Understanding Property Taxes in Texas City, TX for 2026

The median sale price in the Texas City, TX housing market sits around $275,590 as of mid-2026, and homes are spending roughly 72 days on the market. That's actually useful breathing room - it gives you time to run the real numbers on what ownership costs before you're signing anything.

The biggest variable most buyers underestimate is the tax bill. Once you understand how Galveston County sets and collects those rates, you can build a monthly budget that doesn't fall apart after closing.

Current Property Tax Rates in Texas City

The City of Texas City's property tax rate is $0.478433 per $100 of assessed value. That's just the city's slice - it doesn't include what the county, school district, and other overlapping jurisdictions tack on.

Stack everything together, and Texas City's median effective property tax rate lands at approximately 1.24% of assessed value. That combined figure is the one worth anchoring your budget to.

For county-level context: Galveston County adopted a rate of $0.3257 per $100 for the 2026 tax year, down 4.7% from the prior year. The countywide average effective rate ranges from 1.19% to 1.49%, which tracks pretty closely with the overall Texas average of 1.28% to 1.31%.

How Texas City Calculates Your Property Tax

Texas doesn't use the millage system you might have seen in other states. Here, everything runs on a "per $100 of valuation" model, and the Galveston Central Appraisal District - GCAD - sets that valuation each year by looking at market conditions and the specifics of your property.

If you buy a house, the purchase price often influences what GCAD assigns as your assessed value the following year, though the two numbers don't always match exactly. Once GCAD lands on a value, every local taxing entity applies its own rate per $100 of that figure. Add those rates together and you've got your annual tax liability.

It's a straightforward system once you've seen it once. The tricky part is knowing which jurisdictions actually apply to your specific address.

Example Calculation for a Typical Home

Say you're buying a home with an assessed value of $300,000. At Texas City's 1.24% median effective rate, you're looking at an estimated annual tax bill of approximately $3,720.

Your actual number will shift depending on your ZIP code, which jurisdictions overlap your parcel, and any exemptions you're eligible for - but that figure gives you a workable starting point.

Estimating Costs With a Local Tax Calculator

The median annual property tax bill in Galveston County runs roughly $2,996 to $4,238. If you're zeroing in on something in the 77590 ZIP code, an online calculator can help you tighten that range considerably.

The key is plugging in the expected assessed value rather than the listing price - those two numbers aren't always the same. A solid calculator will pull in the city, county, and school district rates specific to the address, not just a county average.

You can also pull up historical tax records for any specific address through the county's online portal. What the previous owner paid gives you a useful baseline, though your bill will reset based on the new assessed value after your purchase closes.

Local Sales Tax Breakdown

The combined sales tax rate in Texas City, TX is 8.25%. That breaks down as the 6.25% Texas state sales tax plus a 2.0% local tax levied by Texas City itself. There's no additional county or special purpose sales tax layered on top.

Worth keeping in mind when you're budgeting for a move: that 8.25% applies to most of the materials and services you'd buy for renovations or furnishings.

Looking Up and Paying Your Tax Bill

The Galveston County Tax Assessor-Collector mails bills in October, and payment is due by January 31 of the following year. Miss that date and your taxes are delinquent on February 1 - penalties and interest start accruing immediately.

If you're carrying a mortgage, your lender almost certainly handles this through your escrow account, so you may never touch the bill directly. Own outright or skipping escrow? You'll pay the county yourself - online, by mail, or in person.

Installment Options for Eligible Homeowners

Homeowners who are 65 or older, disabled, or disabled veterans don't have to write one large check. This program splits the total bill into four equal installments, due January 31, March 31, May 31, and July 31.

If you qualify, it's worth using.

Exemptions to Lower Your Tax Burden

The typical Texas homeowner pays about $4,108 annually in property taxes. Exemptions can meaningfully cut that number, and the most widely used one is the general residential homestead exemption, which removes a portion of your home's value from taxation entirely.

Homeowners 65 and older get additional relief - including a tax ceiling, or "freeze," on the school district portion of their bill. Once that freeze is in place, the school tax won't increase as long as the home stays their primary residence. Disabled individuals and disabled veterans have access to their own separate exemptions that reduce taxable value as well.

None of it is automatic. You file the paperwork with GCAD, and then the savings kick in.

Appealing Your Assessment

If you think GCAD has overvalued your property, you can protest. Most owners file in the spring after their notice of appraised value arrives. A successful appeal brings the assessed value down, and a lower assessed value means a lower bill - simple as that.

Special Assessments and New Construction

New construction in Texas City often comes with tax considerations that don't apply to existing homes. Developers frequently set up special taxing districts to fund infrastructure - water lines, roads, that sort of thing.

Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) and Public Improvement Districts (PIDs) are common throughout Texas. If your home sits inside one, you'll see an additional assessment on your tax bill on top of the standard city, county, and school district charges. That extra line item can add hundreds or even thousands of dollars to your annual liability.

Before you finalize your budget on a new build, confirm whether a MUD or PID is attached to that address.

Comparing Taxes Across Texas

Texas property taxes vary more than most people expect. At the top end, King County levies the highest in the state - an average of $5,066 per year, or about 1.56% of the median home value. By city, McAllen ranks among the highest with rates over 2.5%, and Bexar County along with parts of El Paso often see effective rates exceeding 1.7%.

At the other end, Terrell County collects the lowest in Texas - just $285 per year on average, which works out to 0.67% of the median home value. Rural East Texas counties like Nacogdoches County also stay low, with effective rates around 0.62%. The city of Aubrey sits at around 1.96%, noted for its relatively lower rate.

Where you land depends entirely on what local services your area funds and what the underlying property values look like.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current property tax rate for a house in Texas City, TX?

The city's portion is $0.478433 per $100 of assessed value. Combined with the county, school district, and other local entities, the median effective rate is approximately 1.24%.

How do I apply for a homestead exemption as a new homeowner in Texas City?

File an application with the Galveston Central Appraisal District (GCAD) once the property becomes your primary residence. The exemption lowers your home's taxable value.

How do I protest my property tax appraisal if I feel my Texas City home is overvalued?

File a formal appeal with GCAD after you receive your annual notice of appraised value in the spring. If the appeal succeeds, the reduced assessed value will lower your total tax bill.

When are property tax bills mailed out and when do they become delinquent in Texas City?

The Galveston County Tax Assessor-Collector mails bills in October. Payment is due by January 31, and taxes become delinquent on February 1, at which point penalties and interest begin to accrue.

Are there additional MUD or PID taxes I need to watch out for when buying a home in Texas City, TX?

Yes. Some neighborhoods - particularly new construction developments - fall within Municipal Utility Districts or Public Improvement Districts, which levy additional special assessments to cover local infrastructure costs.

How do property taxes in Texas City compare to neighboring areas?

Texas City's median effective rate is approximately 1.24%, which falls within the broader Galveston County average of 1.19% to 1.49%. Your specific rate depends on the exact overlapping taxing jurisdictions tied to your address.