Travis County Property Tax Rates for 2026: What Austin Homeowners Pay

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

What is the Travis County property tax rate in 2026?

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

Travis County itself is only about 18% of that total. The school district is the largest share at about 43%.

Your total will differ if you live outside Austin ISD or outside the city. The school district rate is the biggest swing:

On a $500,000 homestead, the gap between Eanes ISD and Leander ISD is about $1,049 a year in school tax alone. Homes in a municipal utility district (MUD) or emergency services district pay those rates on top. Your TCAD property record lists every unit that taxes your address.

How much is the tax bill on a $500,000 Austin home?

With a homestead exemption, about $8,215 for 2026. Each unit applies its own exemption before its rate:

The same home with no homestead exemption, such as a rental or second home, pays the full $2.121064 rate: $10,605. The exemption is worth about $2,390 a year on this home.

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 Travis County?

Apply to the Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD), online or by mail. 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. TCAD says it acts on applications within 90 days.

• It lowers taxable value for each unit, as in the table above. The school exemption is $140,000 statewide. 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 more. For 2026 the added exemptions are $204,000 from the City of Austin, $197,000 from Central Health, $145,269 from Travis County and $75,000 from ACC. Austin ISD adds $85,000 and freezes the school tax amount.

How do I protest my TCAD appraisal?

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

1. Create an account in the TCAD online portal with the owner ID and PIN on your notice.
2. File the protest and upload your evidence there. You can also review TCAD's evidence.
3. Review any settlement offer in the portal. Accept it or decline.
4. If you decline, your case goes to the Appraisal Review Board. You can appear in person, by phone, by affidavit or through an agent.

TCAD is at 850 East Anderson Lane, Austin, TX 78752, phone 512-834-9317. For evidence and hearing tips, read how to protest your property taxes in Texas.

When are Travis County property taxes due?

Bills for the 2026 tax year are due by February 1, 2027. Taxes unpaid after the due date begin to accrue penalty and interest. You pay the Travis County Tax Office, which collects for every unit on your bill.

Did Austin home values go up in 2026?

No. TCAD reported that single-family market values fell 1.8% on average in 2026. The median homestead market value was $493,449 and the median taxable value was $384,747. Several bills still rose because rates went up. In the City of Austin, the median homestead value fell from $494,803 to $484,907, yet the median city bill rose from about $2,074 to about $2,250.

Frequently asked questions

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

No. Each address is taxed by its own set of units. Inside Austin and Austin ISD the 2026 total is $2.121064 per $100. Other school districts, cities and MUDs produce different totals.

Does the homestead exemption apply automatically when I buy?

No. You apply to TCAD yourself, with a Texas 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.

Do I have to pay TCAD to protest?

TCAD's protest page lists no filing fee. You can file online, by mail or in person.

County guides: Harris, Tarrant, Bexar, Montgomery.

Sources: TCAD 2026 market values, TCAD protest process, Texas Comptroller property tax exemptions, and Community Impact (October 2026) for adopted rates. Rates are per $100 of taxable value. Confirm your own units on your TCAD property record.

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 Travis Central Appraisal District, the Travis County Tax Office or a tax professional before you rely on any number here.