Wilson County, Texas Property Taxes: What Homeowners and Buyers Need to Know
Property taxes are one of the most searched and most misunderstood topics in Wilson County real estate — and getting them wrong can cost homeowners thousands of dollars every year.
Whether you're buying a home in Floresville, selling land in La Vernia, or trying to figure out why your Wilson CAD appraisal went up again, this guide gives you the foundational knowledge you need.
James Peterson, ALC and Barbara Peterson are broker-owners of United Country Real Estate | Texas Ranch and Home in Floresville, Texas. Property tax questions come up in nearly every transaction they handle. They address them with every buyer and seller they represent.
How Property Taxes Work in Texas
Texas has no state income tax. The tradeoff is that local property taxes — assessed by counties, school districts, cities, and special districts — are higher than in many other states.
Your annual property tax bill in Wilson County is calculated as:
Taxable Appraised Value × Combined Tax Rate = Annual Property Tax
The taxable appraised value comes from the Wilson County Appraisal District (Wilson CAD). The tax rate is the combined rate of all taxing entities that apply to your property — which typically includes Wilson County, your school district, and potentially other special districts.
What Is the Property Tax Rate in Wilson County?
Property tax rates in Wilson County vary depending on which taxing entities apply to your specific property. The combined rate typically falls in the range of 1.4% to 2.0% of appraised value for most residential properties, depending on the school district and any special district assessments.
School district rates vary:
Floresville ISD
La Vernia ISD
Stockdale ISD
Poth ISD
Nixon-Smiley CISD
Each school district has its own tax rate. La Vernia and Floresville ISD rates have historically been among the more commonly referenced rates in the county.
For any specific property, the actual tax rate applied is verifiable through the Wilson CAD website at wilson-cad.org. James and Barbara pull current tax information for every property they represent before making any representations to buyers about annual tax cost.
The Homestead Exemption: What It Is and How to Get It
If your Wilson County property is your primary residence, you are entitled to a homestead exemption that reduces the property's taxable appraised value — which directly lowers your annual property tax bill.
What the homestead exemption does:
Reduces the taxable value of your home by a set amount for each taxing entity (typically $100,000 off the school district taxable value under the current Texas law, plus additional amounts from county and other entities)
Caps annual appraisal increases at 10% per year for homesteaded properties — this is one of the most valuable protections for long-term homeowners
Provides additional benefits for homeowners 65 and older and those with disabilities
The over-65 homestead exemption:
Homeowners who are 65 or older receive an additional exemption and — critically — a freeze on the school district portion of their property taxes. Once you turn 65 and apply for the over-65 exemption, your school district taxes cannot increase as long as you remain in the home. This is a significant long-term benefit for retirees in Wilson County.
How to apply for the homestead exemption:
You must apply through Wilson CAD
The deadline to apply for the current tax year is April 30
You can apply at wilson-cad.org or in person at 1611 Railroad Street, Floresville, TX 78114
You must be a Texas resident who occupies the property as your primary residence as of January 1 of the tax year
Important: The homestead exemption does not automatically apply when you purchase a home. You must apply for it. James and Barbara remind every buyer they represent to file their homestead exemption application after closing.
Agricultural Valuation: The Biggest Property Tax Advantage in Rural Wilson County
For buyers and owners of rural land with qualifying agricultural use, the agricultural appraisal (commonly called the ag exemption) is the single most impactful property tax benefit available.
Instead of being taxed on market value, land with agricultural appraisal is taxed on its productivity value — what the land can produce agriculturally. In Wilson County, this can reduce the taxable value to a small fraction of market value.
Example: A 50-acre property worth $400,000 at market value might have a productivity-based appraisal of $30,000–$50,000. At a 1.7% combined tax rate, that's the difference between paying $6,800 per year versus $510–$850 per year.
Qualifying agricultural uses in Wilson County include cattle grazing, hay production, beekeeping, and wildlife management. The land must meet Wilson CAD's intensity standards for the chosen use.
For a complete breakdown of how agricultural valuation works — including rollback taxes and wildlife management valuation — see our detailed blog post: What Is the Ag Exemption in Texas and How Does It Affect Real Estate?
Understanding Your Wilson CAD Appraisal
Each year, Wilson CAD sends property owners a Notice of Appraised Value — typically in April — showing the appraised value assigned to their property for the current tax year. This value is the basis for your property tax calculation.
Key things to understand about your appraisal:
Appraised value is not the same as market value. Wilson CAD's appraised value is their estimate of what the property would sell for. It may be accurate, above market, or below market depending on how recently comparable sales data has been updated.
