, pay a property tax rate of 1.90%, which is significantly higher than the national average. This partially makes up for the fact that Texas doesn’t collect income or vehicle taxes.

Property taxes can vary from year to year and from county to county. So, how do you know what your property tax rate is—and what or who benefits from your tax dollars?

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Property tax 101

If you’re new to paying property taxes or are looking for a refresher, here are the basics:

Your local government has a department that determines your property’s taxable value each year

Property taxes apply to real property: homes, commercial buildings, parcels of land, etc.

Failure to pay taxes on time will result in penalty fees

You might be able to deduct your property taxes from your federal income tax return

Property taxes can change based on the market and the value of your home

Texas does not collect an income tax or vehicle tax. So while property taxes here are much higher than the national average, you’re likely to end up paying less in taxes overall here than in other states.

MORE: Is car insurance tax deductible?

What is the property tax rate in Denton County?

Denton county’s average property tax rate is 1.90%—which is a little higher than the state average of 1.80%. You should expect to pay $3,600 per year in property taxes if you own a home of median value.

The

Denton County website

allows you to locate your property, review and pay your tax bill, and check the upcoming year’s rates.

How Denton County property taxes are determined

First, a tax assessor looks at your property and calculates an assessment value (which is often a percentage of its market value). The assessment value is multiplied by the local tax rate to determine what dollar amount you’ll need to pay.

Tax assessors typically base their appraisals on recent home sales in the area, so if the market is hot, you’ll probably find yourself paying more in taxes that year.

If you think your property was overvalued (and you’re thus paying too much in taxes), you can file an appeal with the county auditor. The

Denton County website

lists the steps you need to take.

Texas has a homestead exemption for seniors ages 65 and up and permanently disabled individuals. While this exemption won’t lower your tax amount, it will allow you to pay in four installments instead of a lump sum.

What do Denton County property taxes pay for?

Denton County uses funds collected from property taxes for a variety of public services, including:

Law enforcement

Public health

Public libraries

Fire departments

K-12 public education

If you have questions or concerns about how your property taxes are spent, you can contact the

Tax Assessor/Collector of Denton County

MORE: How to deduct a car accident from your taxes

How to pay property taxes in Denton County

Tax bills for each Denton county homeowner are mailed out annually in October. Your taxes are due between when you receive your bill and the following January 31.

In Denton County, you have a few different payment options:

Online: You can pay online by visiting the

county tax office website

By mail: Mark your envelope and make your check payable to the Denton County Tax Assessor and mail it to:

1505 E McKinney Street

Denton, TX 76209

In person: Go to the address listed above. All forms of payment are accepted and office hours are 8:00-4:30 pm

Through your mortgage: Denton County accepts tax payments made through your mortgage (typically via an escrow account managed by your lender)

MORE:

Texas car insurance laws

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