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Updated 2025 Tax Year

Travis County
Property Tax Guide

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

8 Official Sources
8 min read
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Quick Facts
Tax Rate
1.5% to 2.5% effective rate (County: $0.375845 per $100)
1st Due
Jan 31
Exemptions
5+ Available
Section 1

How Property Tax Works

Travis County's property tax system serves as the primary funding mechanism for essential local services including schools, county operations, emergency services, and municipal functions. Property owners in Travis County pay taxes to multiple entities: the county government, school districts, cities, and various special districts. The Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD) determines property values, while the Travis County Tax Office collects the taxes. For 2025, Travis County has proposed a tax rate of $0.375845 per $100 of assessed value, representing an 8.0% increase from the previous year.

The effective property tax rate in Travis County typically ranges from 1.5% to 2.5% of assessed value, depending on your specific location and the combination of taxing entities that serve your property. Texas law provides significant protections for homeowners, including a $100,000 homestead exemption for school district taxes and a 10% annual cap on appraisal increases for primary residences. Property taxes are due January 31st each year, with no split payment option available in Travis County.

Section 2

What Makes Up Your Tax Bill

ComponentRate (per $100)Description
Travis County$0.375845County government services, roads, courts, law enforcement
School District$1.00-$1.40Varies by district (Austin ISD, Pflugerville ISD, etc.)
City$0.30-$0.60Municipal services (Austin, Cedar Park, Round Rock, etc.)
Austin Community College$0.095Community college district
Hospital District$0.08-$0.12Central Health, emergency medical services
Special Districts$0.01-$0.20MUDs, water districts, emergency services districts
Total Effective Rate~1.8-2.3%Combined rate varies by location within county

Note: Rates shown are approximate and vary by specific location within Travis County. School district rates can vary significantly between districts.

Section 3

When Are Property Taxes Due?

For the 2025/2026 tax year in Travis 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 Travis County are additional property tax assessments that occur when there are changes to your property during the tax year that weren't captured in the original annual assessment. Common triggers include: change of ownership or new construction completion after January 1st, additions or major improvements to existing structures, and removal of exemptions that previously reduced your assessed value.

The supplemental tax is calculated on the difference between your original assessed value and the new assessed value, prorated for the remaining months in the tax year. For example, if you complete a $100,000 home addition in July and your combined tax rate is 2.0%, you would owe a supplemental tax of approximately $1,000 ($100,000 × 2.0% × 6/12 months = $1,000) covering July through December. Travis County issues supplemental tax bills as changes are processed, typically within 30-60 days of the triggering event.

Example Calculation

Example 1: $300,000 Home

  • Assessed Value: $300,000
  • Less Homestead Exemption: -$100,000 (school district only)
  • Net Taxable Value: $200,000 (school) + $300,000 (other entities)
  • Tax Calculation: ($200,000 × 1.3%) + ($300,000 × 0.8%) = $2,600 + $2,400 = $5,000
  • Annual Tax: $5,000 | Monthly: $417

Example 2: $600,000 Home

  • Assessed Value: $600,000
  • Less Homestead Exemption: -$100,000 (school district only)
  • Net Taxable Value: $500,000 (school) + $600,000 (other entities)
  • Tax Calculation: ($500,000 × 1.3%) + ($600,000 × 0.8%) = $6,500 + $4,800 = $11,300
  • Annual Tax: $11,300 | Monthly: $942

Example 3: $1,000,000 Home

  • Assessed Value: $1,000,000
  • Less Homestead Exemption: -$100,000 (school district only)
  • Net Taxable Value: $900,000 (school) + $1,000,000 (other entities)
  • Tax Calculation: ($900,000 × 1.3%) + ($1,000,000 × 0.8%) = $11,700 + $8,000 = $19,700
  • Annual Tax: $19,700 | Monthly: $1,642

Calculations use estimated combined rates and assume primary residence with homestead exemption.

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Section 5

Escrow & Property Taxes

Most mortgage lenders in Travis County require property tax escrow accounts, collecting 1/12th of your estimated annual property tax with each monthly mortgage payment. Your lender deposits these funds into an escrow account and pays your property taxes directly to Travis County when due on January 31st. Lenders typically collect an additional 2-month cushion to cover potential tax increases, and federal law requires annual escrow analysis statements showing account activity and any required adjustments.

If your property taxes increase, your lender may spread the shortage over 12 months in addition to the new higher payment amount, or offer you the option to pay the shortage in full. You can verify your tax payments and view your account online at https://tax-office.traviscountytx.gov/ using your property account number. Property owners without escrow accounts are responsible for paying taxes directly to the Travis County Tax Office by January 31st to avoid penalties and interest charges that begin accruing February 1st.

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 property taxes due in Travis County? A: Property taxes are due January 31st each year. Travis County offers only a single payment option with no split payment schedule available.

Q: What homestead exemptions are available? A: Primary residence owners can receive a $100,000 homestead exemption for school district taxes, plus additional exemptions for seniors (65+), disabled persons, and veterans. Applications must be filed with TCAD by April 30th.

Q: How do I appeal my property assessment? A: File a protest with the Travis Central Appraisal District by May 15th (or within 30 days of receiving your notice). You can protest online, by mail, or in person at https://traviscad.org/.

Q: What happens if I pay my taxes late? A: Penalties and interest begin accruing February 1st. Penalty is 6% the first month, 7% the second month, and 1% each additional month, plus 1% monthly interest.

Q: Can I pay my property taxes online? A: Yes, visit https://tax-office.traviscountytx.gov/ to pay online with a bank account, credit card, or debit card. Processing fees may apply for card payments.

Q: How often are properties reappraised? A: TCAD appraises all properties annually as of January 1st. However, homestead properties are protected by a 10% annual increase cap on appraised value.

Q: What if I disagree with my exemption denial? A: You can appeal exemption decisions through the same protest process used for value disputes. File your protest by the May 15th deadline at https://traviscad.org/.

Q: How do I look up my property information? A: Use the property search tool at https://www.traviscad.org/property-search/ with your address or account number to view assessment details, exemptions, and tax history.

Verified Sources

Backed by 8 Official Government Sources

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

01
County
Travis County Tax Collectortax-office.traviscountytx.gov
02
County
Travis County Assessortraviscad.org
03
Tax Doc
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON TAX INCREASEtraviscountytx.gov
04
Tax Doc
Notice About 2025 Tax Ratetraviscountytx.gov
05
Tax Doc
Bee Cave Road District No. 1 Notice About 2025 Tax Ratestraviscountytx.gov
06
Tax Doc
96-1717 Handbook of Texas Property Tax Rulescomptroller.texas.gov
07
Tax Doc
96-669 Property Tax Law Changes 2025 - Texas Comptrollercomptroller.texas.gov
08
City Councillakeway-tx.gov
All sources verified as of 2025 Tax Year

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