General Questions
How do I update my mailing address?
Please send us something in writing indicating the correct address for the property and a daytime phone number where you can be reached you at.
How can I get and address assigned to my property?
You will need to contact the 911 Addressing Department at (979) 864-1295.
How do I get a Plat Map of my property?
Call or come into our Mapping Department ,located on the first floor of the Snow Building, and request a copy of your property's plat.
What should I do if my property is linking incorrectly through the map search portal?
If your property is linking incorrectly, please notify the Mapping Department, or send an email to: jashburn@brazoriacad.org
How can I obtain information about Tax Foreclosure Sale property?
You can obtain Tax Sale information by calling the Tax Office (979)864-1320, or by visiting their website: https://www.brazoriacountytx.gov/departments/tax-office
What are the Zoning regulations for my property?
Brazoria County Does not have any zoning regulations. If you are in the city's ETJ or their City Limits you must follow the city's zoning regulations.
What is the Brazoria County Appraisal District's role in the tax system?
There are three main parts to the property tax system in Texas:
- an Appraisal District in each county sets the value of property each year;
- an Appraisal Review Board settles disagreements between property owners and the Appraisal District about property values, exemptions and they also make determinations on challenges initiated by taxing units;
- local taxing units, which include the county, city, school district and other special districts, decide how much money they will spend. This, in turn, determines the total amount of taxes that property owners must pay.
What is a rendition?
A rendition is a statement listing taxable property and the name and address of the owner. The statement should also contain an owner's estimate of the property's value. The deadline for filing a rendition is April 15. Be sure to identify your property and attach any documentation that you may have such as closing statements, appraisals or sales of similar properties in your neighborhood.
Exemption Related Questions
What exemptions are available?
Some of the most common exemptions available are:
- General Residential Homestead Exemption
- Disabled Person Exemption
- Age 65 or Older Exemption
- Surviving Spouse of an Individual Who Qualified for the Age 65 or Older Exemption
- 100% Disabled Veteran's Exemption
- Surviving Spouse of a Disabled Veteran Who Received the 100% Disabled Veteran's Exemption
- Religious & Charitable Organization Exemptions
- Freeport Exemption
- Other Exemptions are Available
How do I apply for exemptions?
Exemption applications are available from our office in the Customer Service Department and can be picked up during normal business hours. You may also have an application mailed to you by calling our Customer Service Department at (979) 849-7792. An exemption application can also be obtained online by clicking here. Currently, acceptable submission methods include: Online submission, email, regular mail, fax, or drop boxes outside our office.
Do I apply for homestead exemptions annually?
An initial application is required to establish your exemptions, even if you have claimed the exemption previously at another property. In most cases, you will only apply for the exemption once. However, a new application may be requested by the Chief Appraiser at any time.
Is it true that once I become 65 years of age, I will not have to pay any more taxes?
No, that is not necessarily true. The amount of the exemptions that are granted by each taxing entity is subtracted from the market value of your residence and the taxes are calculated on that "lower value." In addition, when you turn 65, your taxes for the school district in which you reside are frozen at the level established during the first year of qualification for the senior citizen exemption. While it is possible to be completely exempt from paying taxes with a Homestead and Over 65 exemption, this is normally not the case.
What is a homestead cap value?
Effective January 1, 2008, the Texas Property Tax Code, Section 23.23, states that the annual assessment of a residential homestead is limited to a 10% increase.
Rules:
Rules:
- Limitations take affect one year after you receive your Homestead Exemption.
- Limitations do not apply to new improvements added in that year (i.e.,additions, pools, garages).
- Limitations are removed when a property sells.
- Limitations will be shown on the Notice as "Capped Value".
- All granted exemptions are subtracted from Cap Value instead of Market Value with the exception of the local option percentage. The local option percentage is subtracted from Market Value.
- Capped value minus applicable exemptions equals "taxable value".
- The Capped Value is not a lifetime limitation.
Appraisal Related Questions
Why are you inspecting my property?
