Tarrant County Property Tax Rate Guide (2026)

Texas does not have a state income tax. Instead, local governments rely heavily on property taxes to fund schools, roads, emergency services, hospitals, and other public infrastructure. This makes your property tax bill one of the largest annual expenses you will face as a homeowner in Tarrant County.

Property taxes in Texas are ad valorem taxes, meaning they are based on the assessed value of your property. The Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD) is responsible for determining the market value of every residential, commercial, and industrial property in the county each year. TAD does not set tax rates or collect taxes — it only determines property values.

Your property tax bill is the product of multiple overlapping taxing jurisdictions, each setting its own rate. A typical Tarrant County homeowner pays taxes to some combination of the following entities:

• Tarrant County — county government operations, roads, courts, jail, parks
• City — municipal services like police, fire, water, sewer, code enforcement
• School district — typically the largest single component, funding K-12 education
• Tarrant County College — community college district
• Tarrant County Hospital District (JPS Health Network) — public healthcare
• Special districts — Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs), water districts, emergency service districts, depending on your location

Because each home falls within a unique combination of these jurisdictions, two properties just a mile apart can have meaningfully different tax rates. This is why verifying the exact taxing entities for your specific address is important before estimating your annual bill.

The table below shows approximate tax rates for major jurisdictions within Tarrant County. Rates are expressed per $100 of assessed value, which is the standard format used in Texas.

This means a homeowner in Fort Worth within Fort Worth ISD pays roughly $2.33 per $100 of assessed value in combined property taxes — or about 2.33% effective rate before exemptions.

Rates Vary by City and School District

Tarrant County contains multiple cities and school districts, each with different rates. Here are some notable differences:

• Arlington / Arlington ISD: Arlington ISD's rate is approximately $1.2322 per $100, which can push the combined rate higher than Fort Worth for some Arlington addresses.
• HEB ISD area: Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD serves parts of northeast Tarrant County. HEB ISD's rate is approximately $1.2100 per $100.
• Keller ISD area: Keller ISD covers portions of northeast Tarrant County with a rate of approximately $1.2698 per $100.

Rates change annually based on each entity's adopted budget. Always verify the current rates for your specific address at the Tarrant Appraisal District website (tad.org) or by calling TAD at (817) 284-0024.

Your annual property tax bill is determined by two factors: the appraised value of your home and the combined tax rate for your specific location. Here is a step-by-step breakdown using a real-world example.

Example: $325,000 Home in Fort Worth with Homestead Exemption

Now apply each entity's rate:

Without the homestead exemption, the school district portion alone would be $3,411.53 ($325,000 × 1.0497%), pushing the total annual bill to approximately $7,574.46. The $100,000 school district homestead exemption saves this homeowner roughly $1,050 per year.

Keep in mind that some cities in Tarrant County offer additional homestead exemptions (often 10-20% of assessed value), which would reduce the taxable value for the city portion as well. Check your city's specific exemption policies.

Texas offers several property tax exemptions that can meaningfully reduce your annual tax bill. You must apply for these through the Tarrant Appraisal District — they are not applied automatically.

General Homestead Exemption

Available to any homeowner who uses the property as their primary residence as of January 1 of the tax year. The state-mandated school district exemption removes $100,000 from your home's appraised value for school tax purposes. Many cities and other taxing entities in Tarrant County offer an additional percentage-based exemption (typically 10-20% of appraised value) for their portion of the tax bill.

The homestead exemption also caps annual increases in your home's taxable value at 10% per year (excluding new improvements), which protects homeowners from sudden jumps in appraised value.

Over-65 Exemption

Homeowners age 65 or older qualify for an additional $10,000 exemption on school district taxes on top of the general homestead exemption. Many cities and special districts offer additional over-65 exemptions as well.

The most significant benefit: once you turn 65, your school district taxes are frozen (a tax ceiling) at the amount you paid the year you qualified. Your school taxes will never increase above that ceiling regardless of how much your home's value rises. City and county taxes, however, are not frozen unless those entities voluntarily adopt a freeze.

