Property tax
Agricultural and wildlife-management land valuation in Bell County
Bell County landowners who use their land for farming or wildlife can be taxed on what the land produces, not what it would sell for, which can lower the tax bill significantly.
Texas law lets landowners tax their property based on its farm or ranch productivity, not its market value. This is called an ag valuation, or 1-d-1 appraisal. It can cut your tax bill by a lot. Qualifying uses include row crops, livestock, exotic animals, hay, beekeeping, and wildlife management.
In Bell County, you apply through Bell CAD. Use the 1-d-1 Agricultural Use Application. The land must be used for farming at a level that is normal for the area. Bell CAD handles ag and wildlife questions at agwildlife@bellcad.org. Applications are usually due by April 30.
If your land already has an ag valuation, you can switch to wildlife management use without starting over. Your land must still support native or non-native wildlife. Accepted practices include habitat control, supplemental water, and wildlife counts.
If you stop farming or wildlife use, watch out for the rollback tax. Under Tax Code §23.55, as amended on June 15, 2021, you owe the difference between what you paid and what taxes would have been at market value for the prior three years. Interest only adds on if the taxes become delinquent. Check bellcad.org and comptroller.texas.gov for current rules.
Source to confirm: Bell CAD – Agricultural Appraisal