How Does the Dallas County Property Tax Rate Compare?
The Dallas County property tax rate is determined by the Commissioners’ Court and combined with the rates decided by your appraisal district (based on an assessment of local property values). You can find detailed information about how your rate is calculated on the Dallascounty.org website. The average tax rate in Dallas County is about 1.99%. Like the rest of Texas, this is much higher than the national average (since you don’t pay income taxes). However, cities within the county can differ quite a bit — for instance, the city of Dallas is about 2.85% (with more than half of that coming from school districts).
In comparison with other populous areas in Texas, the Dallas County property tax rate is:
- Significantly lower than Bexar County (the San Antonio area), which averages 2.74%.
- Lower than Tarrant County (Fort Worth and Arlington areas), which is at 2.16%.
- Slightly lower than Harris County (the Houston area), which is about 2.09%.
- About on par with the city of Austin, though Travis County varies greatly between cities.
Important Dallas County Property Tax Dates
Make note of the following dates for paying your Dallas County property taxes:
- Property taxes are payable starting on October 1st.
- All tax bills are mailed out during October, but you can also find your balance online, either on the website of the Dallas County Tax Assessor-Collector (the position currently held by John R. Ames) or on Dallascounty.org’s Property Tax Lookup page.
- The last date to pay is January 31st, after which you’ll owe delinquent property taxes (if mailing your payment, it must be postmarked by the 31st).
- Any appraisal protests must be filed by May 15th.
- Delinquent accounts will eventually be turned over to private attorneys for collection, such as Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP — this occurs on April 1st for commercial property and July 1st for personal property.
- The Dallascounty.org Deadlines & Delinquency page offers detailed information about these dates for taxpayers.
How Do I Pay My Property Taxes in Dallas County?
For those who are ready to pay their property taxes, Dallas County offers the following options:
- Pay in person at a tax office (cash, check, cashier’s check, convenience credit card check, money order and credit/debit card accepted).
- Pay online through Dallascounty.org (credit card, debit card or eCheck).
- Pay by mail (check, cashier’s check, convenience credit card check or money order).
- Pay by phone (through JPMorgan Chase Bank).
- Pay by wire transfer.
Note that there are fees for paying by credit or debit card. All checks must be made payable to the Dallas County Tax Assessor-Collector, currently John R. Ames. You can find more information on Dallascounty.org’s Guide for Paying Property Taxes.
What Happens If I Owe Delinquent Property Taxes in Dallas County, Texas?
You’re delinquent if you miss the January 31st deadline for paying property taxes. Dallas County residents will start to incur severe property tax penalties and interest fees immediately. Also, at any point during your delinquency, a tax lien may be placed on your property.
What Happens If There’s a Tax Lien on My Property in Dallas County?
A tax lien is the government’s claim on your property. As long as that tax lien exists, the foreclosure process can begin. Here’s what that looks like in Dallas County:
- Foreclosure notices will go out through the Dallas County Clerk — the current clerk is John F. Warren.
- Once your property is foreclosed, it can be sold.
- The public can view Property Division Tax Foreclosures Resales on Dallascounty.org or search for property tax sale properties available through Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP, who handles many of them.
- You can remove the tax lien and stop a foreclosure sale by paying off your debt.
- For aircraft property, in addition to paying off your debt to remove the tax lien, you have to file a form with the FAA — this form is also available from Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson.
It is in your best interest to remove a tax lien as soon as possible.
How Can I Get Help Paying Dallas County Property Taxes?
It’s not always easy to come up with a large sum of money to pay a property tax. Dallas County offers certain exemptions as a form of property tax assistance, but not everyone qualifies. Your local appraisal district handles all of these. You can view the contact info for Local Appraisal Districts on Dallascounty.org and then get in touch with them to determine if you qualify for an exemption.
Aside from that, you can get a loan from a private lender, like Tax Ease. A loan is one of the fastest, most effective tax solutions available, especially if you’re already delinquent. The lender will pay off your debts immediately to remove a tax lien, and then you can simply pay them back on a schedule that works for you without facing the state’s high penalties and fees.
Count On Us for Dallas County, TX Property Tax Help
Texans don’t like to owe anyone money, especially delinquent property taxes. Dallas County, Texas can depend on Tax Ease. You can fill out our simple application form to get the process started today. Don’t let debt weigh you down. Let us help you pay your Dallas County property taxes today!