Disabled Person Exemption

Homeowners who are disabled (as defined by Social Security criteria) qualify for a $10,000 additional school district exemption and a tax ceiling similar to the over-65 exemption. You cannot claim both the over-65 and disabled person exemption simultaneously — you receive whichever is more beneficial.

Disabled Veteran Exemption

Texas offers property tax exemptions for disabled veterans based on the VA disability rating:

• 10-29% disability: $5,000 exemption
• 30-49% disability: $7,500 exemption
• 50-69% disability: $10,000 exemption
• 70-100% disability: $12,000 exemption
• 100% disability (or unemployability): Full exemption from all property taxes on the homestead

Surviving spouses of disabled veterans who had a 100% exemption may also qualify to continue the exemption.

Agricultural / Open Space Valuation

While Tarrant County is heavily urbanized, some properties in the outer portions of the county — particularly in south and west Tarrant County — still qualify for agricultural or open-space valuation under Texas Tax Code Chapter 23. This values the land based on its agricultural productivity rather than market value, which can dramatically reduce the tax bill for qualifying acreage. If you convert ag-exempt land to non-agricultural use, you will owe rollback taxes for the previous five years.

How to Apply

All exemption applications are filed with the Tarrant Appraisal District using Form 11.13 (Residence Homestead Exemption Application). The deadline is April 30 of the tax year for which you are applying. However, you can file up to two years late and receive the exemption retroactively for the years you missed.

You can file online at tad.org, by mail, or in person at TAD's office at 2500 Handley-Ederville Road in Fort Worth.

If you believe TAD has overvalued your property, you have the right to protest. In Tarrant County, a significant percentage of homeowners who file protests receive a reduction. Here is how the process works.

Step 1: Review Your Notice of Appraised Value

TAD mails Notices of Appraised Value in April or May each year. This notice shows your property's proposed market value for the upcoming tax year. Review it carefully against what you believe your home would actually sell for on the open market as of January 1.

Step 2: File Your Protest

You must file your protest by May 15 or 30 days after the date on your notice, whichever is later. You can file online through TAD's website, by mail, or in person. Use the Notice of Protest form (Form 41.44) included with your appraisal notice. You do not need to state a specific reason — simply check "value is over market value" on the form.

Step 3: Informal Hearing

After filing, TAD will schedule an informal hearing with an appraiser. This is typically a phone call or in-person meeting where you present evidence that your home's value should be lower. Many protests are resolved at this stage. The TAD appraiser may agree to reduce your value based on your evidence, or you may negotiate to a number you both find reasonable.

Step 4: Formal ARB Hearing

If you cannot reach an agreement informally, your protest moves to the Appraisal Review Board (ARB). The ARB is an independent panel that hears evidence from both you and TAD, then makes a binding decision. You will present your case in a hearing that typically lasts 15-30 minutes.

Step 5: Further Appeals

If you disagree with the ARB's decision, you have additional options: binding arbitration (for properties with a value of $5 million or less) or filing an appeal in Tarrant County district court. Binding arbitration costs $550 and is handled by a single arbitrator. District court is more expensive and time-consuming but gives you access to a full trial.

What Evidence to Bring

The strongest protest evidence includes:

• Comparable sales: Recent sales of similar homes in your neighborhood that sold for less than TAD's appraised value. Focus on homes with similar square footage, age, lot size, and condition within a half-mile radius.
• Repair estimates: Written contractor bids for foundation work, roof replacement, plumbing issues, or other major problems that reduce your home's value.
• Photos: Document any condition issues — cracked foundation, damaged roof, outdated systems, water damage, or other defects TAD may not have accounted for.
• Unequal appraisal evidence: Show that your home is appraised higher than similar properties in the same area. TAD's own data can be used for this — you can pull comparable property records from tad.org.

Tarrant County tip: TAD handles over 700,000 property accounts. The informal hearing is your best opportunity for a quick resolution. Come prepared with 3-5 strong comparable sales and any repair documentation. Be factual and organized — appraisers respond well to clear evidence, not emotions.

Property tax bills in Tarrant County are mailed by the county tax assessor-collector in October each year, and payment is due by January 31 of the following year. If you miss that deadline, penalties and interest begin accumulating immediately.

