Agricultural land may qualify for a lower tax valuation

Texas law lets land that is actively used for agriculture be taxed at a lower value. Instead of market value — what the land would sell for — it is taxed on what it can produce. This is called productivity value. Uses that can qualify include crops, livestock, beekeeping, and timber.

This can cut your property tax bill by a large amount. But if you later change the land use, you may owe back taxes. That catch-up charge is called a rollback tax.

You apply through the Uvalde County Appraisal District. The land must have been used for agriculture for a set period to qualify. If you are buying rural land that already has an ag valuation, ask how long it has been in place and what happens if you change how you use the land.