North Texas Weekly
Collin County Property Taxes Explained (2026 Guide)
Jane A.
6/5/26
Understand your Collin County property tax bill — CCAD appraisals, combined rates, every exemption available, and how to protest an over-assessment.
Texas property taxes are among the highest in the United States — a deliberate structural choice that funds government services in the absence of a state income tax. For Collin County homeowners, the annual property tax bill represents one of the largest line items in the household budget, and understanding how it is calculated, what reduces it, and how to challenge it when it is wrong is genuinely valuable.
This guide provides a comprehensive explanation of the Collin County property tax system — from how the Collin County Central Appraisal District determines your property's value to how multiple taxing entities combine to create your total tax rate to every exemption and reduction strategy available in 2026.
The Two Components of Your Property Tax Bill
Your annual property tax obligation is determined by two independent variables: your property's assessed value (set by CCAD) and the combined tax rate applied by all taxing entities covering your address (set by the entities themselves).
Tax owed = (Assessed Value - Exemptions) × Combined Tax Rate
Both variables are determined annually and independently. CCAD can raise your assessed value in the same year that taxing entities lower their rates — or vice versa. Understanding both components gives you more tools to manage your overall obligation.
How CCAD Determines Your Property's Value
The Collin County Central Appraisal District (CCAD) employs a staff of appraisers who estimate the market value of every property in the county as of January 1st of each tax year. CCAD uses mass appraisal methodology — statistical models calibrated against comparable sales data — rather than individual appraisals of each property.
Key aspects of the CCAD valuation process:
Values are based on market data from the prior calendar year's sales activity
CCAD appraisers do not typically visit individual homes — values are derived from model-based analysis
Appraisal notices are mailed in April of each tax year
Homeowners have until May 15th (or 30 days after the notice date, whichever is later) to file a protest
Texas law caps annual value increases at 10 percent for homestead properties — this cap applies to the current appraised value, not market value
Understanding Your Combined Tax Rate
Your combined tax rate is the sum of rates from every taxing entity with jurisdiction over your property. A typical Collin County homeowner's combined rate includes:
Collin County rate: approximately 0.14–0.16%
City rate: approximately 0.40–0.60% depending on city
School district rate: approximately 0.90–1.10% — the largest single component
Hospital district rate: approximately 0.07–0.10% in applicable areas
Special district rates (MUD, water, fire, etc.): 0.10–0.40% in applicable areas — particularly relevant for newer master-planned communities
New construction homeowners in master-planned communities in Prosper, Celina, or outer McKinney may have particularly high combined rates — sometimes exceeding 2.5 percent — due to Municipal Utility District (MUD) and Public Improvement District (PID) levies that fund community infrastructure.
All Available Exemptions for Collin County Homeowners
General Homestead Exemption
The Texas Constitution requires school districts to provide a $100,000 homestead exemption on the appraised value of a primary residence. Most Collin County cities and the county itself offer additional homestead exemptions of $5,000 to $30,000. On a $500,000 home, a $100,000 school district exemption reduces the taxable value for school purposes to $400,000.
Over-65 (Senior) Exemption
Homeowners aged 65 or older receive an additional $10,000 school district exemption plus an all-important school district tax ceiling — their school taxes are frozen at the amount paid the year they turned 65 or first claimed the exemption. This ceiling does not expire and provides permanent protection against rising school district taxes for qualifying seniors.
Disability Exemption
Homeowners with a qualifying disability receive the same benefits as the over-65 exemption. The disability must meet Social Security Administration disability criteria. You cannot receive both the over-65 and disability exemptions simultaneously.
Disabled Veterans Exemptions
The Texas disabled veteran exemption provides property tax reductions scaled to the veteran's disability rating from the VA:
10–29% disability: $5,000 exemption
30–49% disability: $7,500 exemption
50–69% disability: $10,000 exemption
70–99% disability: $12,000 exemption
100% disability or unemployability: full exemption from all property taxes on the primary residence
Surviving Spouse Exemptions
The surviving spouse of a disabled veteran who qualified for the 100% exemption may continue to receive that exemption if they have not remarried. The surviving spouse of a first responder killed in the line of duty also qualifies for a 100% exemption.
Solar and Renewable Energy Exemption
The added market value attributable to solar panels or other qualifying renewable energy devices is fully exempt from property taxation in Texas. This exemption applies to both the panels and the related installation equipment.
The Property Tax Protest Process in Detail
The protest process is more accessible and successful than most homeowners expect. Approximately one-third of homeowners who protest their appraisal each year achieve a reduction.
Grounds for Protest
Value is excessive — the appraised value exceeds the market value of the property
Value is unequal — the property is appraised at a higher percentage of market value than comparable properties in the area
Incorrect property characteristics — the appraisal record reflects wrong square footage, bedroom count, or other features
The Process
File your protest by May 15th or 30 days after notice, whichever is later — online filing at collincad.org is the easiest option
Request an informal review with a CCAD appraiser — this phone or in-person meeting resolves most protests without a formal hearing
If the informal review is unsatisfactory, request a formal hearing before the Appraisal Review Board (ARB)
Prepare evidence: recent comparable sales from MLS or CCAD data, photos of property condition issues, an independent appraisal if warranted for higher-value properties
For properties with significant value, consider hiring a property tax agent or consultant on a contingency basis — they take a percentage of tax savings and charge no upfront fee
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if my CCAD appraisal is reasonable?
Go to collincad.org and search for your property. Review your appraisal record for accuracy — square footage, bedroom count, and listed improvements should match your actual property. Then search for comparable sales by pulling up 5 to 10 similar homes in your neighborhood and reviewing their values. If your per-square-foot value is significantly higher than comparable homes, you have a basis for protest.
What is a MUD district and why does it raise my tax rate?
A Municipal Utility District (MUD) is a special-purpose governmental entity that finances and manages water, sewer, and drainage infrastructure in developing areas. MUDs issue bonds to fund infrastructure construction and levy property taxes on residents within the district to repay those bonds. MUD tax rates in new development areas can add 0.20 to 0.50 percent to your combined rate. MUD rates decline over time as bonds are retired and as the district's tax base grows through additional development.
Can my property taxes go up if I make improvements to my home?
Yes. Permitted improvements that add value to your property — additions, garage conversions, significant renovations — are typically detected by CCAD through permit records and incorporated into the following year's appraisal. Unpermitted improvements may not be reflected immediately but can be identified during periodic field reviews. The 10 percent annual value increase cap applies to existing homestead properties but not necessarily to new improvements.