Property Tax

Bexar County property owners can use county and appraisal-district services to review tax accounts, understand assessed values and exemptions, pay current taxes, manage payment plans, obtain statements and receipts, and address delinquent balances. This article explains how Bexar County property taxes are established and collected, which office handles each part of the process, how to search for an account, what information is needed for payment, the major deadlines that affect taxpayers, and common mistakes that can lead to delays, penalties, or incorrect account information.

How Property Taxes Work

Property taxation involves several separate steps, and knowing which agency is responsible for each step can prevent unnecessary calls or visits. The county's official Property Tax Information page explains that January 1 is the effective date of the tax roll. A tax lien automatically attaches to taxable property on that date to secure the tax liability.

During the appraisal phase, the appraisal district identifies property, determines appraised values, administers exemptions, determines ownership information, and establishes other appraisal-related information. Later, the governing bodies of taxing jurisdictions adopt their tax rates. The Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector then assesses and collects taxes based on the values and exemptions certified by the appraisal district and the rates adopted by the applicable taxing jurisdictions.

This distinction matters because the Tax Assessor-Collector does not determine the market value of a property. Questions about an appraisal, ownership record, mailing address in appraisal records, exemptions, or a protest of property value generally belong with the appraisal district. Questions about a tax bill, account balance, payment, receipt, delinquency, or tax collection generally belong with the Tax Assessor-Collector.

Taxing Jurisdictions on a Bill

A property tax bill may contain charges from several taxing jurisdictions rather than a single county tax. The governing body of each taxing jurisdiction establishes a budget and adopts a tax rate intended to generate revenue for the services that jurisdiction provides. Examples listed by the county include schools, community health services, police and fire protection, streets, roads, and flood-control projects.

The Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector collects taxes for Bexar County and the Flood Control Fund and has agreements to collect and distribute property taxes for numerous other taxing jurisdictions. According to the county's property tax information, properties are taxed by Bexar County, Flood Control, Alamo Community College, University Health, the San Antonio River Authority, and an applicable independent school district. Depending on the property's location, city, town, or special-district taxes may also apply.

Tax rates are adopted by the taxing jurisdictions rather than by the Tax Assessor-Collector. Property owners who want to understand how adopted rates are applied can review the county's official tax rate information. The tax rate is applied to taxable value after applicable exemptions to calculate the tax for each taxing unit.

Appraisal Versus Tax Collection

The Bexar Central Appraisal District and the Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector serve different functions. Confusing the two is one of the most common reasons a taxpayer contacts the wrong office.

Appraisal District Responsibilities

The Bexar Central Appraisal District identifies taxable property and determines property values for ad valorem taxation. It also handles ownership information, exemption applications, mailing-address information in its records, and appraisal protests. Its official website states specifically that the appraisal district does not accept property tax payments.

Property is generally taxed according to value. The appraisal district determines the value that is later used, together with applicable exemptions and adopted tax rates, to calculate the tax bill.

Property owners should review appraisal records for accuracy. The county advises owners to make sure the property is associated with the correct name, current mailing address, property description, and exemptions. Corrections made by the appraisal district are forwarded to the Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector.

Tax Assessor-Collector Responsibilities

The Tax Assessor-Collector takes the appraisal information certified by the appraisal district and applies the rates adopted by the taxing jurisdictions for which the office collects. The office then bills, collects, and disburses property taxes.

Taxpayers should generally use the Tax Assessor-Collector for matters involving account balances, tax statements, online payments, payment plans, tax receipts, delinquent taxes, e-statements, tax certificates, and similar collection-related matters.

Searching a Property Tax Account

The county's property tax account search provides several ways to locate an account collected by the Bexar County Tax Office. The system can search by owner name, business name, property address, tax account number or Geo ID, County Appraisal District property ID, or fiduciary number.

After selecting an account, the system can display information such as the tax account number, ownership, mailing address, parcel address, current-year tax amount, property value, exemptions, last payment, and payer information. Taxpayers can also use the account page to process eligible online payments, print tax statements and receipts, and register for electronic statements.