In order to make accurate appraisals on every property in our jurisdiction, we have to visit them periodically to ensure that the data used in making the appraisal is still correct. For instance, since we last visited your home:
** All BCAD residential building measurements are done from the exterior, with individual measurements rounded to the closest foot. This measurement includes all closet space, hallways, and interior staircases. Attached garages are not included in the square footage of living area, but valued separately. Living area above attached garages is included in the square footage living area of the dwelling. Living area above detached garages is not included in the square footage living area of the dwelling but is valued separately. This method is used on all residential properties in Brazoria County to ensure the uniformity of square footage of living area measurements district-wide. There can be a reasonable variance between the BCAD square footage and your square footage measurement, especially if your square footage measurement was an interior measurement or an exterior measurement to the inch.
- the condition of the structure could have changed;
- the Appraisal District could have received a copy of a building permit indicating that a room was being added, the house was being remodeled, or some amenity such as a pool or detached garage was being added to or removed from the property.
** All BCAD residential building measurements are done from the exterior, with individual measurements rounded to the closest foot. This measurement includes all closet space, hallways, and interior staircases. Attached garages are not included in the square footage of living area, but valued separately. Living area above attached garages is included in the square footage living area of the dwelling. Living area above detached garages is not included in the square footage living area of the dwelling but is valued separately. This method is used on all residential properties in Brazoria County to ensure the uniformity of square footage of living area measurements district-wide. There can be a reasonable variance between the BCAD square footage and your square footage measurement, especially if your square footage measurement was an interior measurement or an exterior measurement to the inch.
What is an improvement?
Improvement means:
- a building, structure, fixture, or fence erected on or affixed to land; or
- a transportable structure that is designed to be occupied for residential or business purposes, whether or not it is affixed to land, if the owner of the structure owns the land on which it is located, unless the structure is unoccupied and held for sale or normally is located at a particular place only temporarily.
Protest Related Questions
How do I protest my value?
To protest an appraisal value set by BCAD, a taxpayer must notify the Appraisal District by May 15 or 30 days from the date of the Notice of Appraised Value. If no Notice of Appraised Value was generated by the Appraisal District, a protest may still be filed. The Notice of Protest need not be an official form, however, the Appraisal District can send you a Notice of Protest form to complete and submit. You can submit a letter stating the protesting property owner's name, identifying the subject property and indicating an apparent dissatisfaction with some determination of the appraisal office. The protest needs to be sent to the Appraisal Review Board, 500 N. Chenango, Angleton, TX 77515.
Why did I not receive a Notice of Appraised Value this year?
You will only receive a Notice of Appraised Value if you rendered your property, if there is a value change or if there is an ownership change.
Why did my value change?
When an area is selected for reappraisal, value changes may occur for several reasons:
- the correction of the data base, such as a change in square footage, a pool not previously accounted for or a correction of property characteristics;
- a value may be changed for equalization purposes;
- sales information may indicate the current appraised value is higher/lower than fair market value.
How did the Brazoria County Appraisal District arrive at my value?
Utilizing comparable sales, income and/or cost data, a BCAD appraiser applied generally accepted appraisal techniques to derive a value for your property.
What is fair market value?
Fair market value means the price at which a property would transfer for cash or its equivalent under prevailing market conditions if:
- exposed for sale in the open market with a reasonable time for the seller to find a purchaser
- both the seller and the purchaser know of all the uses and purposes to which the property is adapted and for which it is capable of being used and of the enforceable restrictions on its use; and
- both the seller and purchaser seek to maximize their gains and neither is in a position to take advantage of the exigencies of the other.
Tax Collection Related Questions
Who sets the tax rates?
The governing body (city council, school board, county commissioners) of each taxing entity sets the rates for their jurisdiction. The taxing units decide what services they will provide in the coming year and how much money they will need to provide those services. Each taxing unit adopts a tax rate that will raise the needed tax dollars.
Why am I receiving statements from two counties?
More than one Appraisal District may be appraising your property. This situation occurs when a property is located in a taxing unit with boundaries extending into a neighboring county. A property owner must file property tax information with each appraisal district office. An example would be a property located in the City of Pearland in Harris County.
What are the taxes on this property? How much are my taxes?
The BCAD does not levy taxes, set the tax rates or collect any taxes. The Appraisal District does not capture the amount of taxes on each property. You must call your appropriate tax office for that information.