Who Sets Your Property Tax Bill in Frisco, Texas?

Two different groups set your property tax bill in Frisco, Texas. The appraisal district sets your home's value. The local taxing units, run by elected officials, set the tax rate. Your bill is the value multiplied by those rates, after any exemptions, so neither group sets the bill alone.

I'm Omega Mejia, a real estate agent with Simply Great Real Estate Group, and I help buyers and sellers in Frisco, Texas and across Collin County. If you opened a tax notice and thought "who decided this?", this post sorts out who did, what they decided, and where you have a say.

Only the value. The Collin Central Appraisal District values every taxable property in Collin County at market value as of January 1. It has to reappraise everything at least once every three years, and it uses the same methods for the same kinds of property.

For a single-family home, the preferred method is the sales comparison approach. The district compares your home with recently sold similar properties and adjusts for the differences, such as size, age, construction type, use and location. The district does not set tax rates and does not decide what the city or school district spends.

Local taxing units and their elected officials set the tax rates and decide any tax increase. The Texas Legislature does not set the amount of your local taxes. That is why two homes with the same value can carry different bills if they sit in different taxing areas.

It also explains a common frustration. A homeowner calls the appraisal district upset about a bill, and the district can only talk about the value. A homeowner shows up at a city meeting upset about a value, and the city does not set it. Knowing which office owns which number saves you a lot of phone calls.

The chief appraiser sends notices by April 1 for single-family homes, or as soon after as practicable. For 2026, Collin CAD set April 15 as the mailing date for real property notices. The notice shows the current and prior appraised values, any exemptions, and how to protest.

You can also look up your property online through the Collin CAD property search, which shows the property and value information the district holds. If you are buying, it is a fast way to see what the district has on a home you like.

If your home qualifies for a residence homestead exemption in both the preceding year and the current year, its appraised value generally cannot increase more than 10 percent a year. The limit is the lesser of the market value or a formula built on 10 percent of the prior appraised value plus the market value of new improvements.

That cap is why a homestead matters so much to a new owner. My post on how a homestead exemption works for Frisco homeowners explains how to get it. The cap limits how fast your appraised value can climb. It does not freeze your tax bill, because the rates can still move.

The deadline is usually May 15 or 30 days after the appraisal district mails the notice, whichever is later. The 30 days run from the mailing date, not the date the notice reaches your mailbox. A board can hear a late protest if you show good cause.

You can protest if you disagree with the appraised value, with the district's action on your property, or if the records contain errors. A written notice of protest is enough. Before the formal hearing, you can request an informal conference with the district to try to settle it. If that does not resolve it, you go to the Appraisal Review Board.

A protest can cover more than the number. At the hearing you can raise your property's value, your exemptions, a special appraisal qualification and a circuit breaker limitation. A written notice of protest is all it takes to start, and you do not need a special form.

Evidence wins protests. Photos of your home and comparable homes, sales price documentation, repair receipts and estimates all count. Saying the value is wrong is not enough on its own. My post on protesting your property tax value in Collin County goes through the steps.

You receive notice of the hearing at least 15 days before it. The appraisal district must send you the Comptroller's Taxpayer Assistance Pamphlet and the Appraisal Review Board's hearing procedures at least 14 days before. You can attend in person, by phone or video, or by written affidavit.

Both you and the district can present evidence, examine witnesses and state an opinion of value. The hearings are informal, but they deserve the respect of a courtroom: arrive on time and keep it about the home. The board cannot consider your personal economic situation, only the value and the facts about the property.

If you are buying in Frisco, Texas, the property tax number on a listing is a snapshot built on the last appraised value and the rates at the time. The next notice can change the value, and the taxing units can change the rates. Those are two separate moves by two separate groups, so a quiet year on one side can be a loud year on the other.

A homestead exemption starts the 10 percent cap clock for you as the new owner, which is why I talk to every buyer about it before closing. Knowing who owns which number also tells you where to take a question after you move in.

A short routine keeps a surprising notice from becoming a missed deadline:

• Read the value first, not the bill. The notice shows the appraised value, and the value is what the district decided.
• Mark the protest date the day the notice arrives. It runs from the mailing date, so the clock starts before you open the envelope.
• Gather your evidence early. Comparable homes and sales documents take time to pull together.
• Keep your homestead exemption on file. The 10 percent cap depends on it.
• Bring a number, not a feeling. A protest with comparable sales beats a protest with frustration.

If you are thinking of selling in Frisco, Texas and want to see how your home's market value compares to the district's number, get my free home value with Plan A/B/C pricing on my home valuation page. If you are buying, my buying a home page shows how taxes fit into the picture. You can read the short answer on my FAQ page. If you want to talk through your notice with me, contact me.

Source: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, property tax valuation and protest guidance; Collin Central Appraisal District. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial or insurance advice.