Property tax in Spring, TX is not set by a single city. Spring is unincorporated, so your bill is the combined total of rates adopted by the county, the school district, and any emergency services or municipal utility district your home sits inside, all applied to the value set by your appraisal district. Two homes on the same street can owe different amounts because they fall under different combinations of these taxing units.
Which Taxing Authorities Appear on Your Bill
Spring straddles the line between Harris County and Montgomery County, and zip codes are split between the two. The county your property sits in determines who appraises it. Harris County properties are valued by the Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD); Montgomery County properties go through the Montgomery Central Appraisal District (MCAD). That appraisal is the starting point for every taxing entity on your statement.
Your statement will show separate line items. School districts, including Klein ISD and Spring ISD, usually carry the largest share. Emergency Services Districts fund fire and EMS response outside city limits. Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) cover water, sewer, and drainage infrastructure and set their own rates on top of everything else. Each entity adopts its rate independently, expressed as a dollar amount per $100 of appraised value, and finalizes it during public hearings in late summer.
How Your Value Becomes a Tax Bill
Texas law requires every taxable property to be appraised at market value as of January 1 each year. Market value means the price the property would bring in a sale between a willing buyer and seller under normal conditions. Appraisal districts estimate this by analyzing recent comparable sales, neighborhood trends, and the physical characteristics of the property.1State of Texas. Texas Tax Code 23.01 – Appraisals Generally
Market value and the appraised value used to calculate your taxes are not always the same number. Exemptions reduce the taxable portion, and the homestead cap can hold the appraised value below market. Each taxing unit then multiplies your adjusted value by its adopted rate to produce the tax owed to that entity. Add those line items together and you have your bill.
The Residence Homestead Exemption
The single most valuable break for Spring homeowners is the residence homestead exemption. If you own and occupy the property as your primary home on January 1, you qualify for a $140,000 reduction in appraised value for school district taxes. The reduction applies automatically once your application is filed and stays in effect as long as you live in the home.2State of Texas. Texas Tax Code 11.13 – Residence Homestead
Counties and other taxing entities may offer their own homestead exemptions, though the amounts are smaller. Harris County provides a separate exemption on county taxes, for example. One homestead application filed with your appraisal district covers all eligible taxing units on your bill. If you recently bought and haven’t filed, you are overpaying every cycle until you do.
Added Exemptions for Age 65+, Disability, and Veterans
Homeowners who are 65 or older or who have a qualifying disability receive an additional $60,000 school district exemption on top of the standard $140,000, bringing the total school district reduction to $200,000. The over-65 exemption also creates a school tax ceiling: once you qualify, your school district taxes are frozen at that year’s amount and will not rise unless you add improvements to the home.2State of Texas. Texas Tax Code 11.13 – Residence Homestead
Disabled veterans qualify for a separate partial exemption tied to their VA disability rating:3State of Texas. Texas Tax Code 11.22 – Disabled Veterans
- 10% to 29% disability: up to $5,000 off assessed value
- 30% to 49%: up to $7,500
- 50% to 69%: up to $10,000
- 70% or higher: up to $12,000
Veterans rated 100% disabled due to a service-connected condition receive a complete exemption from property taxes on their residence homestead. The home’s entire appraised value comes off the tax rolls. Surviving spouses of these veterans may qualify to continue the exemption.4State of Texas. Texas Tax Code 11.131 – Residence Homestead of 100 Percent or Totally Disabled Veteran
The 10% Homestead Cap
Even in a hot market, your appraised value for tax purposes cannot increase by more than 10% per year while you hold a homestead exemption. The cap kicks in on January 1 of the year after you first qualify and limits increases to 10% of the prior year’s appraised value plus the value of any new improvements.5State of Texas. Texas Tax Code 23.23 – Limitation on Appraised Value of Residence Homestead
The appraisal district still records a full market value each year, and both numbers appear in your records. The cap only limits the appraised value used for taxation. If market value drops below the capped value, you pay on the lower market value. That distinction matters at protest time: you can challenge the market value, the capped value, or both. The cap expires if neither you nor your spouse continues to qualify for a homestead exemption on the property.5State of Texas. Texas Tax Code 23.23 – Limitation on Appraised Value of Residence Homestead
Protesting Your Appraisal
You can challenge your appraised value if you believe the district set it too high. The process starts with a Notice of Protest (Form 50-132 in Harris County, Form 50-132-A in Montgomery County), filed with your appraisal district. The form asks for your property account number and your grounds, typically incorrect market value or unequal appraisal compared to similar properties.6Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Property Owners Notice of Protest for Counties with Populations Greater than 120,000
The deadline is May 15 or the 30th day after you received your appraisal notice, whichever is later. Late filing with good cause is possible if the appraisal review board hasn’t yet approved the records, but it is not something to rely on.7State of Texas. Texas Tax Code 41.44 – Notice of Protest
Evidence makes the case. Recent sale prices of comparable homes in your neighborhood are the strongest tool. If your home has physical problems like foundation issues, water damage, or a deteriorating roof, bring repair estimates and photos. Appraisers respond to objective data, not opinions about what the home should be worth.
