Dallas County Property Taxes 2026: Due Dates, Deadlines & Values
By the housegeek editorial team
Updated 11 min read
Key Takeaways
- Dallas County told KRLD its 2026 property tax bills would wait for the November 3 county tax rate election. The due date for the 2026 tax year is still January 31, 2027, a Sunday, so a payment on Monday, February 1 is on time.
- Dallas County property values are set by the Dallas Central Appraisal District, which determines property value for tax purposes but not tax rates or collections.
- Important deadlines include January 1 for valuation, April for value notices, May 15 to file protests (closed for 2026), and January 31 to pay taxes on time without penalties.
- Property assessments rely heavily on recent neighborhood sales and recorded property details, but interior conditions and repairs may not be captured, which can cause valuation differences.
- Multiple taxing entities contribute to your overall tax bill, such as county, city, schools, and special districts, each with their own rates.
- Dallas County offers online tools for homeowners to review values, compare sales, and file protests, but documentation and timing are key to effective contesting.
2026 bills are delayed: the Nov 3 county rate election
The county told KRLD that bills would not be mailed in October as usual. The county is waiting for the November 3 vote on its tax rate. There is no official mailing date yet, and we will update this page when the county sets one.
Why the bills are late
The bills are late because Dallas County adopted a rate above the voter-approval rate on August 11, 2026. In most cases, the voter-approval rate is the highest rate a county can adopt without asking voters. Voters now approve or reject the higher rate in a tax rate election on November 3, 2026. The county explains the election on its tax rate election page. KRLD reported the delay on September 22. It also reported that the county says the rate is rising for the first time in 16 years.
What was adopted, and what the vote decides
| Dallas County rate | Per $100 of taxable value | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 adopted rate | $0.215500 | Last year's county rate |
| 2026 voter-approval rate | $0.224650 | In most cases, the highest rate the county could adopt without a vote |
| 2026 adopted rate | $0.248650 | Adopted August 11, 2026. Subject to the November 3 election |
If voters approve, the county rate stays at $0.248650. If they reject it, Texas law sets the rate at the voter-approval rate, $0.224650. This page takes no side and does not predict the result.
The county's own example shows the scale. On $100,000 of taxable value, the vote is worth $24.00: $224.65 at the voter-approval rate against $248.65 at the adopted rate. The county lists the median homestead taxable value as $268,056, which pays $666.52 at the adopted rate. Against last year's rate of $0.215500, the 2026 adopted rate adds $33.15 per $100,000 of taxable value, before any change in your value.
The vote is on the county rate. Your school district, city and other taxing units set their own rates, and the vote does not change them or your exemptions.
Why the amount you see online may change
KRLD reported that anyone checking a bill online before Election Day could see the higher amount. That amount may change after the vote. According to KRLD, Tax Assessor John Ames said taxpayers who overpay will automatically receive a refund if the measure fails. State law also requires the county to refund the difference if the rate is rejected (Tax Code 26.07(g)). The county has not published how it will handle refunds, so confirm the process with the Dallas County Tax Office if you plan to pay early. Nothing requires you to pay before the due date.
What does not change: the deadline
State law makes a property tax bill due when you receive it and delinquent if it is unpaid before February 1 of the next year. Not receiving a bill does not change the due date, the penalty or the interest. For the 2026 tax year, the deadline is January 31, 2027.
How the county rate turns into dollars
A bill is each unit's taxable value, divided by 100, times its rate, with the units added together. Taxable value is the appraised value minus exemptions, and each taxing unit can have its own. The appraised value is what DCAD says your home was worth on January 1, and for a homestead it can rise no more than 10% a year. The rate is dollars of tax per $100 of taxable value, set by each taxing unit.
For a worked bill in each DFW county, including Dallas at both 2026 county rates, see how to read your Texas property tax bill. For rates by city, see the Dallas County rates and assessments page and the City of Dallas page.
When are Dallas County property taxes due?
Dallas County property taxes for the 2026 tax year are due by January 31, 2027. That date is a Sunday, so a payment made Monday, February 1 is on time under Tax Code 1.06. Penalties and interest start the day after. Tarrant County moved its 2025 deadline to February 2, 2026 for the same weekend reason. Confirm the date printed on your bill or on the Dallas County Tax Office site.
In a normal year the tax office mails bills in October, once local taxing entities have set their rates. This year the county told KRLD it would wait for the November 3 election. You can pay online or by phone, and the county's payment page lists the other ways to pay. The 2026 protest window has closed. To plan for next year, see the Dallas County protest process and deadlines.
