Agricultural Valuation
Farm and Ranch Land Can Qualify for Ag Valuation
Farm and ranch land in Erath County can be taxed on what it produces, not what it would sell for. That often means a much lower tax bill.
Texas lets farm and ranch land be valued based on how much it produces, not its market price. This is called productivity value, and it can cut your tax bill a lot.
In Erath County, qualifying uses include grazing, row crops, orchards, livestock breeding, exotic animal operations, and wildlife management.
The Erath County Appraisal District — ECAD — sets rules each year called agricultural intensity standards. These list the minimum requirements for each type of operation, such as how many acres you need or how many animals you must run.
Check the current standards on the ECAD website before you buy rural land. The rules can change from year to year.
You must apply to get this lower valuation. The standard filing deadline is April 30. Texas law does allow late applications to be accepted after that deadline, but a 10% penalty applies if the application is approved late.
Source to confirm: Erath CAD — Ag Qualifications and Guidelines