Travis County Property Tax Rate: 2026 Guide

Travis County property taxes took a sharp turn this year. Commissioners approved a rate increase of more than 9%, putting the county rate just under 38 cents per $100 of value. I’ll explain what that means for your bill, why the flood declaration changed the voting rules, and what you can do about your taxable value.

The 2026 Travis County Property Tax Rate and Recent Increase

The current Travis County property tax rate is approximately 38 cents for each $100 of taxable value. That rate applies to the county portion of your bill. It isn’t your full property tax rate because most owners also pay a school district, city, and perhaps a municipal utility or water district.

Commissioners approved an increase of a little over 9%. For the average homeowner, reports put the county-only increase at roughly $120 to $200 per year. Your result may be higher or lower because the bill depends on your taxable value, exemptions, and the other taxing units tied to your address.

I’ve seen buyers focus on the county rate and miss the larger picture. Austin ISD can make up a large share of a homeowner’s total bill. The City of Austin may add another portion. A home just outside city limits can have a different mix, even when it sits a short drive away.

The county has already spent $21 million on flood recovery. The approved increase is expected to bring in about $42 million. County leaders said the money will help rebuild the emergency reserve and pay for ongoing recovery and disaster preparation.

For a second estimate, I recommend comparing the county figures with an Austin Texas property tax calculator guide. It can help you account for exemptions and compare the local parts of the bill before you make a purchase decision.

How to Calculate a Travis County Property Tax Bill

The basic formula is simple: taxable value multiplied by the tax rate equals the amount owed to one taxing unit. You repeat that calculation for each unit on your tax statement, then add the results.

Here’s a simple example. Start with your taxable value and the county rate, then divide the taxable value by 100 and multiply by the rate. That calculation gives you the county portion before any other taxing units are added.

That example is only for the county. Your actual bill may include:

• Travis County
• A city, such as Austin
• Your independent school district
• A municipal utility district or water district
• Other special districts tied to the property

Exemptions reduce the taxable value before you apply the rate. That order matters. A home with an exemption is taxed on a lower value for that taxing unit, not on the full market value.

A property-tax estimate can give you a more useful figure than a single rate lookup. Enter the property address, then review the proposed or adopted rates for each taxing district. The transparency database also shows the no-new-revenue rate and the estimated bill tied to your property.

When I help someone compare homes, I look at the full tax record rather than using a rounded county estimate. Two homes with the same sales price can have different bills because one sits in a different school district or special district.

Why the Rate Changed: Revenue, Flood Recovery, and Texas Rate Limits

The Travis County property tax rate rose because county leaders approved a larger tax take after the July flood disaster. Under the normal rule, a local government that raises its property tax collection above the state limit must hold an approval election. A disaster declaration creates a limited exception.

State law generally limits the growth in property tax revenue for counties and cities to 3.5% without voter approval. A declared disaster can allow a local government to raise collections by up to 8% for certain recovery needs without asking voters first. That exception is why the county could approve this increase without a tax rate election.

The county said the new money will cover ongoing flood recovery and restore emergency reserves. Leaders also pointed to future disaster readiness. Public discussion has focused on the difference between money needed for direct recovery and funds that may support broader preparedness or county spending.

House Bill 2 also affects the timing. County leaders said the law would limit how much they could raise the rate starting next year, so they wanted room in the budget before that limit took effect. House Bill 30 addresses how local governments calculate a property tax rate after a disaster. It defines essential assistance to include emergency shelter, search and rescue, evacuation work, and debris cleanup.

The details matter because a disaster-related rate increase doesn’t automatically mean the same rate will disappear later. County officials may say part of the increase is temporary, but taxpayers should check the next adopted rate rather than assume a rollback.

Revenue limits and local rate setting provide useful background. I use those terms carefully because “tax rate” and “tax revenue” are related, but they aren’t the same thing.

Exemptions, Appraisal Caps, and Protesting Your Taxable Value

Exemptions lower the value used to calculate your bill. A residence homestead exemption is the main one many owner-occupants should review. Other relief may apply to homeowners who are 65 or older, have a qualifying disability, or have a qualifying veteran status. If you’re buying your first home, you may also want to review these Texas first-time home buyer options alongside the property-tax details.

Travis County has discussed changing its exemption for older homeowners and homeowners with disabilities. Treat that as a policy item to verify with the county or appraisal district, not as an automatic benefit. The amount on your record is what controls your bill.

