Area guide · Bexar County, Texas
Buying a home in Bexar County
In Bexar County, property taxes can be as big a part of your monthly payment as the interest. Here's what the 2026 rates are, how much the homestead exemptions save you, and the dates every new homeowner should know.
How property taxes work here
Texas has no state income tax, so local services are paid for with property taxes. Your bill is the sum of several taxing units, and which ones apply depends on exactly where the home is:
- Bexar County, plus its hospital district (University Health) and road and flood control fund.
- Your city, such as San Antonio, if the home is inside city limits.
- Your school district, usually the biggest piece.
- Alamo Colleges and the San Antonio River Authority.
The Bexar Appraisal District sets your home's value each January 1. Each taxing unit then sets a rate per $100 of value, and you pay each rate on your value minus that unit's exemptions.
2026 tax rates
Two homes at the same price can have very different tax bills because of the school district. For a home inside San Antonio city limits, these are the 2026 combined rates before exemptions:
| School district | School rate | Combined rate |
|---|---|---|
| North East ISD | 0.9754% | 2.30% |
| Judson ISD | 0.9796% | 2.30% |
| Northside ISD | 1.0349% | 2.36% |
| San Antonio ISD | 1.1869% | 2.51% |
Combined rate = the school rate plus Bexar County 0.285963%, the hospital district 0.276235%, road and flood control 0.014036%, the City of San Antonio 0.56288%, Alamo Colleges 0.16665% and the San Antonio River Authority 0.0193%, per Bexar County's 2026 rates. Suburban cities and other school districts have their own rates.
A worked example
Take a $300,000 home inside San Antonio city limits in Northside ISD, appraised at its price:
- Without a homestead exemption: about $7,080 a year.
- With the homestead exemption: about $4,936 a year, or roughly $411 a month.
- The exemption saves about $2,143 a year, mostly from the $140,000 school exemption and the 20% exemptions from the county, hospital district and city.
That $411 a month comes on top of principal, interest and homeowners insurance, so it belongs in your budget from day one. My affordability calculator includes taxes when it estimates your price range.
Exemptions that lower your bill
- General homestead for your primary home: $140,000 off for school taxes, and 20% off for the county, hospital district and City of San Antonio.
- Age 65 or older: an extra $60,000 or more off for school taxes (Northside and North East ISD give $73,330), plus $85,000 off for the City of San Antonio and $50,000 for the county. School taxes are also frozen at the level of the year you qualify.
- Disabled homeowners get similar added exemptions.
- Disabled veterans can get a partial exemption, or a full exemption at a 100% rating. My VA guide explains how.
You apply once with the Bexar Appraisal District using form 50-114. It's free, and you don't need to pay anyone to file it for you.
Dates to know
- January 1: your home's value and your exemptions are set as of this date each year.
- Spring: the appraisal district mails notices of appraised value.
- May 15, or 30 days after your notice: the deadline to protest your value, whichever is later.
- October: tax bills go out.
- January 31: the last day to pay before taxes become delinquent. If you have an escrow account, your lender pays this for you.
What this means for your payment
Because taxes are such a big part of the monthly cost here, I build them into every pre-approval so your price range is real. If you're choosing between areas, it's worth comparing school districts and whether the home is inside city limits, not just the price.
New to all of this? Start with my first-time buyer guide or the plain-English glossary.
Common questions
What is the property tax rate in San Antonio?
There isn't one single rate. Your total is the sum of every taxing unit where the home sits. For 2026, a home inside San Antonio city limits adds up to about 2.30% to 2.51% of its taxable value, depending mostly on the school district, before exemptions.
When should I apply for my homestead exemption?
As soon as you've moved in. You apply with the Bexar Appraisal District, there's no fee, and the exemption takes thousands off your taxable value each year.
How do property taxes affect my mortgage payment?
Most lenders collect your property taxes monthly with your payment and hold them in an escrow account, then pay the bill for you. Higher taxes mean a higher monthly payment, which also affects how much home you qualify for.
Can I protest my appraisal?
Yes. If you think the appraisal district's value is too high, you can protest by May 15 or 30 days after your notice of appraised value, whichever is later. Many homeowners do it every year.
Why is my first tax bill higher than I expected?
Your lender estimates your first year's taxes from the seller's bill, but exemptions belong to the owner who lives there. Until your own homestead exemption is on file, or if the home's value jumps, your bill can come in higher than the estimate. Your escrow account adjusts once the new numbers are in.
Want me to run your numbers?
I'll compare lenders and show you what you'd pay. No cost to talk.
Applying takes 10–15 minutes online. I usually pull credit within 24 hours, unless you'd like me to wait.
Stuck on a term? See the plain-English mortgage glossary.
Sources
- Bexar County: 2026 Official Tax Rates and Exemptions
- Bexar Appraisal District
- Texas Comptroller: Property tax exemptions
- Texas Comptroller: Property tax protests
- Texas Comptroller: Residence homestead exemption application (form 50-114)
This guide is general education, not a loan offer or legal or tax advice. Program rules, fees and limits change; I check them against the sources above when this page is reviewed. Eligibility depends on your situation, and not all applicants will qualify.