Hays County, TX Property Taxes (2026)

Hays County owners pay a median of $6,420 a year on a median home value of $371,400, an effective rate of 1.73%. That's the 17th-highest rate of 250 Texas counties with Census data, above the Texas county median of 1.25%.

Updated October 2026 · Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023) · Texas rules reviewed by TaxDrop's TDLR-licensed property tax consultants

Is your Hays appraisal too high?

We compare your value to recent Hays County sales and show you in about a minute whether a protest is worth it.

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Effective tax rate

1.73%

17th highest of 250 in TX

Median annual bill

$6,420

~$535/month

Median home value

$371,400

Next protest deadline

May 15, 2027

Or 30 days after your notice

What a protest could save you in Hays County

Enter the market value from your appraisal notice. We apply Hays County's 1.73% effective rate and a 10–15% reduction, the typical range for successful protests.

$
Est. annual tax
$6,425
Savings at 10–15% off
$643–$964
You keep (after $129)
$514–$835

TaxDrop One is $129/year, refunded if we don't get a reduction. Savings repeat every year the lower value holds. Estimates only. Your result depends on your property and evidence.

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Hays County vs. Texas vs. U.S. property tax rates

Hays County1.73%
Texas county median1.25%
U.S. county median0.84%

Key stat: Hays County's effective property tax rate is 1.73%, vs. 1.25% for the median Texas county and 0.84% for the median U.S. county. It ranks 17th of 250 in Texas. Effective rate = median tax bill ÷ median home value, so it already reflects typical exemptions. (Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023))

Hays Appraisal District

Hays Appraisal District

Assessing Authority

Hays Appraisal District

Visit Official Website

Protest Deadline

May 15, 2027

Texas protest filing deadline

Who does what

Hays Appraisal District sets your value

The county tax assessor-collector bills and collects. Protest the value, not the bill.

How to protest

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Lowering your Hays appraisal: how it works

  1. 1

    Read your Notice of Appraised Value

    Hays Appraisal District mails notices in spring. Compare the market value to what similar homes nearby actually sold for around January 1.

  2. 2

    File by May 15 (or 30 days after your notice)

    File online through Hays Appraisal District's portal or on Comptroller Form 50-132. Check both "value is over market value" and "value is unequal compared with other properties."

  3. 3

    Try the informal review

    An appraiser reviews your evidence and often makes an offer before any hearing. Most residential protests settle here.

  4. 4

    Go to your ARB hearing

    If you don't settle, a three-member Appraisal Review Board panel hears both sides. Bring comparable sales, repair estimates and photos.

  5. 5

    Appeal further if needed

    Within 60 days of the ARB's order you can request binding arbitration or file in district court.

Hays County property tax protest guide →

Or let TaxDrop file it for you

TaxDrop One · $129/yr

Self-serve protest kit, reviewed by a licensed agent. Flat fee, refunded if we don't get a reduction.

TaxDrop Pro · 1% of the reduction

We handle filing, informal review and the ARB hearing. Pay only if we win.

win rate on processed protests
91%
win rate on processed protests
in assessment reductions
$2M+
in assessment reductions
properties signed up since March 2026
500+
properties signed up since March 2026
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Texas property tax exemptions (2026)

Exemptions are separate from a protest and stack with it. File them once with the Hays Appraisal District.

General homestead: $140,000

Off your school district taxable value, for your primary residence (raised from $100,000 by voters in Nov 2025). File Form 50-114 with your appraisal district.

Age 65+ or disabled: +$60,000

An additional school-tax exemption on top of the homestead, plus a school tax ceiling that freezes that portion of your bill.

10% homestead cap

Your homestead's taxable value can't rise more than 10% a year, even if market value jumps more. Check your notice for the capped value.

Disabled veterans

$5,000–$12,000 off based on VA rating. 100% disabled or unemployable veterans get a full exemption on their homestead.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the property tax rate in Hays County, Texas?
The median effective property tax rate in Hays County is 1.73%: a median annual bill of $6,420 on a median home value of $371,400. That's the 17th-highest rate of 250 Texas counties with Census data. Your own rate depends on which city, school district and special districts you're in. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023).
How much are property taxes in Hays County?
The median Hays County property tax bill is $6,420 a year, about $535 a month, compared with a Texas county median of $1,875.
When are Hays County property taxes due?
Texas tax bills go out in October and November and are due by January 31 of the following year. Penalties and interest start February 1. To lower next year's bill, protest your value by May 15 (or 30 days after your appraisal notice, if later).
What is the deadline to protest property taxes in Hays County?
File your protest with the Hays Appraisal District by May 15, 2027, or within 30 days after your notice of appraised value was delivered, whichever is later. Late protests are only allowed for good cause.
How much is the Texas homestead exemption?
$140,000 off your school district taxable value for your primary residence, after voters raised it from $100,000 in November 2025. Owners 65+ or disabled get an extra $60,000 plus a school tax ceiling. Apply with the Hays Appraisal District on Form 50-114.
Is Hays County a high property tax area?
Hays County's 1.73% effective rate is above the Texas county median of 1.25% and above the U.S. county median of 0.84%. That's the 17th-highest rate of 250 Texas counties with Census data.
Can TaxDrop help lower my Hays County property taxes?
Yes. TaxDrop's TDLR-licensed consultants build your case from local comparable sales. TaxDrop One is $129 a year per property, refunded if we don't get a reduction. TaxDrop Pro handles everything through the hearing for 1% of the assessment reduction, and you pay only if we win.

Property taxes in nearby counties

Comal County

Rate: 1.21%

Median bill: $4,827

Travis County

Rate: 1.54%

Median bill: $7,487

Blanco County

Rate: 1.04%

Median bill: $4,134

Caldwell County

Rate: 1.33%

Median bill: $2,871

Guadalupe County

Rate: 1.49%

Median bill: $4,270

Kendall County

Rate: 1.20%

Median bill: $5,890

Bastrop County

Rate: 1.51%

Median bill: $4,077

Williamson County

Rate: 1.71%

Median bill: $7,079

← All 250 Texas counties

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