Fort Worth Property Taxes Explained: 2026 Rates, Exemptions & Examples
By Brent Reiter, REALTOR® · Last updated November 4, 2026
Texas has no state income tax, so property tax is where most of the bill shows up. In Fort Worth, your total rate depends on which school district and special districts your address falls in, and the homestead exemption changes the math a lot. Here's how it adds up for 2026, with the official rates and a worked example.
At a Glance
- City of Fort Worth (2026)
- $0.705650 per $100
- Typical total rate (Fort Worth ISD)
- About $2.23 per $100
- Tax on a $400K homestead (Fort Worth ISD)
- About $6,620 a year
- Same home without a homestead
- About $8,910 a year
- School homestead exemption
- $140,000 (+$60,000 if 65+ or disabled)
- Pay by
- January 31 (penalties start Feb 1)
Rates are the 2026 adopted rates published by the Tarrant Appraisal District. Example assumes Tarrant County, Fort Worth ISD and the Tarrant Regional Water District.
How a Fort Worth Tax Bill Is Built
Your bill is the sum of several taxing units, each applying its own rate per $100 of taxable value. Every Fort Worth home in Tarrant County pays the city, the county, the hospital district (JPS), the college district (TCC) and a school district. Most also pay the Tarrant Regional Water District. Some newer communities add a PID or MUD on top.
| Taxing unit | 2026 rate per $100 | 2025 rate |
|---|---|---|
| City of Fort Worth | 0.705650 | 0.670000 |
| Tarrant County | 0.186000 | — |
| JPS Health Network (hospital district) | 0.159000 | 0.165000 |
| Tarrant County College | 0.120000 | 0.112280 |
| Tarrant Regional Water District | 0.027300 | — |
| Your school district | about 1.03 to 1.29 | see table below |
Fort Worth city limits reach into Denton, Parker, Wise and Johnson counties. Homes there pay that county's rate and its own hospital and college districts instead of Tarrant County, JPS and TCC. In Walsh, for example, the bill includes the Parker County Hospital District and Weatherford College. Check the appraisal district for the county the home is in.
School District Rates Inside Fort Worth
The school district is the biggest single line on the bill, and the City of Fort Worth is served by 13 of them. Two homes a mile apart can have rates that differ by a quarter of a percent. See which school district serves your Fort Worth address and how school district boundaries work, and confirm the district for any address before you buy.
| School district | 2026 total rate per $100 |
|---|---|
| Fort Worth ISD | 1.029099 |
| Northwest ISD | 1.0638 |
| Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD | 1.0526 |
| Keller ISD | 1.0852 |
| White Settlement ISD | 1.1528 |
| Everman ISD | 1.1771 |
| Aledo ISD | 1.1775 |
| Birdville ISD | 1.18654 |
| Lake Worth ISD | 1.2265 |
| Castleberry ISD | 1.2469 |
| Crowley ISD | 1.2552 |
| Burleson ISD | 1.2552 |
| Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD | 1.2857 |
Limited-purpose annexation: in parts of far west Fort Worth, including some of the Walsh area, the city has annexed land for limited purposes only. Those homes don't pay the City of Fort Worth rate (and don't get full city services). Check the property's tax record for the exact list of taxing units.
Homestead Exemptions: The Biggest Savings
If the home is your primary residence, file a homestead exemption with the appraisal district. It's free, and it lowers the taxable value for every unit:
| Taxing unit | General homestead | Over 65 / disabled (added) |
|---|---|---|
| School districts (state) | $140,000 | +$60,000 |
| City of Fort Worth | 20% (minimum $5,000) | +$80,000 |
| Tarrant County | 20% | +$50,000 (65+) / +$10,000 (disabled) |
| JPS Health Network | 20% | +$50,000 (65+) / +$10,000 (disabled) |
| Tarrant County College | 1% (minimum $5,000) | +$50,000 (65+) / +$3,000 (disabled) |
- The 10% cap. Once you have a homestead, the taxable value can't rise more than 10% a year (plus new improvements), even if the market value jumps more.
- Apply by April 30 of the year you want it to start. You can apply as soon as you own and live in the home.
- Over 65? The school-tax ceiling freezes your school taxes at the year you qualify.
