Williamson Property Tax: WCAD Rates, Deadlines & Appeals

For Williamson County homeowners, the 2026 property-tax protest deadline was Friday, May 15, 2026, unless your Notice of Appraised Value was mailed later, in which case the deadline is 30 days after the notice mail date. File with the Williamson Central Appraisal District (WCAD) online, by mail, or in person at 625 FM 1460, Georgetown, TX 78626-8050; WCAD says protest filing is free and faxed or emailed protests are not accepted.

How assessments work in Williamson

Williamson County property values are set by Williamson Central Appraisal District, not by the Williamson County Tax Assessor-Collector and not by your city, school district, or MUD. WCAD values taxable property at market value as of January 1 each year. For residences, WCAD says it uses market data, comparable sales, local cost data, property characteristics, neighborhoods or market areas, and ratio studies to test accuracy and uniformity.

WCAD describes its local appraisal year in three working phases. Discovery runs roughly August through January, when appraisers inspect new construction and changes, use aerial imagery/GIS, and update property characteristics. Analysis generally runs January through March, when WCAD reviews sales, cost, income, land, and neighborhood data. Equalization generally runs April through July, when owners can meet with appraisers and, if needed, have an Appraisal Review Board hearing.

For 2026, WCAD’s Notice of Appraised Value page states that the protest deadline was May 15, 2026. The statewide rule is the same basic rule: most protests are due by May 15 or 30 days after the appraisal district mails the notice, whichever is later. If the deadline falls on a weekend or legal holiday, it moves to the next business day; in 2026, May 15 was a Friday, so no rollover applied.

A key Williamson-specific detail: your market value and your assessed value may not be the same if you have a residence homestead cap. WCAD explains that a homestead cap begins after the first full calendar year you owned and occupied the home, and generally limits future assessed-value increases to 10% per year plus new improvements. If your 2026 market value is $520,000 but your capped assessed value is $465,000, a protest only lowers your tax bill if you reduce market value below the assessed value or fix an exemption/record problem.

Whether you should appeal

Appeal if you can show one of three things: market value is too high, the property is unequally appraised compared with similar homes, or WCAD records/exemptions are wrong. For a first-time homeowner, the best evidence is usually a closing statement or purchase contract, a recent independent appraisal, photos and estimates for condition problems, square-footage documentation, or better comparable sales than the ones WCAD used.

WCAD’s 2025 Annual Report publishes protest volume, but not a homeowner win rate or median reduction. The useful takeaway is scale: WCAD reported 297,248 appraisal notices mailed and 106,418 total protests for appraisal year 2025, including protests by owners and agents. That is not a success statistic, but it does tell you protests are common in Williamson County.

Run the cap test before spending hours on a protest. If your home has a homestead cap, compare the proposed market value with the assessed value on your notice. If market value is still far above assessed value after your realistic reduction, your 2026 tax bill may not change, although correcting the market value can still matter for future years.

For a savings estimate, use the latest adopted county rate because 2026 tax rates are not normally adopted until the August-September truth-in-taxation cycle. Williamson County’s 2025 total county tax rate was $0.413776 per $100 valuation. A successful $50,000 reduction that actually reduces taxable value would save about $206.89 on the county portion alone: $50,000 ÷ 100 × 0.413776. Your full savings may be higher because your tax bill also includes school district, city, MUD, ESD, and other overlapping entities shown on your property record.

Step-by-step how to file

1. Read your 2026 Notice of Appraised Value. Find the QuickRef ID, online protest passcode, proposed market value, assessed value, exemptions, and the protest deadline printed on the notice. WCAD says appraisal notices are typically mailed and available online in early April.

2. Choose the right filing route. For value protests, WCAD says the best route is the online appeal system, using the Online Protest option from your WCAD property search record and the passcode from the notice. Online protests are generally for market value and unequal appraisal issues and may qualify for earlier scheduling.

3. If not filing online, use a written protest. You may use the protest form included with your Notice of Appraised Value, the Texas Comptroller’s Form 50-132, Property Owner’s Notice of Protest for Counties with Populations Greater than 120,000, or a written letter that identifies the owner, property, account/QuickRef ID or legal description, and what you are protesting. If you hire someone, use Form 50-162, Appointment of Agent for Property Tax Matters.