What a late payment costs
Penalties and interest are set by state law, so the schedule is the same in every Texas county. They start the day after the deadline, and February is month one. The table below combines the penalty and the interest for a payment made in each month.
| If you pay in | Penalty | Interest | Total added to the tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 2027 | 6% | 1% | 7% |
| March 2027 | 7% | 2% | 9% |
| April 2027 | 8% | 3% | 11% |
| May 2027 | 9% | 4% | 13% |
| June 2027 | 10% | 5% | 15% |
| July 2027 | 12% | 6% | 18% |
After July 1, the penalty stays at 12% and interest keeps adding 1% a month. On July 1, a taxing unit that uses a collection attorney can add up to 20% more to taxes still unpaid, according to the Texas Comptroller. On a $5,000 bill, paying in April adds $550. Paying in July adds $900, plus any collection fee.
How to pay your Dallas County bill
- Online or by phone. Start at the county's payment page. As listed in October 2026, a credit card carries a 2.05% fee (minimum $2.85), a debit card $2.85 per transaction, and an eCheck from your bank account no fee. Fees change, so check the page before you pay.
- Partial payments. The county page says partial payments are applied pro rata to tax, penalty, interest and any collection penalty. Penalty and interest still apply to any balance left after the deadline.
- Installments if you are 65 or older, disabled, or a disabled veteran. Texas lets homestead owners in these groups pay in four equal installments without penalty or interest. The first must be paid before the delinquency date, with notice that you are paying this way. The second is due before April 1, the third before June 1, and the fourth before August 1. A missed installment carries a 6% penalty plus interest. Ask the tax office how to sign up.
- Split payment. State law lets a taxing unit allow half to be paid before December 1 and the rest before July 1. A unit has to adopt it. Ask the tax office whether a split payment is available this year.
- After a bill goes delinquent. If the taxes are on a homestead, you can ask the tax office for a payment agreement, unless you had one with that office in the last 24 months. The agreement is in writing, paid monthly, and runs at least 12 and at most 36 months. Interest keeps accruing. The penalty does not accrue during the agreement unless you miss a payment. For other property, the tax office may offer an agreement.
If your lender pays your taxes
If you have a mortgage with an escrow account, your servicer pays the county for you, and you may never see the bill. The county has not published how it handles escrowed accounts this year, so ask your servicer when it plans to pay. Once a year the servicer runs an escrow analysis. If the account is short, federal rules let the servicer require a shortage of one month's payment or more to be repaid over at least 12 months. See 12 CFR 1024.17. We work through an example in our bill-reading guide.
If you never receive a bill
- Look up your account on the Dallas County Tax Office site. You do not need the paper bill to see what you owe.
- Do not wait for a late bill. The deadline, the penalty and the interest apply either way.
- If you cannot find your account, contact the tax office. The county payment page lists a Customer Care Center at 214-653-7811.
Who Determines Your Property Value in Dallas County?
Dallas County splits the work three ways. DCAD sets your value, each taxing unit sets its rate, and the Dallas County Tax Office sends the bill.
The value comes from the Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD). DCAD appraises both real and personal property countywide, including hundreds of thousands of homes. Their sole task is to estimate property market value as of January 1 each year to determine taxable value.
DCAD has no authority to collect taxes or set tax rates. Once DCAD finalizes values, the Dallas County Tax Office bills and collects payments after local taxing authorities establish rates.
Dallas County property tax calendar for 2026
- January 1: valuation date. The official market value of your home is established based on its condition and neighborhood sales as of this date.
- Early April: notices of appraised value. DCAD mails these to property owners, showing the proposed value for the current tax year.
- April 30: homestead exemption deadline. If you are a new homeowner or filing for a homestead exemption for the first time, April 30 is the usual filing deadline for the year. Texas law also accepts a late application up to two years after the taxes become delinquent, with a refund of any overpayment.
- May 15, 2026: protest deadline for the 2026 tax year. If you disagreed with the appraisal, you had to file a protest by this date, or within 30 days of receiving your notice, whichever was later. That window has closed for 2026.
- Summer (June to August): informal and formal hearings. Property owners who file protests attend hearings with the Appraisal Review Board during this period.
- October: tax bill mailing. The Dallas County Tax Office normally sends out the tax bills after rates have been set. In 2026 the county told KRLD its bills would wait for the November 3 rate election.
- January 31 (following year): tax payment deadline. Pay your taxes by this date to avoid penalties and interest charges. In 2027 January 31 is a Sunday, so a payment on Monday, February 1 is on time.
