Texas has no state income tax, which means property taxes carry more weight in funding local schools, cities, and county services than in many other states. Understanding the basics before you buy helps you budget realistically.
Your property's taxable value is set each year by your county appraisal district, which for most of the cities EMR serves is the Hidalgo County Appraisal District, with Cameron County Appraisal District covering nearby Cameron County cities. The appraisal district estimates your property's market value as of January 1 each year, and that value, minus any exemptions, becomes your taxable value.
The homestead exemption is one of the most valuable tools available to a homeowner. If the home is your primary residence, filing a homestead exemption with the appraisal district reduces your taxable value and can also limit how much your appraised value is allowed to increase each year while you own and occupy the home. The exemption must be filed with the appraisal district; it is not automatic just because you bought the home.
Several taxing entities, typically the school district, the county, the city, and sometimes a hospital or other special district, each apply their own tax rate to your taxable value, and the total of all of those rates makes up your overall property tax bill. Rates are set annually by each entity and can change from year to year.
If you believe your appraised value is too high, Texas law allows you to protest it with the appraisal district. The protest window generally opens in the spring, after appraisal notices go out, with a filing deadline that the appraisal district sets each year, so watch your mail for that notice and check the specific deadline for the current year rather than assuming it is the same date every year.
This guide is general information, not tax advice. Exemption rules, deadlines, and rates can change, and the appraisal district or a tax professional can confirm what currently applies to your specific property.