4. File before the deadline. Mail written protests to:

Williamson Central Appraisal District
625 FM 1460
Georgetown, TX 78626-8050

WCAD says mailed protests must bear a U.S. Postal Service cancellation mark by midnight of the deadline. Hand-delivered protests must be in WCAD’s office before it closes at 5:00 p.m. on the deadline. WCAD’s office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

5. Do not email or fax the protest. WCAD’s equalization guidance is explicit: no faxed protests or emailed protests are accepted. The one email-related exception is later in the process: WCAD says an email agreement is acceptable if you settle value at the informal level.

6. Request WCAD’s evidence early. If you want the evidence WCAD plans to use at the ARB hearing, submit the 41.461 Evidence Package Request through WCAD eServices at least 14 days before your scheduled hearing.

7. If you cannot attend, use the evidence affidavit option. Texas Comptroller Form 50-283, Property Owner’s Affidavit of Evidence, lets you submit evidence/argument for an ARB protest by affidavit, and it is also used for telephone or video-conference hearing evidence. WCAD also provides virtual and telephone hearing request pages.

What happens after

After WCAD receives your protest, the Williamson County Appraisal Review Board (ARB) schedules the hearing. WCAD’s 2026 Protest Process Overview says hearings are scheduled April through July, Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and that the hearing notice is mailed at least 15 days before the scheduled date.

The Williamson ARB is not WCAD staff. WCAD describes it as a group of impartial citizens, separate and independent from the appraisal district, that presides over formal hearings and decides based on evidence from the owner or agent and the appraisal district representative.

Williamson’s process is practical but fast. WCAD says the informal review with district staff and the formal ARB hearing are scheduled on the same day. First, you meet with an appraiser. If you settle, you acknowledge the agreed value in writing. If not, you proceed directly to the formal ARB hearing. A typical formal panel has three ARB members; the hearing is documented electronically and by audio recording. After testimony and evidence from both sides, the ARB deliberates and makes a determination on the protest reasons you filed.

The ARB’s decision finalizes the protest for that tax year unless you pursue a further appeal. Texas allows further appeal to district court, and some value disputes may qualify for binding arbitration or SOAH review. The ARB must substantially complete hearings and approve appraisal records around July 20, after which the chief appraiser certifies the appraisal roll to taxing units.

Local tips

Use WCAD’s Express Review if you recently bought. WCAD’s 2026 Express Review is for residential owners who purchased between January 1 of the prior year and March 31 of the current year and whose proposed 2026 market value is higher than the purchase price. It is integrated with the online appeal system and follows the same May 15 deadline.

Check exemptions before protesting value. WCAD has no-fee online filing for the general residence homestead, over-65, disabled person, and 100% disabled veteran exemptions. The common state form is Form 50-114, Residence Homestead Exemption Application. WCAD says you generally do not reapply annually unless requested, but new owners should apply; late homestead applications may be allowed up to two years after the delinquency date.

Do not confuse WCAD with the Tax Office. WCAD sets values and handles protests. The Williamson County Tax Assessor-Collector sends and collects bills. For 2025 taxes, the county tax office stated taxes were due on or before January 31, 2026 to avoid penalty and interest.

Bring Williamson-specific evidence. WCAD’s residential model relies heavily on comparable sales and neighborhood analysis. Your best case usually compares homes in the same subdivision, school district/market area, construction quality, size band, age, and condition. If WCAD has the wrong living area, pool, condition, or exemption, fix that separately and attach proof.

Williamson Property Tax Rate

Current adopted Williamson County property tax rate: 0.413776 per $100 of taxable value (0.211593 General Fund + 0.044329 Road and Bridge + 0.157854 Debt Service Fund).

Source: https://www.wilcotx.gov/215/Citizens-Corner

When Are Property Taxes Due in Williamson?

Property taxes are due upon receipt of the statement; 2025 property taxes had to be paid in full on or before January 31, 2026 to avoid penalty and interest, with delinquency beginning February 1, 2026. Quarter-payment installment plan is available for qualifying over-65, disabled person, disabled veteran, or surviving spouse of a disabled veteran homestead accounts: 1st installment due January 31, 2nd March 31, 3rd May 31, and 4th/final July 31.

This is not the same as the assessment appeal deadline above. The appeal deadline is your window to contest your assessed value; the payment due date is when the resulting tax bill must be paid. Missing one does not affect the other, but missing either has real consequences — one forfeits your right to appeal for the year, the other can trigger penalties and interest.

