Ag Valuation
Farmland in Hockley County May Qualify for a Lower Tax Valuation
Land used for farming or ranching in Hockley County can be taxed on what it earns rather than what it could sell for. That usually means a much lower tax bill.
Texas law lets qualifying farmland be taxed at its productive value instead of its market value. This is called an ag valuation, or 1-d-1 open-space valuation. The difference can be large. Cotton, grain sorghum, and wheat are common qualifying crops in Hockley County. Irrigated cropland and dry-land pasture can both qualify.
You apply at the Hockley Central Appraisal District. The appraisal district is the local office that values property for tax purposes.
There is a catch. If land with ag valuation is sold and switched to a non-ag use, a rollback tax kicks in. You owe back taxes for each of the previous three years, plus interest. Before you buy or change how land is used, confirm the current rules and rollback details with the appraisal district.
Source to confirm: Hockley Central Appraisal District — Tax Information