Owner Name Searches

For an individual owner, enter the last name followed by the first name. The county instructs users not to include commas, dashes, hyphens, or periods. A very common name may produce too many results. In that situation, the property address can provide a more precise search.

Business Name Searches

For a business-name search, enter the first word of the business name. Do not include commas, dashes, hyphens, or periods. Using a shortened search term can help the county system match the account according to its stored format.

Property Address Searches

The property-address search has specific formatting rules. Enter the street number, a space, and the street name. If the address contains a directional letter such as N, S, E, or W, place that letter before the street name without a period.

Do not enter street-type words such as Street, Drive, Avenue, or Boulevard. If the street name contains more than one word, the county instructs users to enter the first word and the first letter of the second word. Following these formatting rules can prevent an account from appearing to be missing when the problem is simply the search format.

Number-Based Searches

Several identification numbers can also be used:

Tax account number or Geo ID: Enter all 12 digits without spaces or dashes.

CAD property ID: Enter the six-digit appraisal-district property identification number without spaces or dashes.

Fiduciary number: Enter the eight-digit number without spaces or dashes.

The numbers are not interchangeable. A six-digit appraisal property ID is different from the 12-digit tax account number required for certain payment transactions.

Property Value and Protests

A disagreement over property value is an appraisal matter rather than a tax-payment matter. The appraisal district establishes the appraised value, and a property owner who disagrees with that value may file a protest with the appraisal district.

The county's property tax information states that the protest deadline is May 15 or 30 days after the appraisal notice is mailed, whichever is later. The appraisal district's official site also indicates that a property owner does not necessarily need to receive an appraisal notice in order to submit a protest.

Because the tax office calculates taxes from the appraisal roll certified by the appraisal district, disputing the amount of a tax bill on the basis that the property is worth less generally requires addressing the underlying appraisal through the appraisal process.

Property Tax Exemptions

Exemptions can reduce the taxable value of qualifying property. The appraisal district, not the Tax Assessor-Collector, is responsible for granting or denying exemption applications. Once the appraisal district updates its records, the exemption information is forwarded to the tax office.

The county's property tax information identifies several commonly used exemptions, including the general residence homestead exemption, disabled-person exemptions, certain disabled-veteran exemptions, and the over-65 exemption.

Residence Homestead Exemption

The general residence homestead exemption applies to homeowners who own and occupy the residence as their homestead. An approved exemption reduces taxable value rather than simply creating a separate payment credit.

Over-65 and Disability Provisions

Qualifying homeowners may receive over-65 or disability exemptions in addition to a homestead exemption. Some taxing jurisdictions also provide limitations on taxes for qualifying elderly or disabled homesteads.

The county also describes a deferral option for certain homeowners who are 65 or older or disabled and continue to occupy the residence. A deferral postpones the tax liability rather than canceling it. According to the county information, interest continues to accrue during the deferral period.

Disabled Veteran Exemptions

Several exemptions are identified for qualifying disabled veterans or survivors. The precise exemption depends on the applicable qualifications, including disability status. Because exemption approval is an appraisal-district function, applications must be handled through the appraisal district.

The county's property tax FAQ states that an owner or authorized agent must file the necessary exemption application before May 1 of the tax year. Taxpayers should rely on the appraisal district for the application and determination rather than attempting to request an exemption from the tax collection office.

How Tax Amounts Are Calculated

A tax bill is based on more than the property's market value alone. Applicable exemptions can reduce the taxable value, and different taxing jurisdictions can apply different tax rates.

The county's tax, penalty, and interest information explains the basic calculation. Applicable exemptions and, when relevant, a cap value are considered in establishing taxable value. The taxable value is multiplied by the tax rate per $100 and divided by 100 to calculate the amount for that taxing unit. The calculation is repeated for each applicable taxing jurisdiction.

For certain elderly or disabled taxpayers, a taxing unit may have a tax limitation. When applicable, the calculated tax is compared with the limitation amount, and the lower amount is used.

