Harris County Property Taxes Are Going Up in 2026: What It Means for Your Bill

Last updated: Oct. 27, 2026

Yes, Harris County's property tax rate went up for 2026. Commissioners Court adopted a combined rate of $0.67150 per $100 of taxable value for the county and the three taxing units it sets rates for, up from $0.62413 in 2025, an increase of about 7.6%. On a home with $400,000 of taxable value, that adds about $189 a year to the county-set portion of your bill (the county cites about $193 for an average $400,000 home), and 2026 bills can be paid without penalty through Monday, Feb. 1, 2027.

If you're opening your statement this fall and the number looks bigger, here's what changed, how to estimate the effect on your own home, and what you can still do about it.

What changed in Harris County's 2026 tax rate?

On Sept. 17, 2026, Harris County Commissioners Court adopted 2026 tax rates for four taxing units it controls. According to Harris County Commissioners Court records and reporting on the vote, the 2026 rates per $100 of taxable value are:

• Harris County (general): $0.41750, up from $0.38096 in 2025 (about 9.6% higher). That includes $0.36396 for maintenance and operations and $0.05354 for debt.
• Harris County Flood Control District: $0.05266
• Harris Health (Harris County Hospital District): $0.19528
• Port of Houston Authority: $0.00603

Added together, those four rates come to $0.67150 per $100. The county's Office of Management and Budget described the combined change as an increase of about 7.6% over last year's combined $0.62413.

Important: $0.67 is not your full tax rate. It covers only the county and the three units listed above. Your total bill also includes your school district, and depending on where you live, a city, a community college district, a municipal utility district (MUD) or other special districts. Each of those sets its own rate. For many Houston-area homeowners, the full combined rate is well above $2 per $100 of value.

How much more will I pay?

You can estimate the county portion of the change with one formula:

(Your taxable value ÷ 100) × rate change = added cost

The combined county rate rose by $0.04737 per $100 ($0.67150 minus $0.62413).

Hypothetical example: a home with $400,000 of taxable value (after exemptions) and the same taxable value both years:

• $400,000 ÷ 100 = 4,000
• 4,000 × $0.04737 = about $189 more per year for the county portion

County officials have cited about $193 more for an average $400,000 home (KHOU). The small difference comes from assumptions about value and exemptions. Your actual change depends on your taxable value, the exemptions on your account, and whether your value changed from 2025. Your school, city, college and MUD rates can move the total in either direction.

To see exactly which taxing units are on your bill, check your account with the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector or your Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD) record.

When is the Harris County property tax bill due?

Texas property taxes are generally due by Jan. 31 of the following year (Tax Code §31.02). Jan. 31, 2027 falls on a Sunday, and Texas law moves a deadline that lands on a weekend to the next business day. That makes Monday, Feb. 1, 2027 the last day to pay 2026 taxes without penalty and interest. Confirm the date printed on your own statement, and pay early if you're mailing a check.

If you're 65 or older or have a disability, you may qualify to defer taxes on your homestead, and some owners can use installment plans. The tax office can explain eligibility.

Can I lower my Harris County property taxes?

You can't protest a tax rate. Rates are set by elected bodies. You can protest the value HCAD puts on your property, and you can make sure every exemption you qualify for is applied. Those are the two parts of the bill you can influence.

• Check your exemptions now. Look at your 2026 statement for the homestead exemption and, if you qualify, the over-65, disability or disabled-veteran exemptions. A missing exemption can cost more than this year's rate increase.
• Plan your 2027 protest. HCAD mails most 2027 notices of appraised value in the spring. The usual deadline to file a protest is May 15. In 2027 that falls on a Saturday, so the deadline is Monday, May 17, 2027, or 30 days after your notice is delivered, whichever is later.
• Gather evidence early. Recent sales of similar homes, photos of needed repairs and contractor estimates can all support a lower value at your informal review or Appraisal Review Board (ARB) hearing.

For more on how protests work locally, see our Harris County property tax protest guide and our Houston property tax protest page. If you'd rather have help, here's how a Texas property tax consultant works.

Sources: FOX 26 Houston; KHOU; Harris County Commissioners Court (Flood Control District rate); Texas Tax Code §§31.02 and 41.44.