Property tax / Agriculture
Ag Valuation: Lower Taxes for Farm and Ranch Land
Farm and ranch land in Bee County can be taxed on what it produces instead of what it would sell for, which usually means a lower tax bill.
Texas law lets farmland and ranchland be valued on what it can produce, not on its market price. This is called an ag valuation. In Bee County, where ranching and row crops are common, it can cut your tax bill by a lot.
To qualify, the land must have been used for farming or ranching in at least five of the last seven years. Qualifying uses include grazing cattle, growing crops, cutting hay, and wildlife management if the land already had an ag valuation. The Bee Central Appraisal District sets local rules — for example, a minimum number of cattle per acre. You must meet those rules to qualify.
Watch out for the rollback tax. If you stop farming the land or sell it for development, you owe back taxes. You owe the difference between what you paid and what you would have paid at full market value for the past three years, plus interest. Talk to the Bee Central Appraisal District before you change how you use the land.
Source to confirm: Texas Comptroller – Agricultural and Wildlife Management Special Appraisal