For homesteaded properties, increases are capped at 10% per year. Even if the market has increased more than 10%, Wilson CAD cannot raise the taxable value of a homesteaded property by more than 10% per year. This cap accumulates over years of low increases and then gradually adjusts.
For non-homesteaded properties, there is no cap. Investment properties, second homes, and land without a homestead designation can see larger year-over-year appraisal increases.
Agricultural appraisals follow productivity standards, not market trends. If your land has ag valuation, your appraisal should reflect productivity value, not what the land is worth on the open market.
How to Protest Your Wilson CAD Appraisal
If you believe your Wilson CAD appraisal is too high — or incorrectly classified — you have the right to protest it. The protest deadline in Texas is typically May 15 or 30 days after the appraisal notice is mailed, whichever is later.
Steps to protest:
Step 1: File a notice of protest. You can file online at wilson-cad.org or in person at Wilson CAD before the deadline.
Step 2: Gather your evidence. The most effective protest evidence includes:
Recent comparable sales of similar properties at lower values
A recent appraisal from a licensed appraiser
Documentation of property condition issues that reduce value (photos, repair estimates)
Any relevant data showing the CAD's estimate is above actual market value
Step 3: Attend your Appraisal Review Board (ARB) hearing. If informal review with the CAD doesn't resolve the issue, you'll have a formal hearing before the Appraisal Review Board — an independent panel that considers both the CAD's evidence and yours.
Step 4: Accept, negotiate, or escalate. After the ARB hearing, you can accept the result, negotiate a settlement, or escalate to district court or binding arbitration if you believe the value is still incorrect.
James and Barbara help sellers understand their current appraisal before listing — and help buyers understand what they're walking into on any property's tax history before they close.
Common Property Tax Mistakes Wilson County Buyers and Owners Make
Not filing the homestead exemption after closing. This is the most common and most easily avoided mistake. If you're buying a primary residence in Wilson County, file your homestead exemption application immediately after closing.
Assuming the seller's tax bill is what you'll pay. If the seller has an ag valuation and you don't intend to maintain qualifying agricultural use, your tax bill will be dramatically higher than the seller's. This is a critical calculation to make before you buy.
Not protesting an inflated appraisal. Many Wilson County homeowners accept their appraisal without question. If the appraised value exceeds what comparable properties have actually sold for, a protest is worth filing. The worst outcome is that Wilson CAD doesn't change the value — but it costs nothing to try.
Missing the protest deadline. The May 15 deadline is firm in most cases. If you miss it, you wait until next year. Calendar it well in advance.
Not verifying ag valuation status before buying rural land. Buyers sometimes purchase rural land assuming it has ag valuation when it doesn't — or assuming they can immediately obtain it when it requires five of the preceding seven years of qualifying use to be established.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wilson County Property Taxes
Where do I pay my Wilson County property taxes? Property taxes in Wilson County are paid to the Wilson County Tax Assessor-Collector. The office is located at 1611 Railroad Street, Floresville, TX 78114. Taxes are due by January 31 each year to avoid penalty and interest.
What happens if I don't pay my Wilson County property taxes? Unpaid taxes accrue penalty and interest beginning February 1. If taxes remain unpaid, the taxing entities can eventually initiate a tax lien foreclosure proceeding. This is a real risk for landowners who neglect tax payments.
Can I get a payment plan for Wilson County property taxes? Texas law allows certain property owners — including those with a homestead exemption — to enter into installment payment agreements in some circumstances. Contact the tax office directly for current options.
How do I find out what the current property taxes are on a Wilson County property I'm considering buying? Ask your agent to pull the current tax information from Wilson CAD records before you make an offer. James and Barbara do this as standard practice on every property they represent buyers on.
Get Clear on Property Taxes Before You Buy or Sell
Understanding property taxes is part of understanding the true cost of ownership in Wilson County. James and Barbara walk every buyer through this before closing — not after.
James Peterson, ALC & Barbara Peterson Brokers/Owners — United Country Real Estate | Texas Ranch and Home Floresville, TX 78114
📞 James: 210-740-1295 📞 Barbara: 210-540-6487 🌐 www.txranchandhome.com 📅 Schedule a Free Consultation
James Peterson, ALC & Barbara Peterson are broker-owners of United Country Real Estate | Texas Ranch and Home in Floresville, Texas. They specialize in residential, land, and ranch real estate across Wilson County and South Texas. Consult a licensed tax professional for advice specific to your situation. Property tax rates and exemption amounts are subject to change — verify current figures with Wilson CAD and the relevant taxing entities.