Most protests resolve at an informal meeting with a staff appraiser, who has authority to agree on a lower value when the evidence supports it. If no agreement is reached, the case goes to the Appraisal Review Board for a formal hearing, and the board’s written determination becomes the appraised value for the year unless you appeal.
If the ARB rules against you, two paths remain. Binding arbitration through the Texas Comptroller’s office is available for properties the ARB valued at $5 million or less, with no value limit for residence homesteads; you have 60 days from the ARB order to file and pay the deposit.8Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Regular Binding Arbitration Alternatively, you can file a petition in state district court within 60 days of the order. For a typical Spring home, arbitration is the faster and cheaper route.
Paying Your Tax Bill
Statements go out in October and cover the current calendar year. You have until January 31 to pay in full without penalty. On February 1, any unpaid balance becomes delinquent and immediately picks up a 6% penalty plus 1% interest.9Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Paying Your Taxes Both Harris County and Montgomery County tax offices accept payments online by electronic check or credit card, with a processing fee on cards. Mailed payments must be postmarked by January 31 to count as timely.
Penalties and interest escalate monthly through the spring, and on July 1 delinquent accounts are typically turned over to collection attorneys, who can add a penalty of up to 20% on top of what has already accrued.10State of Texas. Texas Tax Code 33.01 – Penalties and Interest By that point the total owed can exceed 30% above the original tax. Interest continues at 1% per month as long as the balance remains unpaid, and taxing units can eventually sue to foreclose on the tax lien.
Installments and Deferral for Seniors and Disabled Homeowners
If you are 65 or older, disabled, or a qualifying disabled veteran, you can split your property tax into four equal installments. The first installment, along with written notice of your intent, must be submitted before the February 1 delinquency date. The remaining three are due before April 1, June 1, and August 1. Missing any installment triggers a 6% penalty and 1% monthly interest on the unpaid portion.11Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Payment Options
A stronger option is tax deferral. Homeowners 65 or older, disabled, or qualifying disabled veterans can file an affidavit with their appraisal district to defer collection of all property taxes on their homestead indefinitely. While the deferral is active, no taxing unit can file a delinquency lawsuit or foreclose. Interest still accrues at 5% annually, and the full amount comes due when you no longer own and occupy the property.12State of Texas. Texas Tax Code 33.06 – Deferred Collection of Taxes on Residence Homestead of Elderly or Disabled Person or Disabled Veteran
Federal Deduction for the Taxes You Pay
If you itemize on your federal return, property taxes paid during the year count toward the state and local tax (SALT) deduction. Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the SALT cap rose to $40,000 for most filers beginning in 2025, up from the previous $10,000. The cap is $20,000 for married individuals filing separately and increases by 1% annually through 2029. You only benefit if your total itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction, so homeowners with modest bills may still come out ahead taking the standard deduction instead.