How Travis County property tax is calculated
Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD) values the home at 100% of market value on January 1, and in City of Austin, Austin ISD 5 units each apply their own rate per $100 to the value left after their own exemptions.[16][2][3] On a $550,000 home that is $11,665.85 with no exemptions, $9,165.47 as a homestead and $6,301.22 for an owner 65 or older; the biggest single line is Austin ISD at $3,765.44.
| Taxing unit | Rate per $100 | Exempt | Taxable | Tax | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travis County | $0.3862 | $110,000 | $440,000 | $1,699.32 | 18.5% |
| Travis County Healthcare District (Central Health) | $0.1329 | $110,000 | $440,000 | $584.60 | 6.4% |
| Austin Community College District | $0.1036 | $5,500 | $544,500 | $564.34 | 6.2% |
| City of Austin | $0.5799 | $110,000 | $440,000 | $2,551.77 | 27.8% |
| Austin ISD | $0.9184 | $140,000 | $410,000 | $3,765.44 | 41.1% |
| Total | $2.1211 | $9,165.47 | 100% |
What property taxes pay for in Travis County
Austin ISD: 41.1% of a homestead bill, 43% without one (the $140,000 exemption cuts only the school line).[6][2] Largest non-school line: City of Austin, 27.8%.
Travis County property tax rates by area
| Taxing unit | Rate |
|---|---|
| Travis County | $0.38621 per $100 |
| Travis County Healthcare District (Central Health) | $0.132863 per $100 |
| Austin Community College District | $0.103643 per $100 |
| City of Austin | $0.579948 per $100 |
| Austin ISD | $0.9184 per $100 |
| Total | $2.121064 per $100 (2.1211%) |
Rates for City of Austin, Austin ISD moved from $2.046485 to $2.121064 per $100 between the 2025 and 2026 tax years:
| Taxing unit | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travis County | $0.375845 | $0.38621 | +0.010365 |
| Travis County Healthcare District (Central Health) | $0.118023 | $0.132863 | +0.01484 |
| Austin Community College District | $0.1034 | $0.103643 | +0.000243 |
| City of Austin | $0.524017 | $0.579948 | +0.055931 |
| Austin ISD | $0.9252 | $0.9184 | −0.0068 |
| Total | $2.046485 | $2.121064 | +0.074579 |
Travis County homestead and over-65 exemptions
On top of the state's $140,000 school homestead, local-option homesteads here are 20% (Travis County, Central Health, City of Austin); 1% (Austin Community College; $5,000 minimum), and the largest over-65 amount is $204,000 (City of Austin).[6][7][8][9][10] Statewide rules and savings by county: homestead exemption Texas.
| Exemption | Amount |
|---|---|
| Local-option homestead 20% (Travis County, Central Health, City of Austin) | 20% (min $5,000) |
| Local-option homestead 1% (Austin Community College; $5,000 minimum) | 1% (min $5,000) |
| Over-65/disabled (Travis County) | $145,269 |
| Over-65/disabled (Central Health) | $197,000 |
| Over-65/disabled (Austin Community College) | $75,000 |
| Over-65/disabled (City of Austin) | $204,000 |
| Over-65 local option on top of state $60,000 (Austin ISD; disabled local option $15,000) | $25,000 |
Due date and protests
Travis County bills are due on receipt and delinquent after January 31, with Texas penalties and interest from February.[12][14] A property tax protest goes to the TCAD Appraisal Review Board by May 15 or 30 days after your notice[15]. Travis Central Appraisal District takes protests through Online protest through the TCAD portal (TCAD protest portal)[20]; test your comps in the property tax assessment appeal calculator and see property tax due dates.
Austin's rate after Proposition Q
Austin voters rejected Proposition Q on November 4, 2025, so the City of Austin's 2025 rate stayed at $0.524017 per $100 instead of the proposed $0.574017; for 2026 the city adopted $0.579948.[5][2][4] Central Health's rate rises from $0.118023 to $0.132863, while Austin ISD cut its rate from $0.9505 (2024) to $0.9252 (2025) and $0.9184 (2026).[2][4]
Travis County's over-65 exemptions are large: $204,000 from the City of Austin, $197,000 from Central Health and $145,269 from the county, and Austin ISD adds $25,000 to the state $60,000.[8] Bills are mailed from October 1.[11]
What Travis County homeowners typically pay
Census figures for 2024 put the median property tax paid by Travis County homeowners at $7,319 on a median home value of $545,700, an effective rate of about 1.34%.[18][19]
Compare Texas counties on the Texas property tax calculator or any county on the property tax calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Travis County property tax rate?
It depends on the area: $2.1211 per $100 (2.12%) in City of Austin, Austin ISD for 2026, the sum of 5 taxing units.
How much is property tax on a $550,000 house in Austin?
About $9,165 a year with the homestead exemptions (2026 rates), or $11,666 without them.
What does a homeowner 65 or older pay in Travis County?
On a $550,000 home in City of Austin, Austin ISD, about $6,301 in the first year with the over-65 exemptions, before any school tax ceiling.
Sources
- Texas Tax Code §23.23 – Limitation on Appraised Value of Residence Homestead
- Jurisdiction tax rates, current and prior four years (qryJurisRateWeb2025.xls; 2026 file for rate2026)
- 2025 Tax Rates and Levies (school district, city, county, special district XLSX; version dated 01/28/2026)
- Jurisdiction tax rates (qryJurisRateWeb2026.xls)
- Austin City Council approves amended Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget
- Texas Tax Code §11.13 – Residence Homestead
- Property Tax Exemptions
- 2026 Exemption Listing Report
- Texas Tax Code §11.26 – Limitation of School Tax on Homesteads of Elderly or Disabled
- Appraisal and Tax Limitations
- Important dates (property tax calendar)
- Texas Tax Code §31.02 – Delinquency Date
- Texas Tax Code §1.06 – Effect of Weekend, Holiday, or Office Closure
- Texas Tax Code §33.01 – Penalties and Interest
- Texas Tax Code §41.44 – Notice of Protest
- Texas Tax Code §23.01 – Appraisals Generally
- Texas Tax Code §11.43 – Application for Exemption
- Table B25103: Mortgage Status by Median Real Estate Taxes Paid (American Community Survey 2024 1-year)
- Table B25077: Median Value (Dollars), owner-occupied housing units (American Community Survey 2024 1-year)
- The Protest Process