Houston homeowners pay a median $4,198 a year in property tax on a median $277,800 home, an effective rate of about 1.51% (Census ACS 2020β2024). The City of Houston's 2025 rate is $0.5192 per $100; county, school district and other units add more. Most protests go to HCAD, and the 2027 deadline is Monday, May 17, 2027 (May 15 falls on a Saturday), or 30 days after your notice was mailed, whichever is later.
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Houston homeowners pay a median $4,198 a year in property tax on a median $277,800 home, an effective rate of about 1.51% (Census ACS 2020β2024). The City of Houston's 2025 rate is $0.5192 per $100; county, school district and other units add more. Most protests go to HCAD, and the 2027 deadline is Monday, May 17, 2027 (May 15 falls on a Saturday), or 30 days after your notice was mailed, whichever is later.
Houston's median bill is the lowest of the six cities we cover, but many Houston homes also sit in municipal utility districts (MUDs), which can add a large line to the bill.
Your Houston tax bill is several separate taxes added together. Each taxing unit sets its own 2025 rate per $100 of taxable value. For a home in Houston ISD:
Total of the units listed: $2.021620 per $100 (about 2.02% of taxable value), before exemptions. Houston Community College also taxes most Houston homes; its 2025 rate isn't listed here. Some neighborhoods also pay a MUD or PID.
Homestead exemption: Texas school districts must exempt $140,000 of a homestead's value, plus another $60,000 for owners 65 or older or disabled (Texas Comptroller). At Houston ISD's rate, the $140,000 exemption takes about $1,230 a year off the school portion. Homestead appraisal increases are capped at 10% a year, plus new improvements.
Houston spans more than one county, and your appraisal district depends on the county your home is in, not your mailing address. Your Notice of Appraised Value names the district.
How to protest your Houston property taxes with HCAD
Homes on the Fort Bend or Montgomery County side follow the same steps with that county's appraisal district.
TaxDrop savings in Houston
Results vary by property, and a reduction is not guaranteed.
The median Houston homeowner pays about $4,198 a year on a median $277,800 home, an effective rate of about 1.51% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020β2024). Your bill depends on your appraised value, exemptions and school district.
For 2025, the City of Houston rate is $0.519190 per $100 of taxable value. County, school district and other taxing units are added on top.
Monday, May 17, 2027 (May 15 falls on a Saturday), or 30 days after your notice was mailed, whichever is later.
Most of Houston is appraised by Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD). Homes in Fort Bend or Montgomery County are appraised by FBCAD or MCAD.
TaxDrop One is $129 per property per year, refunded if there's no reduction. TaxDrop Pro is 1% of the assessment reduction, and you pay only if we win.
Filing a protest carries no penalty. The appraisal district or review board decides your value based on the evidence presented.
More on Houston-area property taxes