Penalty and Interest Schedule

Texas law sets a uniform penalty and interest schedule for delinquent property taxes:

After July 1, a 20% collection penalty is added on top of the 12% penalty and ongoing interest. This means a $6,500 tax bill could grow by more than $2,400 in penalties and fees within six months of becoming delinquent. Interest continues to accrue at 1% per month after July.

Split Payment Option

If you are age 65 or older, disabled, or if you are a disabled veteran, you can pay your property taxes in quarterly installments without penalty. You must apply for this payment plan before February 1. Some taxing entities in Tarrant County also offer installment agreements for delinquent taxes — contact the Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector's office for details.

Over-65 and Disabled Tax Deferral

Texas law allows homeowners age 65+ or disabled to defer (postpone) their property taxes indefinitely on their homestead by filing an affidavit with the county. Taxes still accrue and accumulate with 5% annual interest, but no penalties are charged and the taxing entities cannot foreclose while the deferral is in effect. The deferred amount becomes due when the homeowner no longer uses the home as their primary residence or upon transfer of the property.

Consequences of Delinquent Taxes

Unpaid property taxes create a tax lien on your property that takes priority over virtually all other liens, including your mortgage. If taxes remain delinquent long enough, the taxing entities can file a tax foreclosure lawsuit. In Tarrant County, the county and school districts work with delinquent tax attorneys who actively pursue collections. A tax foreclosure can result in your home being sold at public auction, with proceeds going to pay the tax debt first.

If you are behind on property taxes and worried about foreclosure, selling your home may be a better option than waiting. Learn more about selling a home with tax liens.

Property taxes play a larger role in the selling process than most Tarrant County homeowners realize. Whether your taxes are current or delinquent, they directly impact your timeline, your net proceeds, and your selling options.

High Tax Burden Driving Homeowners to Sell

With effective tax rates of 2.0-2.5% in much of Tarrant County, property taxes on a $350,000 home can run $7,000-$8,750 per year. For homeowners on fixed incomes, retirees, or anyone whose financial situation has changed, this annual burden can become unsustainable. We regularly work with Fort Worth and Arlington homeowners who decide to sell specifically because their property taxes have outpaced their ability to pay.

Delinquent Taxes Are Handled at Closing

If you owe back taxes, they do not have to be paid before you sell. Delinquent property taxes are paid from the sale proceeds at closing through the title company. The title company calculates the exact payoff amount — including all penalties and interest — and ensures the taxing entities are paid before you receive your net proceeds. This is standard practice in Texas real estate transactions.

Tax Liens Can Complicate Traditional Sales

Tax liens show up on a title search and must be resolved before the title company will issue clear title. For traditional sales with financed buyers, this can create delays. Lenders may hesitate or add conditions. Cash buyers, however, are accustomed to handling properties with tax liens and can close faster because there is no lender involved. Learn how we handle these situations on our tax liens page.

Selling to a Cash Buyer with Back Taxes

At Alpha Cash Buyers, we purchase homes throughout Tarrant County regardless of tax status. If you have delinquent property taxes, we factor that into our offer and handle the payoff at closing. You do not need to come out of pocket to clear your tax debt before selling. Here is how our process works.

Tax Proration at Closing

When you sell your home, property taxes are prorated between the buyer and seller at closing. Since Texas property tax bills are paid in arrears (you pay in October-January for the current year), the seller is typically responsible for taxes from January 1 through the closing date. The title company calculates this proration and credits or debits each party accordingly. For a $6,500 annual tax bill with a June 30 closing, the seller would owe approximately $3,250 in prorated taxes at closing.

Explore Your Options

If property taxes are a factor in your decision to sell, you have options. Start by understanding what your home is worth and what you could net from a sale.

• Compare your selling options — cash offer vs. listing with an agent vs. FSBO
• Sell your Fort Worth home fast — our local Fort Worth page
• Sell your Arlington home fast — our local Arlington page
• We buy houses in Fort Worth — any condition, any situation
• We buy houses in Arlington — fast closings, no fees
• Texas closing costs guide — understand what you will pay at closing