Key Deadlines for Homestead and Ag Valuation in Rains County

In Rains County, most property tax exemptions are due by April 30. This includes the homestead exemption, the over-65 exemption, the disabled veteran exemption, and the agricultural (1-d-1 open-space) valuation. The appraisal district mails notices of appraised value by April 15, so you will not have long to review your value and file.

The ag valuation is important for rural landowners. It lets qualifying farm or ranch land be taxed on what it can produce, not its market value. That usually means a much lower tax bill. But if you file after April 30, there is a 10% penalty on the application. If the tax roll has already been certified, the district will not accept the application at all. Land must have been used for agriculture for at least five of the past seven years to qualify. Check the Rains CAD site for current forms and deadlines, since these can change.