Source: https://www.wilcotx.gov/propertytax

Property Tax Exemptions in Williamson

• General Residence Homestead Exemption — Owner-occupied residential property used as the owner’s principal residence; WCAD says owners may qualify immediately upon owning and occupying the property if the preceding owner did not receive the exemption for that tax year.. Reduces taxable value; WCAD states school districts subtract $140,000 and the road district subtracts $3,000, and the 2025 Williamson County exemptions chart lists a Williamson County local-option homestead exemption of $5,000/5%. Yes, one-time application; no annual reapplication unless requested by the Chief Appraiser, the owner moves, or the owner applies for an additional homestead exemption. Apply by Can be applied for any time of year; late residence homestead applications must be filed no later than two years after the January 31 delinquency date.. (Source: https://support.wcad.org/portal/en/kb/articles/homestead-application-form-50-114)
• Age 65 or Older Homestead Exemption — At least one owner is 65 or older and owns and occupies the property as a residence homestead.. Williamson County: $125,000 additional deduction; ISD: $60,000 additional deduction; qualifying accounts also receive tax-ceiling treatment for participating school, county, and road taxes. Yes, one-time application for the age-65 exemption; WCAD says owners can apply through the homestead exemption application/property search. Apply by WCAD states it can go back within two years of the January 31 delinquency deadline.. (Source: https://support.wcad.org/portal/en/kb/articles/over-65-exemption)
• Disabled Person Homestead Exemption — An owner who owns and occupies the property and qualifies as disabled; WCAD lists supporting documentation such as a current Social Security disability benefits letter, Medicare card with Parts A and B, or a physician’s statement showing the effective date of disability.. Reduces taxable value; WCAD states all school districts grant at least a $10,000 disabled-person exemption and that the exemption freezes the dollar amount paid for school, county, and road taxes; the 2025 Williamson County exemptions chart lists a $125,000 county disability local-option exemption. Yes, one-time application. Apply by WCAD states it can go back two years within the January 31 delinquency deadline.. (Source: https://support.wcad.org/portal/en/kb/articles/disabled-person-homestead-application-form-50-114)
• Disabled Veteran and Survivor Exemptions — Texas resident disabled veterans with a service-connected disability rating of at least 10% on one designated property; certain surviving spouses/children may also qualify. A 100% disabled veteran homestead exemption requires a 100% disability rating or 100% compensation due to unemployability and the property must be the principal residence.. 10%–29% disability rating: $5,000; 30%–49%: $7,500; 50%–69%: $10,000; 70%–100%: $12,000; qualifying 100% disabled veteran homestead exemption is a total property tax exemption. Yes; WCAD requires a current VA award letter and, for 100% disabled veteran homestead, a Texas ID/driver license reflecting the current physical address. Apply by WCAD says standard disabled veteran applications can be backdated up to five years; 100% disabled veteran late applications no later than two years after the first year of qualification.. (Source: https://support.wcad.org/portal/en/kb/articles/article)
• Solar or Wind-Powered Energy Device Exemption — Owners with a solar panel or qualifying solar/wind-powered energy device installed or constructed on the property and primarily used for on-site energy production/distribution as of January 1 of the tax year.. Exemption equals the amount of appraised value of the property that arises from the solar or wind-powered energy device; WCAD states solar panels are added to the property value and then made exempt if approved. Yes, one-time application with cost/installation receipts, invoice, and photos; once approved, no reapplication is required. Apply by File January 1 through April 30 of the tax year; WCAD states there is no late filing provision.. (Source: https://support.wcad.org/portal/en/kb/articles/solar-exemption)
• Age 65 or Older / Disabled / Disabled Veteran Residence Homestead Tax Deferral — Texans age 65 or older, disabled persons, or disabled veterans who own and occupy the property as a residence homestead.. Postpones paying current and/or delinquent residence homestead property taxes; taxes are not eliminated and accumulate interest at 5% per year while deferred. Yes; file a residence homestead tax deferral affidavit. (Source: https://www.wilcotx.gov/735/Exemptions-Tax-Deferral)

How to Look Up Your Property Record in Williamson

You can look up your property's official record at https://search.wcad.org/. Official WCAD property search lets users search by owner/name, address, account, or property ID and access the property record, including appraisal notice/value information and exemptions shown on the account.