Because properties may be subject to different combinations of taxing jurisdictions and exemptions, two properties with similar market values do not necessarily have identical tax bills.

Tax Statements and Due Dates

The tax collection phase begins in the fall. Tax statements generally begin to be mailed in October. If a mortgage company or other authorized agent has requested the tax notice, the handling of the statement may differ, although the county states that statements may be sent as a courtesy to both the mortgage company and the owner of record.

Property owners should not rely on receiving a paper statement as the event that creates the tax obligation. Under the Texas Property Tax Code provisions described by the county, failure to send or receive the notice does not change the validity of the tax, applicable penalty or interest, the due date, the tax lien, or collection procedures.

The county's property tax calendar lists the major payment dates for each tax year. For the 2025 tax bill, statements began mailing in October 2025, and January 31, 2026 was identified as the last day to pay without penalty and interest, subject to the next-business-day rule where applicable.

The January 31 Deadline

For accounts that are not using an applicable split or quarter-payment arrangement, property taxes generally must be paid by January 31 of the year after they were imposed to avoid delinquency. Taxes generally become delinquent February 1.

For mailed payments, the county states that the U.S. Postal Service postmark is used to determine timeliness. A reminder notice does not extend a statutory payment deadline.

Small Account Balances

The county states that accounts with an amount of $15 or less may be withheld until the aggregate amount exceeds $15. Owners should still review account information rather than assuming that the absence of a mailed notice means no tax liability exists.

Paying Property Taxes Online

The county offers both credit-card and electronic-check payments through its official online property tax payment information. Taxpayers should locate the correct account and verify the account information before submitting a payment.

Credit Card Payments

A major credit card can be used for online property tax payment. The county states that a 2.10% convenience charge is added by the authorized payment processor. A taxpayer paying by credit card needs the 12-digit property tax account number and credit card information.

Credit-card payments can also be made by phone through the payment number identified by the county. Before beginning a transaction, verify that the 12-digit number is the property tax account number rather than a six-digit appraisal-district property ID.

Electronic Check Payments

An electronic check, or eCheck, is available without a payment-processing charge. The transaction requires the 12-digit tax account number, checking-account number, and bank routing number as shown on the check rather than on a deposit slip.

The county advises taxpayers to confirm that the checking or savings account is authorized for electronic payment transmission. An eCheck can be made from a regular U.S. checking account in U.S. dollars.

The eCheck system does not process money orders, cashier's checks, or checks issued from money-market accounts, credit-card companies, mutual funds, brokerage accounts, home-equity accounts, or other lines of credit.

Electronic Payment Processing

Credit-card and eCheck transactions may require three to five business days to process and post to the property tax account. The county states, however, that the payment is posted using the date of the online transaction.

Electronic payments remain pending until they clear the financial institution. Taxpayers should preserve the confirmation information and avoid assuming that a payment has fully processed merely because the initial online transaction was submitted.

The county also advises users to make sure a confirmation email can pass through their spam filtering. That email provides useful evidence of the transaction while the payment is being processed.

Available Payment Plans

Bexar County provides several payment arrangements, but eligibility and deadlines vary. A taxpayer should not assume that making an arbitrary partial payment automatically creates an installment plan.

One-Time Payment

The standard option is one payment for the full amount. For taxpayers not enrolled in another applicable plan, the current year's taxes must generally be paid by January 31 to avoid penalty and interest.

Half-Payment Plan

The half-payment option is available for real estate and business personal property accounts. Current-year base taxes may be divided into two equal installments without penalty and interest when the payments are made on time.

The first half is due by November 30 of the tax year.
The second half is due by June 30 of the following year.

The amount required for the plan is shown on the original tax bill. Missing the required timing can change the treatment of the balance, so taxpayers intending to use the plan should follow the specific installment amounts and deadlines rather than simply paying roughly half at any time.

