Harris County Property Tax Rates for 2026: What Houston Homeowners Pay

By Weiting Yu, Texas-licensed agent (TREC #787385) · Updated November 13, 2026

What is the Harris County property tax rate in 2026?

There is no single Harris County rate. Your bill is the sum of every taxing unit that covers your address. Inside Houston city limits and Houston ISD, these units apply:

Harris County itself is about 20% of that total. The school district is the largest share at about 39%.

How do rates differ by school district?

The school district rate is usually the biggest swing between two homes in the same county:

Cypress-Fairbanks ISD had no 2026 rate posted in the tax office table when we checked on November 13, 2026. Many Harris County homes outside Houston city limits are in a municipal utility district (MUD), which adds its own rate.

Your Harris Central Appraisal District property record lists every unit that taxes your address.

How much is the tax bill on a $400,000 Houston home?

An estimated $7,366 for 2026 with a homestead exemption. Each unit applies its exemption before its rate:

This estimate applies only the $140,000 school district exemption that every Texas homestead receives. Other Harris County units may offer their own percentage exemptions. We have not verified those for 2026, so they are not applied here, and they would lower the bill.

The same home with no homestead exemption, such as a rental or second home, pays the full $2.136359 rate: $8,545.

For your own numbers, use the Texas property tax calculator.

What do buyers need to know before closing?

Estimate taxes from your purchase price, not from the seller's last bill. The seller's bill may reflect a homestead cap, an over-65 exemption or a tax ceiling. None of those transfer to you. A capped value generally resets to market value on January 1 after the sale.

• Taxes are typically prorated at closing, with the seller crediting you for the days they owned the home that year. Your title company calculates the exact amount.
• If you have an escrow account, your lender collects taxes monthly and pays the bill for you.
• File your own homestead exemption once you move in. Until it is in place, you are taxed like an investor.

How do I get a homestead exemption in Harris County?

Apply to the Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD). You need a Texas driver's license or state ID showing the same address as the home. The general filing deadline is before May 1.

• It lowers taxable value. The school exemption is $140,000 statewide, and any other unit may exempt up to 20% of value.
• It caps growth in your appraised value at 10% a year, starting the year after you qualify (Texas Tax Code §23.23).

Owners 65 or older, or with a disability, get an additional $60,000 school exemption. Many local units add their own amounts.

How do I protest my Harris County appraisal?

File by May 15 or 30 days after your Notice of Appraised Value is mailed, whichever is later. The 2026 deadline has passed. The next window opens when 2027 notices go out in the spring.

1. Read your notice from the Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD). It explains how to file and gives your deadline.
2. File the protest with the district, online where offered or on Comptroller Form 50-132.
3. Send your evidence and review any settlement offer from the district's appraiser.
4. If you do not settle, the Appraisal Review Board hears your case.

For evidence and hearing tips, read how to protest your property taxes in Texas.

When are Harris County property taxes due?

Texas property tax bills are normally due by January 31. Because January 31, 2027 falls on a Sunday, 2026 bills are due by Monday, February 1, 2027. Taxes unpaid after the due date begin to accrue penalty and interest. You pay the Harris County Tax Office.

Frequently asked questions

Is there one property tax rate for all of Harris County?

No. Each address is taxed by its own set of units. Inside Houston and Houston ISD the 2026 total is $2.136359 per $100. Other school districts, cities and special districts produce different totals.

Does the homestead exemption apply automatically when I buy?

No. You apply to the Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD) yourself, with a Texas driver's license or state ID showing the home's address. The general deadline is before May 1.

Can my appraised value jump after I buy a home?

Yes. The previous owner's 10% cap ends with the sale, and the value generally resets to market on January 1 of the next year. Your own cap starts the year after you qualify for a homestead.

Where do I find the exact taxing units for an address?

Search the address on the Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD) website. The property record lists every unit that taxes it, and the Harris County Tax Office publishes each unit's adopted rate.

County guides: Travis, Harris, Tarrant, Bexar, Montgomery.

Sources: Harris County Tax Office jurisdiction tax rates (2026 column), checked November 13, 2026, and Texas Comptroller property tax exemptions. Rates are per $100 of taxable value.

This page is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Dollar figures are estimates from published 2026 rates and exemptions. Your actual bill depends on your property's appraised value, taxing units and exemptions, and rates and rules can change. Confirm with the Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD), the Harris County Tax Office or a tax professional before you rely on any number here.