Each year in September, the governing bodies of the local taxing units decide what services they will provide and how much money they will need. They adopt the unit budget and set the tax rate for the year that will provide the needed revenue.

Taxing units also have the authority to allow partial exemptions. These exemptions reduce the taxable value of qualifying properties. Homestead, Over-65, and Disability exemptions are partial exemptions which can be granted on your principal place of residence. They can only be claimed on one piece of property in the State of Texas.

Taxes are calculated by subtracting the value of any exemptions, and the cap value if applicable, from the homestead value of the property and then adding any productivity or non-qualifying value. This result, the taxable value, is then multiplied by the tax rate and divided by 100 to arrive at the tax amount for the taxing unit. This process is repeated for each taxing unit.

On February 1, current year taxes become delinquent and will incur penalty and interest according to the schedule below.  An additional collection penalty may be charged on accounts that are delinquent on April 1 for personal property or July 1 for real property.  Mineral accounts are considered real property.  The collection penalty will be 15 percent or 20 percent of the total taxes, penalties and interest due, depending on your taxing jurisdiction.  After July, interest continues to accrue at 1 percent per month. 

If tax is paid in (MONTH) add: PENALTY + INTEREST = TOTAL PERCENTAGE (listed below)

• February = 7 percent
• March = 9 percent
• April = 11 percent
• May = 13 percent
• June = 15 percent
• July = 18 percent