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Updated 2025 Tax Year

Real County
Property Tax Guide

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

10 Official Sources
8 min read
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Quick Facts
Tax Rate
Varies by location within county due to multiple taxing entities; typical combined rate ranges 1.5-2.5%
1st Due
Jan 31
Exemptions
5+ Available
Section 1

How Property Tax Works

Real County, Texas operates under the state's property tax system, which serves as the primary funding mechanism for local government services including county operations, schools, emergency services, and infrastructure maintenance. Property taxes in Real County are assessed annually based on the appraised value of real estate and personal property as of January 1st each year. The Texas Property Tax Code governs all assessment and collection procedures, with the Real County Appraisal District responsible for determining property values and various taxing entities setting their respective tax rates.

The effective property tax rate in Real County varies significantly depending on your specific location within the county, as multiple taxing entities may apply to a single property. For fiscal year 2025, the base county tax rate is $0.464913 per $100 of assessed valuation, but your total rate will also include school district taxes, municipal taxes (if applicable), and any special district assessments such as hospital districts, emergency services districts, or municipal utility districts. Total effective rates typically range from approximately 1.5% to 2.2% of assessed value depending on these combined taxing jurisdictions.

Section 2

What Makes Up Your Tax Bill

ComponentRate (per $100)DescriptionLevy Year
Real County$0.464913County general fund operations, roads, law enforcementFY 2025
School DistrictsVaries by districtLocal school funding (varies by specific school district boundaries)FY 2025
MunicipalVaries by cityCity services (only applies within city limits)FY 2025
Emergency Services DistrictsVaries by districtFire protection, EMS servicesFY 2025
Hospital DistrictsVaries by districtLocal hospital and healthcare servicesFY 2025
Other Special DistrictsVaries by districtWater, utility, or other special purpose districtsFY 2025

Note: The no-new-revenue tax rate for Real County was calculated at $0.511674 per $100, indicating the adopted rate of $0.464913 represents a decrease from the previous year's effective rate. Your actual total tax rate depends on which combination of these taxing entities serve your specific property location. Contact the Real County Appraisal District for your property's complete taxing entity list.

Section 3

When Are Property Taxes Due?

For the 2025/2026 tax year in Real 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 Real County are triggered when property undergoes significant changes during the tax year, primarily through new construction, major improvements, or ownership transfers that reveal previously unreported improvements. When new construction is completed or substantial renovations add value to existing property, the appraisal district conducts a supplemental appraisal to capture this added value for the current tax year rather than waiting until the next annual assessment cycle.

The supplemental tax is calculated by determining the difference between the original assessed value and the new assessed value after improvements, then applying the current year's tax rates to this difference. The resulting supplemental tax is prorated based on the number of months remaining in the tax year after the completion date. For example, if you complete a $100,000 home addition in July, and your total tax rate is 2.0%, the supplemental tax would be approximately $1,000 (for the addition value) prorated for 6 months, resulting in a $500 supplemental tax bill issued separately from your annual tax statement.

Example Calculation

Example 1: $300,000 Home with Homestead

  • Market/Assessed Value: $300,000
  • School District Homestead Exemption: -$100,000
  • Net Taxable Value: $200,000
  • Combined Tax Rate (estimated): 1.8%
  • Annual Property Tax: $3,600
  • Monthly (if escrowed): $300

Example 2: $600,000 Home with Homestead and Over-65 Exemption

  • Market/Assessed Value: $600,000
  • School District Homestead Exemption: -$100,000
  • Additional Over-65 Exemption: -$10,000 (estimated local exemption)
  • Net Taxable Value: $490,000
  • Combined Tax Rate (estimated): 1.9%
  • Annual Property Tax: $9,310
  • Monthly (if escrowed): $776

Example 3: $1,000,000 Property without Homestead

  • Market/Assessed Value: $1,000,000
  • Exemptions Applied: $0 (no homestead)
  • Net Taxable Value: $1,000,000
  • Combined Tax Rate (estimated): 2.0%
  • Annual Property Tax: $20,000
  • Monthly (if escrowed): $1,667

Note: All exemptions require application and approval. Rates vary by specific taxing districts serving each property location.