Most homeowners encounter their main decision point in April and May when the notice arrives and protests can be filed. For current rates for your city and school district, see the Dallas property tax rates page.
How Does Dallas County Assess Home Values?
Dallas Central Appraisal District uses a mass appraisal approach to determine values. Instead of inspecting each home individually every year, DCAD relies on data models that include various factors:
- Recent Sold Properties Nearby: The biggest influence on your home's value is sales of similar homes in your neighborhood. Rising nearby sale prices generally cause assessed values to increase.
- Recorded Property Details: Official data such as square footage, lot size, age, number of rooms, and condition ratings impact the valuation. Errors or outdated info here can skew values.
- Neighborhood and Location: Even homes of similar size vary in value based on their neighborhood.
- Market Time Adjustments: Older sales are adjusted to reflect market conditions as of January 1.
Things DCAD typically does not account for include interior repairs needed, deferred maintenance, or unique property conditions unreported in records. These gaps often lead to disagreements on the appraisal.
What Makes Dallas County Unique in Its Property Tax Process?
- Online tools: DCAD's portal lets homeowners check valuations, review property data, compare local sales, and file protests electronically.
- High Volume of Protests: Dallas County handles a significant number of property tax protests annually. Informal meetings with DCAD appraisers tend to be brief, so providing clear, focused evidence is more effective than lengthy explanations. See what the 2026 protest season looked like on the ground.
- Multiple Taxing Authorities: Your tax bill may include charges from Dallas County itself, your city government, your local school district, and possibly other entities like hospital or utility districts. Each sets independent tax rates that combine for your total bill.
- Rapidly Rising Property Values: When market value rises faster than 10% a year, the homestead cap spreads the increase over several years, so appraised values keep climbing toward market. See why the 10% cap catches up.
Where Does Dallas County Property Tax Information Originate?
The foundation of Dallas County property tax data is DCAD's property records. By searching their database, homeowners can view current and past property values, detailed descriptions, and the comparable sales used to support valuations.
When you file a protest, DCAD provides an evidence packet showing the sales considered and data models used. However, sales information comes primarily from MLS listings and other reporting sources, which may lack important details like seller-paid incentives or the home's actual condition at the sale time.
Your own documentation such as purchase agreements, repair estimates, and photos becomes critical context that the appraisal models cannot access. This personal information strengthens your case if you dispute the value.
Understanding Your Dallas County Property Tax Situation
Two dates matter now. The 2026 protest window has closed, and the payment deadline has not moved: January 31, 2027, with Monday, February 1 on time.
Contesting a value and paying a bill are separate processes, with separate deadlines.
Pay by the deadline and you owe the tax, nothing more. Penalties and interest come only from paying late.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why haven't I received my Dallas County property tax bill?
Dallas County told KRLD its 2026 bills would wait for the November 3 county tax rate election, and has not announced a mailing date. Not receiving a bill does not change the due date or the penalties, so look up your account on the county site.
Will my Dallas County bill change after the November 3 vote?
It can. A bill viewed online before the vote may show the adopted rate of $0.248650 per $100. If voters reject it, the rate becomes the voter-approval rate, $0.224650. KRLD reported that overpayments would be refunded automatically, and state law requires a refund of the difference if the rate is rejected.
When are Dallas County property taxes due?
Dallas County property taxes are due January 31 of the year after the tax year. For 2026, that is January 31, 2027, a Sunday, so a payment on Monday, February 1 is on time. Penalties and interest start the day after.
What is the 2026 protest deadline in Dallas County?
The deadline was May 15, 2026, or 30 days after your Notice of Appraised Value was delivered, whichever was later. That window has closed. The 2027 window opens when your next notice arrives, usually in April.
Does DCAD collect property taxes?
No. DCAD only sets your appraised value. The Dallas County Tax Office bills and collects the tax once local taxing entities set their rates.
What happens if I pay my Dallas County property taxes late?
A late payment adds a 6% penalty plus 1% interest in the first month. The total climbs each month and reaches 18% in July. See the table above, and ask the Dallas County Tax Office about a payment plan before the balance grows.
What to do before April
The 2026 protest window has closed. If your value looked off, note what you saw and keep your records. Your 2027 notice arrives in April, and that opens the next protest window.
When that notice arrives, the Dallas County property tax appeal process guide has the steps and deadlines.
Until then, pay your bill by the deadline and use our guide to your Texas property tax bill to see which line moved. Whether you protest on your own or hand it to a professional, the first question in April is the same: is your value out of line with your neighbors? You can check that below for free.