DFW PROPERTY TAXES

If you are relocating to the Dallas area from another state, your property taxes may be higher here than where you lived previously. The offset is that in Texas you will not be paying any state or local personal income taxes. Depending on your level of income and the value of your home, your total annual state and local tax bill may be less than it is where you are currently living. Additionally, Texas is one of only 12 states in the nation without a residential real estate transfer tax. In fact, recent U.S. Census data shows Texas ranks 37th among the 50 states in percentage of per capita personal income spent on state and local taxes.

Luckily, North Texas has some of the lowest property tax rates in the area. Areas with a strong retail presence and a strong retail sales base enables those cities to keep their assessments low.  Furthermore, some areas include special assessments for community colleges or for freshwater districts or other utility districts. On a $400,000 home, a difference of 0.50% means a difference of $2,000 annually or $240/monthly. So, knowing the tax rate when you are searching for a home is important.

Property taxes are calculated by multiplying the assessed value of the property minus applicable homestead, age 65+ and disability exemption amounts by the mil rates levied by the taxing authorities that have jurisdiction where the property is located. 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. Read more about property tax exemptions.

With so many DFW suburbs to choose from, you may be overwhelmed with deciding where to plant your roots. Property taxes are an important factor to consider when selecting your suburb. Find out the top five highest and lowest property tax rates for DFW-area suburbs, as well as factors determining rates and how you may be exempt from some taxes or may qualify for a reduction.

Before you make any sudden moves, consider the lowest and highest property tax rates of DFW suburbs below:

LOWEST

 As of 2021, here are the five DFW-area suburbs with the lowest total property tax rates, in order from low to high: 

1.  Flower Mound - 2.08%

2.  Lewisville - 2.08%

3.  Roanoke 2.1%

4.  Frisco - 2.18%

5.  Plano - 2.18%

 Below is a table to show you the breakdown of the municipal, school, and county taxes that create the property tax total for these communities. 

HIGHEST

 As of 2021, here are the five DFW-area suburbs with the highest property tax rates, in order from high to low: 

1.  Grand Prairie - 2.92%

2.  Rowlett - 2.89%

3.  Coppell - 2.71%

4.  Irving - 2.68%

5.  Richardson - 2.67%

Below is a table to show you the breakdown of the municipal, school, and county taxes that create the property tax total for these communities. 

Deadlines and Important Dates for Property Taxes

January 1 – Assessed value, property appraisals, become effective for this tax year

January 31 – Deadline to pay property tax for last year. Penalty and interest applies to delinquent payments. Exceptions apply if the value has not been set (previous year).

April 30 (approximate) – County appraisal district mails notice of appraised value for all real estate accounts.

May 1 (scheduled) – informal county appraisal district protest meetings begin for real estate assessed values, real estate exemptions, etc.

May 31 (scheduled) - Deadline to file a protest (or 30 days after notice of assessed value is mailed, whichever is later). The County appraisal district is only required to send a notice of assessed value if the assessed value increased by more than $1,000.

July 20 (approximate) – The County Appraisal Review Board is scheduled to approve appraisal records on or before July 20.

July 25 – Deadline for the appraisal district to certify the tax roll. Typically, counties are required toa resolve the property value for 95% of the tax base by value no later than July 25.

August to September – County taxing districts are scheduled to set their tax rates for the following year.

October (scheduled) – tax bills are mailed by the county tax assessor to be paid no later than January 31 of the following year

OTHER PROPERTY TAX INFORMATION PAGES: 

Links to all the county appraisal districts are in the box below titled "Property Tax Exemptions."