Owning in 78703
Property taxes in Clarksville, explained
What actually sits behind a Clarksville tax bill, how the homestead exemption and the 10% cap protect you, and the dates that matter. Plain English, with the authorities to verify every number.
Texas makes a trade that surprises people moving in: there is no state income tax, and the state leans on property tax instead. For a buyer coming from California or another high-income-tax state, that tradeoff usually works in your favor, but it means the property tax line deserves real attention before you buy in Clarksville.
The good news is that the system is more navigable than it looks. Your bill comes from a handful of named entities, the homestead exemption and a 10% appraisal cap do a lot of quiet work in your favor, and the deadlines are predictable once you know them.
How your bill is built
Several entities, one bill
A Clarksville tax bill is the sum of rates set by each of these taxing entities. No single one sets your total.
Added together, the combined rate in the Clarksville area has recently run in roughly the low 2 percent range of a home's taxable value. Rates are reset every year, so treat that as a planning figure and confirm your parcel with TCAD.
Where the savings live
The homestead exemption and the cap
If the home is your primary residence, these are the levers that meaningfully lower what you pay. File once, benefit every year.
General residence homestead
Your primary residence qualifies for a homestead exemption that removes part of the home's value from taxation. In 2023 Texas raised the school-district homestead exemption to $100,000. Confirm the current amount with TCAD.
The 10% appraisal cap
Once a home is your homestead, its taxable value cannot rise more than 10% per year, excluding the value of new improvements. In a neighborhood that appreciates like Clarksville, this cap is the quiet workhorse of the bill.
Local city and county exemptions
The City of Austin and Travis County each grant their own homestead exemptions on top of the school exemption, so the relief stacks across entities.
Over-65 and disabled
Homeowners who are 65 or older or who have a qualifying disability receive additional exemptions and a school-tax ceiling that limits future school-tax increases.
The calendar
Dates that matter
Valuation date
Your home's taxable value is assessed as of this date each year.
Notice of appraised value
TCAD mails your appraised value, usually in April or May.
Protest deadline
Protests are generally due by May 15, or 30 days after your notice, whichever is later.
Taxes due
Tax bills arrive in the fall and are due by January 31 of the following year.
Thinking the appraisal looks high? You can protest. A protest is generally due by May 15, and recent comparable sales make the case. This is one place a local agent earns the fee: ask Luke for Clarksville comps before you file.
The tradeoff that decides the math
For buyers relocating from a high-income-tax state, the honest comparison is simple: Texas charges you nothing on what you earn and more on what you own. For high earners, the absence of a state income tax frequently outweighs the higher property tax, but the only number that matters is yours.
If you are weighing the move, the moving to Austin from California guide puts this tradeoff in the full context of the relocation, and the home valuation page is where owners start when a sale is on the horizon.
Work with Luke
Run the real numbers on a Clarksville home
Before you buy or sell in 78703, get a straight read on the tax picture for a specific home, from the current combined rate to the homestead and cap. Luke Allen walks you through it, no pressure.
Luke Allen
Licensed Texas REALTOR, TREC #788149
Austin Marketing + Development Group
Good to know
Clarksville property taxes, answered
- How much are property taxes in Clarksville, Austin?
- A Clarksville home in 78703 is taxed by several entities together, including Austin ISD, the City of Austin, Travis County, Central Health, and Austin Community College. In recent years the combined rate has run in roughly the low 2 percent range of a home's taxable value, but rates are set every year, so confirm the current figure and your specific parcel with the Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD).
- What is the homestead exemption in Travis County?
- The residence homestead exemption lowers the taxable value of your primary home. Texas increased the school-district homestead exemption to $100,000 in 2023, and the City of Austin and Travis County add their own homestead exemptions. Just as important, a homestead caps annual taxable-value increases at 10 percent, excluding new improvements. Apply through TCAD and verify current amounts there.
- Does Texas have a state income tax?
- No. Texas has no personal state income tax and leans more on property tax instead. That tradeoff, no tax on earnings against a higher property tax rate, is central to the math for anyone relocating to Austin, especially from a high-income-tax state like California.
- When is the property tax protest deadline in Travis County?
- Protests are generally due by May 15, or 30 days after the date on your notice of appraised value, whichever is later. You file the protest with TCAD. Many homeowners protest annually, and a local agent's recent comparable sales can support your case.
- How does the 10 percent homestead cap work in Austin?
- Once your home is your homestead, the appraisal district cannot increase its taxable (assessed) value by more than 10 percent in a single year, not counting the value of new improvements you make. In an appreciating neighborhood like Clarksville, the cap can hold your taxable value well below market value over time.
Verify and learn more
This page is general information, not tax or legal advice. Rates, exemptions, and deadlines change, so confirm the specifics for your property with the authorities: Travis Central Appraisal District, Travis County Tax Office, and the Texas Comptroller. Figures on this page reflect general conditions as of 2026.