Quarter-Payment Plan

The quarter-payment option is limited to qualifying residential property owners. The referenced county information describes it for a residence homestead with an over-65, disabled-person, or qualifying disabled-veteran exemption.

First payment: January 31
Second payment: March 31
Third payment: May 31
Fourth payment: July 31

The county's tax calendar states that taxpayers may still join the quarter-payment plan in February, but a 7% late fee applies to the first payment. A late quarter-payment incurs a 6% penalty for the first month plus 1% interest per month until that installment is paid.

Ten-Month Payment Plan

The county also offers a ten-month plan for qualifying residential homestead owners with specified exemptions, including over-65, disabled-person, or disabled-veteran exemptions. Equal monthly installments begin in October and continue through July.

The county FAQ states that an eligible taxpayer may still enter the plan in November by paying 20% down to cover the October and November payments.

Pre-Payment Plan

The county's payment-plan information also describes a pre-payment option for taxpayers and business owners without a mortgage escrow account whose property taxes are current. It allows taxes to be prepaid in monthly installments through September 15 of the tax year without penalty or interest. A tax statement is mailed in October for any remaining balance.

Penalty and Interest Rules

Taxes that are not timely paid and are not protected by an applicable payment arrangement become subject to penalty and interest. For standard accounts, delinquency generally begins February 1.

The county's published delinquent-tax schedule shows combined penalty and interest increasing over the year. For example, the schedule identifies 7% in February, 9% in March, 11% in April, 13% in May, and 15% in June. The combined percentage continues increasing during later months.

Business personal property accounts can also face collection consequences earlier in the year. Participating taxing jurisdictions may turn delinquent business property taxes over for collection beginning in April, with an additional collection penalty of 15% or 20% of taxes, penalty, and interest due. Other past-due taxes may be turned over for collection beginning in July and can also become subject to an additional collection fee.

These rules make the timing of a payment significant. A taxpayer comparing an older statement with the current account balance should use the current tax account information because penalties and interest can change as time passes.

When a Statement Is Missing

Not receiving a tax statement does not postpone the deadline. Owners who have not received a bill should search the tax account rather than waiting for another mailing.

A duplicate statement can also be requested from the Tax Assessor-Collector. Taxpayers who prefer electronic delivery can register through the county's e-statement process. Registration begins by searching for the property, opening the account page, and selecting the option to register for certified statements by email.

The email-registration process is not complete when the online form is initially submitted. The taxpayer receives a verification email and must select the verification link. If that verification step is not completed, the e-statement request is not valid.

Mortgage Escrow Accounts

Homeowners whose property taxes are paid through a mortgage escrow account should still understand how the tax account is handled. The county explains that when a bill is mailed to an authorized agent such as a mortgage company, the assessor is not required to mail another bill to the owner of record, although Bexar County may send statements to both as a courtesy.

If an owner receives a property tax statement even though the mortgage company is expected to pay the tax, the statement can be forwarded to the mortgage company. Owners can also use the county account search to review the account status and later confirm that payment was credited.

Property Sold During the Year

Ownership changes can create confusion because the property-tax year is tied to January 1. According to the county's property tax FAQ, the person who owned the property on January 1 of the tax year is personally liable for that year's tax even if the property is sold later in the year. The tax lien also follows the property.

Ownership corrections and updates should be addressed through the appraisal district, which maintains taxable-owner and appraisal records. Property owners should not attempt to correct appraisal-district ownership information through an online tax payment transaction.

Tax Liens on Property

A property-tax lien is not created only after an owner becomes delinquent. State law, as described by Bexar County, automatically places a tax lien on taxable property on January 1 to secure payment of the tax liability.

For manufactured homes, separate lien procedures may apply. The county's property tax information explains that taxing units must address manufactured-home tax liens under applicable provisions of the Texas Property Tax Code, and a transfer of title can be restricted until perfected tax liens have been satisfied and released.

Tax Certificates and Records

A property tax certificate provides the tax status shown in the tax records. If taxes are delinquent, the certificate shows penalties and interest due according to those records. The county states that the fee for a tax certificate is $10 per certificate and that prepayment is required.

