2015 DFW Area Property Tax Rates

The following table provides 2015 property tax rates for Dallas Fort Worth area cities and towns.  Often, it will be said that “blah blah city has really high taxes, don’t move there.”  This is misleading as the tax rates are very similar.  The appraised value (purchase price) can vary substantially from one location to another on an identical house which is always the old “location location location” valuation.

The table below represents the 2015 tax rates for 90 cities in the area.  Sometimes a school district is not unique to a city and overlaps geographically into another city so the county appraisal district office with the exact address will have exact information.

The tax rates are per $100 of valuation.  To calculate the non-exempt taxes, you can divide the appraised value by $100 and multiply by the rate.   Exemptions are more complicated to put in a table.  Basically, if you reside in the home on January 1st, you may claim a homestead exemption IF you do not claim it anywhere else.   The homestead exemption varies by taxing entity but generally is $25,000 for school districts, but this can vary (for example, Plano ISD is 20% with a $5000 minimum).    Many cities do not have a homestead exemption.

Beyond the homestead exemption, an over 65 exemption and a disabled exemption are also available, again varying by taxing entity.

Texas state law defines the assessed value of real property as the market value of a property on January 1, the first day of the tax year. Property taxes typically are paid in a single annual payment that is due on or before January 31 of the following year but customarily paid before December 31 of the tax year so it can be deducted from the Federal income tax return that year.

If you buy new construction, you may find the assessed value the first year was the assessed construction value on January 1 but this will increase to the new appraised purchase value as of January 1st of the following year.

Another tax to be aware of on a home purchase is a “MUD” tax.  MUD is an acronym for Municipal Utility District.   Often, new home additions are built outside the city limits or where sewage, water and utilities are not available so bonds are sold for a MUD that functions similar to city taxes in providing those services.  In the list below, *Lantana is a master designed community with a MUD tax and not a city tax.

Texas is one of only 12 states without a tax on real estate transfers.