McAllen, Texas property tax protest

McAllen, TX Property Tax Protest Guide

The median McAllen homeowner pays $3,287 a year in property tax. If Hidalgo CAD valued your home too high, a protest can lower that bill. File by Monday, May 17, 2027.

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McAllen, TX Property Tax Protest Guide
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Simplifying Property Tax Protests

The median McAllen homeowner pays $3,287 a year in property tax. If Hidalgo CAD valued your home too high, a protest can lower that bill. File by Monday, May 17, 2027.

Your McAllen tax bill is several separate taxes added together. Each taxing unit sets its own 2025 rate per $100 of taxable value (Texas Comptroller, 2025 Tax Rates and Levies; City of McAllen):

  • City of McAllen: $0.4490
  • Hidalgo County: $0.5750
  • South Texas College: $0.1620
  • Hidalgo County Drainage District #1: $0.1123
  • School district (ISD): $0.9322–$0.9575, the largest piece

The school district is usually the biggest line on your bill, so two McAllen homes with the same value can owe different amounts. Municipal utility districts (MUDs) and public improvement districts (PIDs) add more in some subdivisions. Check the taxing units listed on your notice.

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). On McAllen ISD's rate, the $140,000 exemption cuts about $1,310 a year off the school portion. Homestead appraisal increases are capped at 10% a year, plus new improvements.

Which appraisal district handles your home

All of McAllen is in Hidalgo County, so Hidalgo County Appraisal District appraises your home.

How the protest process works

How to protest your McAllen property taxes

  1. Read your notice. Hidalgo CAD mails Notices of Appraised Value in spring (homesteads generally by April 1). Values are set as of January 1, 2027.
  2. File by the deadline. For 2027: Monday, May 17, 2027 (May 15 falls on a Saturday), or 30 days after the notice was mailed, whichever is later. File online, by mail or in person. Filing is free.
  3. Build the evidence. Use comparable sales (market value) and comparable appraisals (unequal appraisal), plus photos and repair bids for condition issues.
  4. Informal review. Many protests settle with a district appraiser before a hearing.
  5. ARB hearing. If not settled, the Hidalgo County Appraisal Review Board hears your case. If you disagree with the ARB, you can go to binding arbitration, SOAH or district court.

TaxDrop Pro, our full-service option, is not offered in Hidalgo County yet. It covers 17 Texas counties, including Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar and Travis. See TaxDrop pricing for what's available in your county, or file the protest yourself for free.

Results

Protest results

  • 92% of TaxDrop clients' closed 2026 Texas protests got a reduction (174 of 189).
  • The median taxable-value cut was $10,736, an estimated $236 a year in taxes.

Results vary by property, and a reduction is not guaranteed. See TaxDrop pricing and the Texas property tax protest statistics.

FAQs

How much is property tax in McAllen, TX?

The median McAllen homeowner pays about $3,287 a year on a median $190,400 home, an effective rate of about 1.73% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024). Your bill depends on your appraised value, exemptions and school district.

What is the McAllen property tax rate?

For 2025, the City of McAllen rate is $0.4490 per $100. Adding the county, school district and other countywide units gives a combined rate of about 2.23%–2.26% before special districts and exemptions.

When is the McAllen property tax protest deadline in 2027?

Monday, May 17, 2027, because May 15 falls on a Saturday, or 30 days after your appraisal notice was mailed, whichever is later.

Which appraisal district handles McAllen?

All of McAllen is in Hidalgo County, so Hidalgo County Appraisal District appraises your home.

Does TaxDrop handle protests in McAllen?

TaxDrop Pro, our full-service option, is not offered in Hidalgo County yet. It covers 17 Texas counties, including Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar and Travis. You can always file the protest yourself for free.

Can protesting raise my appraisal?

Filing a protest carries no penalty. Hidalgo CAD or the ARB decides your value based on the evidence. In 2026, 92% of TaxDrop clients' closed Texas protests got a reduction.

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