Travis County Property Tax Exemptions Help Save Money in Texas
Travis County suffers from the same property tax woes that beset the rest of the state of Texas.
With no state property tax, each county is responsible for raising enough funds to pay for the services and amenities it needs, resulting in the seventh-highest average property tax rate in the U.S.
DoNotPay knows the impact of high property tax rates, and we are your partner when it comes to reducing your property taxes or getting help paying your property tax bill.
How Does Travis County Calculate My Property Tax?
Property tax is levied on real estate that you own, and your tax liability is dependent on the value of your property and the funding needs of the county you live in.
Your property tax bill is calculated by multiplying the following two elements together:
- Property value
- Tax rate
Property Value
Your real estate is assessed every year to determine its fair market value. The assessment is performed at the county level, and Travis County’s assessors use the sales-value approach. This entails comparing your property to similar properties in your area that have been sold recently to estimate its likely sales value.
Across Texas, median house prices rose by 7.9% over the last year, and this rise may be applied to your property assessment in Travis County—whether or not your property has increased in value. If your property assessment goes up, the amount of property tax you pay increases by the same factor.
Tax Rate
Travis County sets a property tax rate each year to cover its funding needs. The funding needs are based on budgets submitted by each of the taxing authorities—or districts—in the county, which include:
- Schools
- Cities
- Water authorities
- Police and fire departments
In Texas, there are over 4,000 tax districts that require funding, and Travis County’s funding needs mean that a high tax rate is essential to ensure budgets are met.
How High Are Travis County’s Property Taxes?
Travis County has the worst of both worlds. The state capital, Austin, is in Travis County, and its presence leads to high median property prices.
Metropolitan funding requirements tend to be higher than in rural areas, so Travis County also needs a high property tax rate to generate enough revenue.
Travis County’s median home price is $298,800, and its tax rate is 1.82%, meaning that the average Travis County resident will receive a property tax bill of $5,439 every year.
This compares with other counties in Texas as follows:
| County | Median Home Value | Average Effective Property Tax Rate | Median Annual Property Tax Payment |
| Collin | $288,900 | 1.94% | $5,594 |
| Fort Bend | $251,100 | 2.22% | $5,563 |
| Williamson | $245,100 | 2.01% | $4,934 |
| Denton | $255,300 | 1.90% | $4,863 |
| Rockwall | $244,400 | 1.95% | $4,762 |
| Kendall | $326,800 | 1.46% | $4,761 |
| Hays | $222,300 | 1.97% | $4,375 |
| Montgomery | $223,900 | 1.80% | $4,026 |
| Tarrant | $170,300 | 2.10% | $3,581 |
Living in the third most expensive county in Texas, Travis County residents need all the help they can get to reduce their property taxes.
Are Any Property Tax Exemptions Available in Travis County?
Travis County offers several property tax exemptions that are designed to ease your tax burden.
The exemptions on offer are:
| Exemption |
Explanation |
| General residence homestead exemption | This exemption is available to all homeowners using their property as their primary residence. It offers a $25,000 reduction in the assessed value of their home |
| Person aged 65 or older exemption | Homeowners over 65 are eligible for a further $25,000 off their property assessment for the school district portion of their property tax bill. If the school district portion of their tax bill amounts to 55% of the total amount due and their home is worth $100,000, 55% of their tax bill will only be calculated on a property value of $75,000. Other taxing districts may opt to offer this exemption as well |
| Disabled person exemption | Disabled persons are eligible for this exemption provided that:
The exemption is determined based on the grade of the disability |
| 100% disabled veteran exemption | This scheme offers a 100% exemption on the total assessed value of the disabled veteran’s home |
| Disabled veteran or survivor exemption | Partially-disabled veterans may also be eligible for an exemption of between $5,000 and $12,000 on the assessed value of their home, depending on the disability grade |
| Surviving spouse exemption | The surviving unremarried spouse of a member of the armed forces killed in action is eligible for a 100% property tax exemption |
| Line of duty exemption | The surviving unremarried spouse of a first responder from the police or fire service who was killed in the line of duty can qualify for a 100% property tax exemption |
| Texas solar or wind power exemption | Homeowners in Texas who convert their homes to use renewable energy sources can claim the cost of the installation as an exemption on their property’s assessed value. The exemption is valid for ten years, with the exemption amount decreasing by 10% each year |
Surviving spouses of disabled persons and disabled veterans are also eligible for a continuation of any exemptions granted as long as they remain owners of the property and do not remarry.
There is also a state program that offers the opportunity for low-income seniors to defer their property tax payments until after their death.
DoNotPay has all the information you need to claim these Travis County property tax exemptions.
How Can DoNotPay Help Me With My Travis County Property Taxes?
DoNotPay is the expert at reducing your property tax across Texas and—in particular—in Travis County.
Our app provides you with a that gives you advice specific to your location and circumstances.
The property guide deals with two main topics:
| Topic | Explanation |
|
Property tax exemptions | This explains:
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Property assessments | This section covers:
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Where Can I Get DoNotPay’s Property Guide?
Getting our guide is easy if you follow these steps:
- Navigate to DoNotPay in your web browser and
- Look for the Property Tax feature
- Fill in some basic details
- Wait a few moments while your guide is generated
Can DoNotPay Offer Me Any Other Help?
You may not qualify for any of the exemptions offered in Travis County, or you may feel there is more you could do to reduce your property tax.
In either case, you have the option of appealing your property assessment. DoNotPay can give you advice on:
- How your local appeal process works
- What documents you will need to prepare
- Where you can lodge your appeal
Do You Need Help With All That Paperwork?
Saving money is great, but cutting the time wasted on bureaucracy sometimes sounds even better. DoNotPay joins the best of both worlds and helps you avoid boring paperwork while preventing future unnecessary charges and expenses.
With our help, you can enjoy free trials without any risk, file insurance claims, or handle issues with credit cards.
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