

Section 2

What Makes Up Your Tax Bill

ComponentRate (per $100)Description
Hamilton County$0.4140County services, roads, law enforcement, courts
School Districts$0.85-$1.30Varies by district (Hamilton ISD, Hico ISD, etc.)
Cities/Towns$0.15-$0.65Municipal services where applicable
Emergency Services$0.05-$0.15Fire protection, EMS districts
Water/Utility Districts$0.02-$0.25Special utility districts where applicable
Total Estimated Range$1.47-$2.35Varies by specific location and districts

Rates shown are for FY 2025-2026 tax year. Your actual total rate depends on which combination of taxing districts serve your specific property location. Contact the Hamilton County Appraisal District at (254) 386-3919 for your exact taxing entities and combined rate.

Section 3

When Are Property Taxes Due?

For the 2025/2026 tax year in Hamilton County, property taxes are due in two installments:

First Installment
Jan 31
Delinquent after Dec 10
Pro tip: If you pay through mortgage escrow, your lender splits these payments across your monthly mortgage. If you pay directly, set calendar reminders to avoid late penalties.
Section 4

Supplemental Tax Bills

Supplemental taxes in Hamilton County are additional property tax bills issued when significant changes occur to a property after the January 1st assessment date but before the end of the tax year. The most common triggers include new construction completion, major improvements or additions, property splits or combinations, and correction of assessment errors discovered mid-year.

When a supplemental assessment is issued, the additional tax is calculated by applying the current year's tax rate to the difference between the new assessed value and the original assessed value. For example, if you complete a $50,000 home addition in June, and your total tax rate is 2.0%, you would owe a supplemental tax of approximately $1,000 ($50,000 × 0.02) for the portion of the year after the improvement was completed. Supplemental tax bills are typically issued within 60-90 days of the triggering event and become due 30 days after the bill date.

Example Calculation

Example 1: $300,000 Home with Homestead Exemption

  • Market Value: $300,000
  • School Homestead Exemption: -$100,000
  • Taxable Value: $200,000
  • Estimated Tax Rate: 1.85%
  • Annual Tax: $3,700
  • Monthly Escrow: $308

Example 2: $600,000 Home with Homestead Exemption

  • Market Value: $600,000
  • School Homestead Exemption: -$100,000
  • Taxable Value: $500,000
  • Estimated Tax Rate: 1.85%
  • Annual Tax: $9,250
  • Monthly Escrow: $771

Example 3: $1,000,000 Investment Property (No Exemptions)

  • Market Value: $1,000,000
  • Exemptions Applied: $0
  • Taxable Value: $1,000,000
  • Estimated Tax Rate: 1.85%
  • Annual Tax: $18,500
  • Monthly Escrow: $1,542

Note: Homestead exemption requires application and applies only to primary residences. Additional exemptions may be available for seniors, disabled veterans, and other qualifying circumstances but must be applied for annually.

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Section 5

Escrow & Property Taxes

Most mortgage lenders in Hamilton County require property tax escrow accounts to ensure timely payment of property taxes. Your lender collects a monthly amount equal to approximately 1/12th of your estimated annual property tax bill, plus a cushion of up to two months. This money is held in a separate escrow account and used to pay your property taxes when they become due.

Property taxes in Hamilton County become due January 31st each year, though some taxing entities may offer split payment options with earlier deadlines in September and December. Your lender will typically pay the full annual amount by the January 31st deadline. Lenders are required to provide an annual escrow analysis showing how your payments were used and whether adjustments are needed for the coming year. You can verify that payments were properly made by checking with the Hamilton County Tax Assessor-Collector or viewing your account online. If you pay off your mortgage or refinance, you'll become responsible for making property tax payments directly to the county.

How HonestCasa Helps
  • Understand whether your escrow is set correctly
  • See how rising taxes will change your monthly payment
  • Plan ahead instead of being surprised by "shortage" letters
Section 6

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When are Hamilton County property taxes due for FY 2025-2026? A: Property taxes are due January 31, 2026. Some taxing entities offer split payment options with first installments due September 1, 2025, and second installments due December 1, 2025.

Q: What tax exemptions are available and do I need to apply? A: Texas offers homestead exemptions (reducing school district taxes by up to $100,000), senior citizen exemptions, disabled veteran exemptions, and disability exemptions. All exemptions require annual application with the Hamilton County Appraisal District by April 30th.

Q: How does the homestead exemption work? A: The homestead exemption provides up to $100,000 reduction in assessed value for school district taxes on your primary residence, and caps annual assessment increases at 10%. You must file Form 50-114 with the appraisal district and the property must be your principal residence as of January 1st.

Q: When will I receive my property tax assessment for 2025? A: Assessment notices are typically mailed by April 30th. If your home's assessed value increased more than $1,000, you'll receive a notice of appraised value with appeal information.

Q: How do I appeal my property assessment? A: File a written protest with the Hamilton County Appraisal Review Board by May 31st (or within 30 days of receiving your notice if mailed later). Include comparable sales data and evidence supporting your position.

Q: What penalties apply for late payment? A: Taxes paid after January 31st incur penalties starting at 6% in February, increasing to 7% in March, 8% in April, 9% in May, 10% in June, and 12% in July and beyond, plus interest.

Q: Can I pay my property taxes online? A: Yes, Hamilton County offers online payment through their website. Credit card payments may incur convenience fees. Check with the Tax Assessor-Collector's office for current payment options.

Q: How do special taxing districts affect my bill? A: Your property may be served by multiple taxing entities (school district, city, emergency services, utility districts) each with separate rates. Your total tax rate is the sum of all applicable district rates, which varies by location within the county.

Verified Sources

Backed by 9 Official Government Sources

Every fact in this guide is sourced from official county, state, and federal documents.

01
County
Hamilton County Commissioner's Court - Special Sessionhamiltoncountytx.gov
02
2025-2026 adopted budgethamiltoncountytx.gov
03
Notice of Bond Election Evant ISDhamiltoncountytx.gov
04
HAMILTON CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICTcomptroller.texas.gov
05
Tax Doc
96-1717 Handbook of Texas Property Tax Rulescomptroller.texas.gov
06
Tax Doc
Property Tax Today - Texas Comptrollercomptroller.texas.gov
07
Residence Homestead Exemptions - Texas Comptrollercomptroller.texas.gov
08
County
2023 Hamilton County Audit Reporthamiltoncountytx.gov
09
Audit Report For the Year Ended September 30, 2019hamiltoncountytx.gov
All sources verified as of 2025 Tax Year

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