Jun 20, 2026
Closing day
Save the closing disclosure, survey, sales contract, appraisal, and any repair evidence. They can become useful if the county appraisal district notices a value you need to protest.
Texas homebuyer tool
Turn your closing date into a Texas property-tax calendar.
Buying the house is only the first date. Texas buyers need to watch homestead filing, appraisal notices, protest deadlines, tax bills, tax due dates, and escrow reviews.
Deadline words, translated
Form 50-114
The standard Texas residence homestead exemption application.
File with the county appraisal district.
Notice of appraised value
The appraisal district notice that shows the value and protest instructions.
Read it even if taxes are escrowed.
ARB
Appraisal Review Board, the local protest board.
The protest deadline controls when you can get in front of it.
Escrow
Money your lender collects monthly for taxes and insurance.
The monthly amount can change after the actual tax bill.
Timeline
Build a Texas post-closing calendar
After you qualify
File the Texas homestead exemption
File Form 50-114 with the county appraisal district for your principal residence. The general deadline is before May 1, but new owners should file as soon as they qualify.
Apr 30, 2027
General homestead application deadline
This is the practical deadline to keep on your calendar. If you bought after Jan. 1, ask the appraisal district how the exemption applies for the current tax year and the next roll.
Around Apr 1, 2027
Watch for the appraisal notice
Residence homesteads with higher appraised values should get notices by April 1 or as soon as practical. Read the market value, exemptions, ownership, and protest instructions.
May 15, 2027 or later if the notice was mailed late
Protest deadline
In most cases the deadline is May 15 or 30 days after the appraisal district mailed the notice, whichever is later. Do not wait if the value, exemption, or property record looks wrong.
Around Oct 1, 2027
Tax bills usually arrive
Many counties send property tax bills around Oct. 1. Your mortgage servicer may pay through escrow, but you should still read the bill and compare it with the estimate.
Jan 31, 2028
Property taxes are generally due
Texas property taxes are generally due by Jan. 31 of the following year. Confirm parcel-specific details with the tax assessor-collector.
Feb 1, 2028
Penalty and interest can begin
Most unpaid bills begin accumulating penalty and interest on Feb. 1. If escrow is involved, verify your lender actually paid the bill.
What the timeline is watching
Texas property taxes have an annual rhythm. The appraisal district value comes first, then protests, then adopted tax rates, then the tax bill, then the payment deadline.
If your lender escrows taxes, the lender may pay the tax bill. That does not replace your job of checking the appraisal value, filing homestead, or protesting a bad record.
New construction, a late-year purchase, or a missing exemption can all make the first year messy. Keep the appraisal district, tax office, lender, and title documents together.
Related Texas guides
Estimate property tax
Run the local rate and exemption math before relying on escrow.
Open estimator ->File the homestead exemption
Understand the main-home exemption and where to file.
Read guide ->Protest an appraisal
Know the deadline and evidence before the notice arrives.
Read guide ->Check local place notes
Find CAD links and local issues for curated Texas places.
Browse places ->Sources
Timeline dates are based on common Texas appraisal, exemption, protest, and tax-bill timing.
- Data vintage:
- Texas appraisal, exemption, protest, and tax-bill calendar guidance
- Last reviewed:
- June 10, 2026
- Texas Comptroller property tax basics - local appraisal, Jan. 1 value date, tax bills, and payment timing
- Texas Comptroller property tax exemptions - residence homestead, school exemption, age 65 or disabled exemption, and filing guidance
- Texas Comptroller appraisal protests and appeals - ARB protest rights, notice timing, evidence, and protest deadlines
Caution: Exact notices, protest windows, tax-bill dates, and exemption processing vary by county appraisal district and tax office.
Spot something that needs a Texas check?
This first pass is built to be polished over time. Send the page name, county, parcel context if relevant, and the official source you are looking at.
Email Texas Porch.