Property owners in Georgetown, TX pay a combined property tax rate of roughly $1.82 per $100 of assessed value once the school district, county, city, and any applicable special districts are added together. The exact total depends on which districts cover your parcel. Georgetown Independent School District takes the largest share, Williamson County is next, and the City of Georgetown lowered its own rate to about $0.3532 per $100 for fiscal year 2026. Filing a homestead exemption is the biggest lever most owners have to bring the bill down.
Who Taxes Your Georgetown Property
Your tax statement is really several bills on one page. Each entity sets its own rate per $100 of appraised value, and the Williamson County Tax Assessor-Collector consolidates them. The current rates:
- Georgetown Independent School District: about $1.0506 per $100. This is the single largest line on almost every Georgetown bill.1Georgetown ISD. Financial Transparency Overview
- Williamson County: $0.413776 per $100 total, including the general fund and the farm-to-market/flood-control component.2Williamson County. Williamson County Approves FY25-26 Budget and Sets Tax Rate
- City of Georgetown: $0.353152 per $100 for fiscal year 2026, down from the prior year.3City of Georgetown, Texas. City Council Adopts FY 2026 Budget That Invests in Public Safety and Infrastructure
- Emergency Services Districts: parcels inside Williamson County ESD No. 8 pay an additional $0.094 per $100. State law caps ESD rates at $0.10 per $100, and not every Georgetown parcel sits inside an ESD.4Williamson County Emergency Services District No. 8. Budget and Funding
Newer subdivisions may also fall inside a Municipal Utility District, which issues debt to build water, sewer, and drainage infrastructure and levies its own tax. MUD rates vary widely by district. Pull your tax certificate or check the Williamson Central Appraisal District’s website to see every entity taxing your specific parcel.
How Your Taxable Value Is Set
The Williamson Central Appraisal District assigns a market value to every parcel each year using local sales data, construction costs, and income potential for commercial properties. Appraisal notices go out the first week of April.5Williamson Central Appraisal District. Understanding Your Notice of Appraised Value
The notice shows two numbers that matter. Market value is what the district believes your property would sell for. Appraised value is the figure actually used to calculate your taxes, and for homesteads it can be lower than market value because of the appraisal cap.
The 10 Percent Appraisal Cap
If a homestead exemption is on file, state law limits how fast your appraised value can rise. The appraisal district cannot raise your appraised value by more than 10 percent over the prior year’s appraised value, plus the value of any new improvements. The cap takes effect on January 1 of the tax year after you first qualify for the homestead exemption.6State of Texas. Texas Tax Code TAX 23.23
In a rising market the gap between market value and capped appraised value can widen to tens of thousands of dollars over several years. The cap only limits appraised value, not the tax rate, so your bill can still climb if entities raise rates. The cap also drops away if you sell the home or stop using it as your primary residence.
Protesting the Appraisal
If you think the district overvalued your property, you can protest. The deadline is May 15 or 30 days after the date on your appraisal notice, whichever is later.5Williamson Central Appraisal District. Understanding Your Notice of Appraised Value
Protests begin with an informal meeting where you present evidence: recent comparable sales, photos of damage, or an independent appraisal. If no agreement is reached, the Appraisal Review Board holds a formal hearing. A successful protest reduces your taxable value for every entity on your bill.
Exemptions That Lower the Bill
A homestead exemption is the single most effective way to cut your Georgetown property tax, and filing costs nothing. To qualify you must own the property, use it as your primary residence, and hold a Texas driver’s license or state ID card showing that address. You file once with the Williamson Central Appraisal District, and the exemption stays in place until you move or sell.7Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Property Tax Exemptions
General Residence Homestead
The general homestead exemption removes $100,000 from your appraised value for school district tax purposes.8State of Texas. Texas Tax Code TAX 11.13 – Residence Homestead At Georgetown ISD’s current rate that is roughly $1,050 in annual school tax savings. Some taxing entities also offer optional homestead exemptions on top. Filing also activates the 10 percent appraisal cap the following January 1, which compounds the benefit year after year.
Over-65 Exemption and School Tax Ceiling
Homeowners aged 65 or older receive an additional $10,000 school district exemption on top of the standard $100,000. Qualifying also triggers a school tax ceiling: the dollar amount you owe the school district in your first qualifying year becomes a permanent cap, and your school taxes will never exceed that amount unless you add improvements. Some cities and counties offer similar optional freezes for seniors.
Disability Exemption
Homeowners receiving federal disability benefits through Social Security qualify for a $10,000 additional school district exemption, parallel to the over-65 benefit. Documentation of your disability rating is required. A school tax ceiling identical to the senior freeze is also available.
100 Percent Disabled Veteran Exemption
Veterans with a 100 percent disability compensation rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, whether for a service-connected disability or individual unemployability, are entitled to a complete exemption from property tax on their residence homestead. The exemption covers the full appraised value, meaning zero tax owed to every entity.9State of Texas. Texas Tax Code TAX 11.131 Surviving spouses who have not remarried can keep the exemption as long as they remain in the homestead. Applications require a VA disability letter and Form 50-114 filed with the Williamson Central Appraisal District.
Deferral for Seniors and Disabled Homeowners
When paying the bill creates hardship, homeowners aged 65 or older and those with disabilities can defer their taxes indefinitely under Texas Tax Code Section 33.06. Filing a deferral affidavit with the appraisal district stops any entity from pursuing foreclosure or penalty action on the homestead for as long as you continue to live there.10Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Tax Deferral Affidavit Age 65 or Older or Disabled Homeowner
The taxes are not forgiven. A lien stays on the property, and the unpaid balance accrues 5 percent annual interest. When you move out, sell, or pass away, the full amount plus interest comes due. Heirs can make payments at any time before or after inheriting.
When Bills Arrive and What Being Late Costs
The Williamson County Tax Assessor-Collector mails consolidated bills by October 1, or as soon after as practicable.11State of Texas. Texas Tax Code TAX 31.01 – Tax Bills The statement shows one total but breaks out each entity. You can pay online, by mail, or in person at the county tax office, and many owners pay through a mortgage escrow account.
Taxes are due on receipt and become delinquent on February 1 of the following year.12State of Texas. Texas Tax Code TAX 31.02 – Delinquency Date Miss that date and the costs stack quickly. A 6 percent penalty hits immediately in February, and another 1 percent is added for each month the tax stays unpaid. By July 1 the penalty jumps to 12 percent regardless of how many months have passed. On top of the penalty, delinquent taxes accrue interest at 1 percent per month until paid.13State of Texas. Texas Tax Code TAX 33.01 – Penalties and Interest
On a $5,000 bill, waiting until July adds roughly $600 in penalties plus about $50 a month in interest. Paying on time is the only reasonable plan.
Installment Payments for Qualifying Owners
Owners aged 65 or older, those with disabilities, and disabled veterans can split their homestead taxes into four equal installments without penalty or interest. You must request the agreement and make the first quarter payment before the February 1 delinquency date.14Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Payment Options
Miss an installment after enrolling and that late payment carries a 6 percent penalty plus 1 percent monthly interest until paid. Contact the Williamson County Tax Office directly to set up the plan; the process typically requires a signed letter of intent along with the first quarter payment.