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Section 5

Escrow & Property Taxes

Most mortgage lenders in Real County require property tax escrow accounts for loans with less than 20% down payment, though many borrowers choose escrow for convenience regardless of equity position. Your lender collects monthly escrow payments along with your mortgage payment, typically calculated as your annual property tax bill divided by 12, plus a small cushion to account for potential tax increases. Lenders are required to conduct annual escrow analyses and adjust your monthly payment if the account becomes short or develops a significant surplus.

Property tax payments from escrow accounts are typically made by your lender in December or January to ensure payment before the January 31st deadline. You should receive an annual escrow statement showing all deposits and payments, and you remain responsible for verifying that payments are made correctly and on time. If you pay property taxes directly (without escrow), you can make payments online, by mail, or in person to the Real County Tax Assessor-Collector's office, with the full annual payment due by January 31st to avoid penalties and interest.

How HonestCasa Helps
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Section 6

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When are Real County property taxes due for FY 2025? A: Property taxes are due January 31st. Taxes become delinquent on February 1st, and penalty and interest charges begin accruing immediately on delinquent amounts.

Q: What tax exemptions are available and do I need to apply? A: The primary exemption is the $100,000 school district homestead exemption for your primary residence, plus additional local exemptions for over-65, disabled persons, disabled veterans, and agricultural/timber use. All exemptions require application - none are automatic. Applications must be filed with the Real County Appraisal District.

Q: How does the homestead exemption work? A: The homestead exemption provides two benefits: it removes $100,000 of value from school district taxation and caps annual assessment increases at 10% for homesteaded properties. You must apply for homestead designation by April 30th of the tax year, and it only applies to your primary residence.

Q: What is the deadline to apply for exemptions? A: Most exemption applications must be filed by April 30th, though late applications may be accepted until December 31st with a 10% penalty. Contact the Real County Appraisal District for specific exemption deadlines and required documentation.

Q: How do I appeal my property assessment? A: You can file a protest with the Real County Appraisal Review Board by May 31st (or within 30 days of receiving your notice of appraised value, whichever is later). Protests can be filed online, by mail, or in person with supporting documentation of your property's value.

Q: What are the penalties for late payment? A: Delinquent taxes incur penalty and interest starting February 1st. Penalties are 6% in February, 7% in March, 8% in April, 9% in May, 10% in June, and 12% in July and thereafter, plus additional interest charges.

Q: Can I pay my property taxes online? A: Yes, most Texas counties including Real County offer online payment options through their tax collector's website. Payment methods typically include electronic check, credit card, or debit card, though convenience fees may apply for card payments.

Q: Why do property tax rates vary within Real County? A: Your total tax rate depends on which taxing entities serve your property location, including school districts, cities (if within city limits), emergency services districts, hospital districts, and other special purpose districts. Each entity sets its own tax rate, creating variation across different areas of the county.

Verified Sources

Backed by 10 Official Government Sources

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

01
County
real county taxpayer impact statementco.real.tx.us
02
County
notice of public hearing on tax rate - Real County, Texasco.real.tx.us
03
2025 Adopted Budgetnewtools.cira.state.tx.us
04
Tax Doc
Property Tax Law Deadlines - Texas Comptrollercomptroller.texas.gov
05
Tax Doc
Property Tax Today - Texas Comptrollercomptroller.texas.gov
06
Tax Doc
Tax Officenewtools.cira.state.tx.us
07
Residence Homestead Exemption Affidavits - Texas Comptrollercomptroller.texas.gov
08
Tax Doc
Property Tax Exemptions - Texas Comptrollercomptroller.texas.gov
09
Frequently Asked Questions - CivicPlus.CMS.FAQmansfieldtexas.gov
10
Tax Doc
Property Tax Bills - Texas Comptrollercomptroller.texas.gov
All sources verified as of 2025 Tax Year

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