Property taxes are a significant source of funding for local governments and public services in Texas, including schools, police, fire departments, and infrastructure. Unlike many other states, Texas does not have a state-level property tax. Instead, taxes are levied and collected by local taxing jurisdictions such as counties, cities, school districts, and special districts.
The calculation of your property tax bill in Texas is based on three primary components:
Appraised Value: This is the value of your property as determined by your local county appraisal district. It represents the market value of your property on January 1st of the tax year.
Exemptions: These are reductions in the appraised value of your property, which lower your taxable value. Common exemptions include homestead exemptions (available for your primary residence), age 65+ exemptions, disability exemptions, and veterans' exemptions. Each taxing unit can offer different exemption amounts.
Tax Rate (or Millage Rate): This is the rate set by each taxing jurisdiction. It is typically expressed as a dollar amount per $100 of taxable value, or more commonly as a percentage. The average property tax rate in Texas can vary significantly by location.
How the Texas Property Tax is Calculated
The formula for calculating your property tax in Texas is as follows:
Taxable Value = Appraised Value – Total Exemptions
For example, if your property is appraised at $300,000, you have $25,000 in total exemptions, and the combined average tax rate from all local jurisdictions is 1.9%, the calculation would be:
This calculator provides an estimate based on the inputs you provide. It is essential to consult with your local appraisal district and taxing units for precise figures, as appraisal methods and tax rates can vary. Understanding these components can help homeowners better estimate their annual tax burden and plan their finances accordingly.
function calculateTexasPropertyTax() {
var appraisedValue = parseFloat(document.getElementById("appraisedValue").value);
var exemptions = parseFloat(document.getElementById("exemptions").value);
var taxRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById("taxRate").value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
var annualTaxSpan = document.getElementById("annualTax");
// Validate inputs
if (isNaN(appraisedValue) || appraisedValue < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid Appraised Property Value.");
resultDiv.style.display = 'none';
return;
}
if (isNaN(exemptions) || exemptions < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid Total Exemptions amount.");
resultDiv.style.display = 'none';
return;
}
if (isNaN(taxRate) || taxRate appraisedValue) {
alert("Total Exemptions cannot be greater than the Appraised Property Value.");
resultDiv.style.display = 'none';
return;
}
var taxableValue = appraisedValue – exemptions;
var annualTax = taxableValue * (taxRate / 100);
// Format currency and display result
var formatter = new Intl.NumberFormat('en-US', {
style: 'currency',
currency: 'USD',
minimumFractionDigits: 2,
maximumFractionDigits: 2
});
annualTaxSpan.textContent = formatter.format(annualTax);
resultDiv.style.display = 'block';
}