For routine account review, the online system can also provide tax statements and receipts after an account has been located. Taxpayers should distinguish a printed account statement or payment receipt from a formal tax certificate, which is a separate document.

Common Property Tax Mistakes

Many property-tax problems result from using the wrong agency, identifier, or deadline rather than from the tax calculation itself. Several practices can help reduce avoidable problems:

Do not contact the tax office to contest an appraisal value. Property valuation and appraisal protests are appraisal-district functions.

Do not send a property tax payment to the appraisal district. The appraisal district specifically states that it does not accept property tax payments.

Do not wait for a mailed bill before checking the account. Failure to receive a statement does not extend the tax deadline.

Use the correct account identifier. The 12-digit tax account number is different from the six-digit appraisal-district property ID.

Follow the search formatting instructions. Extra punctuation, street suffixes, or incorrectly formatted names can prevent the account search from producing the expected result.

Verify the property before paying. Review the ownership, parcel address, and account number before submitting an electronic payment.

Do not confuse submission with final processing. Electronic payments may take several business days to post even though the transaction date is used as the payment date.

Meet payment-plan deadlines. Partial payments outside the requirements of a recognized installment arrangement do not necessarily prevent penalty and interest.

Keep mailing information current. Incorrect address information can interfere with appraisal notices, tax statements, and deadline reminders.

Complete e-statement verification. An electronic-statement registration is not valid until the verification link received by email is selected.

Questions About an Account

Taxpayers who cannot resolve a property-tax question through the account search or published information can use the Tax Assessor-Collector's official Help Tool. The tool provides answers by subject and topic for property tax matters. If the information displayed does not answer the question, the user can select the option indicating that additional help is needed and obtain an email form for contacting the office.

Questions sent to the Tax Assessor-Collector should focus on matters handled by that office, such as tax balances, statements, payments, payment processing, delinquency, or collection. Questions about appraised value, ownership records, property descriptions, or exemption approval should instead be directed to the appraisal district.

Property Tax Offices

Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector
Vista Verde Plaza Building
233 N. Pecos La Trinidad
San Antonio, TX 78207
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 839950, San Antonio, TX 78283
Phone: 210-335-2251

Bexar Central Appraisal District
411 North Frio Street
San Antonio, TX 78207
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 830248, San Antonio, TX 78283
Phone: 210-242-2432

Property Tax FAQs

Does Bexar County give a discount if I pay my property taxes early?

No. Bexar County states that early-payment discounts were discontinued for Bexar County, the Flood Control Fund, and the taxing jurisdictions for which the county collects. Paying early can still be useful for budgeting, but it does not reduce the tax amount simply because payment is made before the regular deadline. Taxpayers who need more flexibility should review the payment arrangements described in the county's official property tax FAQs.

Can active-duty military members postpone Bexar County property taxes?

A qualifying service member may be able to defer the tax obligation under Section 31.02(b) of the Texas Property Tax Code. According to Bexar County, the person must be serving on active military duty outside Texas during a war or national emergency declared under federal law. Qualifying property taxes may be paid without penalty or interest for up to 60 days after the earliest applicable event, such as discharge, returning to Texas for more than 10 days, returning to non-active reserve status, or the end of the war or national emergency. The county requires the applicable military deferral form and military orders.

How can I check whether I have a property tax overpayment?

Bexar County provides a separate property tax overpayment search for accounts collected by the Tax Office. Searches can be made using information such as the account number, owner name, property address, or appraisal-district reference number. The system also allows a second search criterion to narrow the results, which can be useful when an owner name or address produces multiple matches.

Can I manage several Bexar County property tax accounts together?

Yes. The county's property tax system includes a portfolio feature that lets taxpayers group multiple tax accounts for easier review and payment. This can be useful for owners managing several parcels or business property accounts because the accounts can be organized within one portfolio rather than searched individually each time. Portfolio access is available through the county's official property tax account system.