Topic
Property Taxes & Exemptions: your questions answered
Property taxes are a large part of what it costs to own a home in Texas, and the bill looks different from one address to the next. It can include county, city, school, and special district taxes, and the homestead exemption changes what you owe. I explain here how the bill is built and where the numbers come from. For your own account, exemptions or a protest, please contact your county appraisal district and tax office.
Answered by Allen Markel, REALTOR®, Texas Premier Realty · 17 questions answered
Questions about Property Taxes & Exemptions
How much are property taxes in Cypress, TX?
The median total property-tax rate on Cypress homes for sale is 2.63% of taxable value, measured on the 1,055 of 1,326 active listings where we hold a complete 2025 tax stack.
Read answerHow much of a Cypress tax bill is MUD, school, county and flood-control tax?
For a typical Cypress home in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD with a MUD, the 2025 rate stack is about 2.66% in total.
Read answerWhat does it cost per month to own a house in Cypress, taxes and HOA included?
There is no single monthly number for Cypress, because taxes and MUD lines differ by address.
Read answerIs Cypress in Harris County, and why does the county matter to my tax bill?
Yes. 1,325 of 1,326 active Cypress listings are in Harris County, and the county drives a large part of the bill.
Read answerWhich Cypress subdivisions have the lowest and highest total tax rates?
Among Cypress subdivisions with at least five active listings and a complete 2025 tax stack, the lowest median total rates are Lakes of Fairhaven at 2.00% (no MUD line), Cypress Chase at 2.17% and…
Read answerHow are property taxes calculated in Harris County?
A Harris County tax bill is taxable value times each taxing unit's rate, added across the units that cover the address.
Read answerWhat taxing units make up a Harris County tax bill and what does each charge?
A Harris County bill stacks up to seven kinds of taxing unit. For 2025 the county levies $0.38096 per $100, the hospital district $0.18761, flood control $0.04966, the Port of Houston Authority…
Read answerHow do I file a homestead exemption in Harris County?
File a residence homestead application with the Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD), which accepts it electronically through its mobile app.
Read answerHow do I protest my property taxes in Harris County, and what is the deadline?
You can protest your appraised value with the Harris Central Appraisal District. The deadline is May 15, or 30 days after the notice of appraised value is delivered, whichever is later, under Texas…
Read answerAre Harris County property taxes frozen at age 65?
Only school district taxes, and only for a homeowner who receives the age-65-or-older homestead exemption or the matching exemption for owners who qualify through Social Security Disability Insurance.
Read answerAre property taxes paid in arrears in Harris County?
Yes. Texas property tax is billed after the year ends: the bill for a calendar year goes out in October or November of that year, is due when received, and becomes delinquent after January 31 of the…
Read answerWhich Harris County cities have the lowest and highest tax rates?
Among MLS city labels with at least 40 active listings and a complete 2025 tax stack, the lowest median total rates are Webster at 1.97%, Bellaire at 2.02% and Channelview at 2.04%, and the highest…
Read answerHarris County vs Fort Bend County: how do taxes and prices compare?
Fort Bend County homes cost more and carry a slightly higher tax rate. The six-month median sale price is $389,000 in Fort Bend and $320,000 in Harris, or $165 versus $156 per square foot.
Read answerWhat over-65, Social Security Disability Insurance and disabled veteran exemptions can Harris County owners claim?
Texas requires school districts to give an additional $60,000 homestead exemption to a homeowner who is 65 or older or who qualifies through Social Security Disability Insurance (Tax Code 11.13(c)),…
Read answerHow do I look up and pay a Harris County property tax bill?
Look up a bill at the Harris County Tax Office website, hctax.net, by account number, address or owner name, and pay online, by mail or in person.
Read answerWhat is the Texas homestead exemption and how much does it save?
The residence homestead exemption removes part of your home's value from taxation. Under Texas Tax Code Sec.
Read answerWhat is the Cy-Fair ISD tax rate and how much of my bill is school tax?
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD's 2025 tax rate is $1.0669 per $100 of taxable value, down from $1.0869 in 2024.
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Answers describe transactions and public data. They are not legal, tax or financial advice.