Rental homes and second homes usually don’t receive the same homestead treatment as an owner-occupied residence. Some non-homesteaded properties may qualify for an appraisal cap under state law, but eligibility and timing can change. Check the current appraisal record before relying on a cap in your budget.

Your other main tool is a property tax protest. The May 15 deadline is the standard date for most protests. A later date may apply when it falls after 30 days from the mailing of your notice of appraised value, so read the notice itself. If the deadline falls on a weekend, the next business day may apply.

A protest argues that the appraisal district’s value is wrong. It isn’t a general complaint about taxes. I’d gather evidence in this order:

1. Find your notice of appraised value and confirm the deadline.
2. Compare recent sales of similar homes near the property.
3. Look for unequal appraisals among similar nearby properties.
4. Document condition issues with photos, repair bids, or other records.
5. File the protest through the available appraisal district process.

Market value evidence shows that comparable homes sold for less. Equal-and-uniform evidence shows that similar properties may carry lower appraised values, even when they haven’t sold recently. Strong evidence ties the comparison to location, size, age, condition, and key features.

I’ve learned that a small error can matter over several years. A wrong square-foot figure, an outdated condition rating, or a missed exemption can raise the taxable value before any rate is applied. Start with the record, then challenge the part you can support.

How Travis County Compares With Austin and Nearby Taxing Districts

Comparing the Travis County property tax rate with Austin’s rate can be misleading if you look at only two numbers. Your total bill combines every taxing district attached to the address. That mix changes across the county, city limits, school district lines, and utility districts.

Taxing part	What it pays for	What to check
Travis County	County services and emergency response	The adopted county rate and taxable value
City of Austin	City services within Austin limits	Whether the property lies inside the city
Austin ISD or another school district	Public education funding	The school district assigned to the address
MUD or water district	Local water, wastewater, or related services	Whether the property has a special district

Austin ISD recently set a lower rate than the prior year in the reporting covered by the research, yet some homeowners could still pay more because home values rose. That’s the part many people miss. A lower rate does not guarantee a lower bill.

City limits create another difference. A property outside Austin may avoid the city portion but still carry a municipal utility district charge. A home inside Austin may have a different school district or no MUD charge. I always check the actual tax record for the specific address.

The county’s tax transparency tools can show the proposed bill beside the no-new-revenue amount. That comparison helps you see whether the change comes from a new rate, a higher appraised value, or both.

For buyers, taxes belong in the monthly ownership budget before an offer is made. Your budget should also account for the loan payment, so comparing Austin mortgage rates and loan options alongside the property-tax record gives you a more realistic ownership estimate. For sellers, a higher tax bill can affect how buyers compare your home with nearby listings. Robbie English, REALTOR, can help you read the tax record during an Austin-area purchase or sale, but I still encourage you to verify the final figures with the appraisal district and tax office.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Travis County property tax rate in 2026?

The Travis County property tax rate is listed in the current tax information for your property. That is only the county portion. Your full bill also depends on the city, school district, utility districts, exemptions, and taxable value shown for your property.

Why did Travis County raise property taxes?

Travis County raised the rate after the July flood disaster declaration allowed a higher collection without a voter approval election. County leaders said the added revenue will support flood recovery, restore emergency reserves, and help prepare for future disasters.

How much more will Travis County property taxes cost?

The county-only increase is roughly $120 to $200 per year for an average homeowner, based on the figures reported for the adopted increase. Your actual change may differ. Check the full tax record because city, school, utility, and appraisal changes can move the final bill.

What is the deadline to protest property taxes in Travis County?

The usual protest deadline is May 15. Your notice may allow a later date if 30 days after mailing comes later, so confirm the deadline on the notice. File with evidence about market value, unequal appraisal, property condition, or factual errors in the record.

How do I lower my Travis County property tax bill?

You may lower the bill by applying for an exemption, correcting appraisal records, or protesting an unsupported taxable value. Start by checking your homestead status and the exemptions shown on the appraisal record. Then compare recent sales and similar nearby properties before filing a protest.

Conclusion

I recommend checking your full tax record instead of relying on the county rate alone. Review exemptions now, mark the protest deadline, and compare the total bill for any home you may buy. If you’re making an Austin-area real estate decision, Robbie English, REALTOR, can help you include property taxes in the numbers while you verify the final figures with the proper county offices.