Worked Example: A $400,000 Home in Fort Worth ISD
| Unit | Taxable value × rate | Annual tax |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Worth ISD | $260,000 × 1.029099 | $2,675.66 |
| City of Fort Worth | $320,000 × 0.705650 | $2,258.08 |
| Tarrant County | $320,000 × 0.186000 | $595.20 |
| JPS Health Network | $320,000 × 0.159000 | $508.80 |
| Tarrant County College | $395,000 × 0.120000 | $474.00 |
| Tarrant Regional Water District | $400,000 × 0.027300 | $109.20 |
| Total | $6,620.94 (about $552 a month) |
The combined rate is about 2.23%, but the homestead exemption brings the effective rate down to about 1.66% of value. Without it, the same home would owe about $8,908, roughly $2,290 more a year. That's why lenders often estimate taxes at the full rate: the exemption doesn't apply until you file for it.
PIDs and MUDs in New Fort Worth Communities
Many new-construction communities pay for roads, water lines and parks through a Public Improvement District (PID) or a Municipal Utility District (MUD). Both show up as an extra line on the bill or a separate assessment, so ask for the exact amount before you buy.
- Walsh is in Fort Worth PID No. 16, which charges a fixed amount per lot rather than a rate. For fiscal 2027, Improvement Area 1 assessments run from about $482 (35-foot lot) to $1,559 (custom lot) a year, and Improvement Area 2 from about $395 to $1,035.
- MUDs add a rate on top of everything else. Two Fort Worth-area examples: Live Oak Creek MUD at 0.942 per $100 and Far North Fort Worth MUD No. 1 at 1.000. A MUD can add $3,000 to $4,000 a year on a $350,000 home.
- Ask the builder or listing agent for the PID/MUD name and the current year's amount, and read the seller's disclosure. Texas requires a MUD notice before you sign.
Key Dates and How to Protest
- Spring: the appraisal district mails notices of appraised value (usually April/May).
- Protest deadline: May 15, or 30 days after your notice is delivered, whichever is later. You can file online with the Tarrant Appraisal District.
- April 30: deadline to apply for a homestead exemption for the current year.
- October: tax bills go out once the taxing units adopt rates.
- January 31: last day to pay without penalty. Penalties start at 6% plus 1% interest on February 1 and climb to 12% by July.
If you're buying, your lender will usually escrow taxes in the monthly payment. If you're selling, the year's taxes are prorated at closing. Run your own numbers with the mortgage calculator or see Texas property taxes for the statewide rules.
Thinking about buying or selling in Fort Worth? I was born and raised here, and I help buyers and sellers across DFW from my office in the Mid-Cities. Call or text anytime, no pressure.
Brent Reiter, REALTOR®
Brent Sells DFW · 817-874-1602
Local Resources & Citations
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the property tax rate in Fort Worth, TX?
For 2026, a Fort Worth ISD home in Tarrant County has a combined rate of about 2.23% of taxable value: the city ($0.705650 per $100), Tarrant County ($0.186), JPS ($0.159), Tarrant County College ($0.12), the water district ($0.0273) and Fort Worth ISD ($1.029099). Other school districts run higher.
How much are property taxes on a $400,000 house in Fort Worth?
About $6,620 a year with a homestead exemption in Fort Worth ISD for 2026, or about $8,910 without one. Homes in higher-rate school districts or with a PID or MUD pay more.
Did Fort Worth raise its property tax rate for 2026?
Yes. The City of Fort Worth's rate went from $0.670000 per $100 in 2025 to $0.705650 in 2026. JPS lowered its rate from $0.165 to $0.159, and Tarrant County College raised its rate from $0.11228 to $0.12.
How much does the homestead exemption save in Fort Worth?
On a $400,000 home in Fort Worth ISD, about $2,290 a year. It removes $140,000 from the school district's taxable value and 20% for the city, county and JPS, and it caps future taxable value increases at 10% a year.
What is a PID in Fort Worth?
A Public Improvement District is a special assessment that pays for infrastructure in a new community. In Walsh (PID No. 16), annual assessments for fiscal 2027 range from about $395 to $1,559 per lot depending on the lot size and section.