Texas Porch

Property tax

How Bailey County Property Taxes Work

Two offices handle Bailey County property taxes — one sets values, one sends bills. A homestead exemption can cut your school tax by $140,000.

Bailey County Money & Taxes

Two separate offices handle property taxes in Bailey County. The Bailey Central Appraisal District (302 Main Street, Muleshoe) figures out what your property is worth. The county Tax Assessor-Collector (300 S. 1st Street, Suite 140) sends the bill and collects payment. Many new residents are surprised these are different offices.

If Bailey County is your main home, you can apply for a homestead exemption. Texas law tells school districts to subtract $140,000 from your property's value before figuring your school tax. That is one of the biggest deductions in state history. Other exemptions may also apply — including a tax freeze for homeowners 65 and older and a disabled-veteran exemption.

To get the homestead exemption, file Form 50-114 with the appraisal district. The usual deadline is May 1, but check with the district because dates can change. The county, city, school district, and other local bodies each set their own tax rates every year. The appraisal district does not set those rates. Check the Texas Comptroller's property-tax page or the Bailey CAD website for current rates and deadlines.

Source to confirm: Bailey Central Appraisal District

More Bailey County notes

Water / Wells

Groundwater in Bailey County Comes from the Ogallala Aquifer

Bailey County gets nearly all its water from the Ogallala Aquifer. A local district controls how much you can pump from a new well.

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Driving / Registration

No Safety Inspection Required for Personal Vehicles in Bailey County

Since January 2025, Texas no longer requires a safety inspection for most personal vehicles. Bailey County is not an emissions-testing county, so you just pay a $7.50 fee at registration.

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Wildlife / Public land

Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge Draws Tens of Thousands of Sandhill Cranes Each Winter

Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1935 and described by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as the oldest national wildlife refuge in Texas, sits 20 miles south of Muleshoe and hosts large concentrations of sandhill cranes during winter.

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Agriculture / Property tax

Farmland in Bailey County Can Be Taxed on Agricultural Value, Not Market Value

If you farm or ranch land in Bailey County, you may be able to pay taxes on its farming value instead of its full market value. That can mean much lower taxes.

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