Bell County Property Tax Guide – Trends, Appeals & How to Lower Your Bill
📍 Bell County, TX | Updated: March 2025
Overview of Bell County Property Taxes
Bell County, located in Central Texas between Austin and Waco, is home to some of the fastest-growing cities in the state—including Killeen, Temple, and Belton. Fueled by military activity at Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood), new construction, and suburban expansion, property values have risen sharply in recent years—and so have property tax assessments.
Many military families, investors, landlords, and long-time residents are seeing appraisals that don’t match the market, especially in newer subdivisions or areas surrounding base housing, where values shift quickly. If your home’s assessed value jumped, even though nothing changed, you might be overpaying.
📌 Why It Matters: Whether you own a primary residence or rental near the base or in the suburbs, a protest could help you fight an unfair appraisal and lower your tax bill.
📞 Need help filing a protest? Get a Free Consultation
📊 Bell County Quick Facts
✔ 📍 Location: Central Texas, between Austin & Waco
✔ 🏆 Size Rank: 35th largest county in Texas (1,088 sq mi)
✔ 👥 Population Rank: 18th most populous (~400,000 residents)
✔ 🌆 Largest Cities: Killeen, Temple, Belton, Harker Heights, Salado
✔ 🏡 Median Home Price: ~$270,000
✔ 💰 Median Property Tax Bill: ~$5,800 per year
✔ 🏛️ Major Economic Drivers: Military (Fort Cavazos), education, healthcare, retail
✔ 🎯 Metro Area: Killeen–Temple MSA
✔ 🚗 Major Highways: I-14, I-35, US-190, SH-195
📊 Bell County Property Tax Trends
📈 Property Tax Rates & Assessments
Avg. Tax Rate: ~2.15% of assessed value
Avg. Home Value: 💲**$270,000** (up 8.3% from last year)
Median Property Tax Bill: 💲**$5,800**
🏡 Home Value Increases (Past 5 Years)
📅 Year 🏠 Avg. Home Value 📈 % Change
2021 💲**$215,000** 🔺 +5.9%
2022 💲**$240,000** 🔺 +11.6%
2023 💲**$255,000** 🔺 +6.3%
2024 💲**$270,000** 🔺 +5.9%
2025 💲**$292,000** (est.) 🔺 +8.3%
📌 Tip: Many appraisals increase year-over-year even when actual sale prices do not—protest if your increase feels inflated.
✅ What This Means: Homeowners are facing higher tax bills due to increasing property values. If your home’s appraised value is rising faster than similar properties in your area, you might be overpaying.
🔎 Not sure if your property is over-assessed? Check Your Bell County Property Value
Who Pays the Highest Property Taxes in Bell County?
Certain areas of Bell County—especially near Fort Cavazos, new developments in Temple and Belton, and fast-growing suburbs like Harker Heights—pay higher tax rates due to new ISD bonds, infrastructure expansion, and speculative appraisals
💰 Highest Property Tax Rates by City
🏙️ City 📊 Est. Tax Rate 🏡 Avg. Home Price
Killeen 2.19% 💲**$260,000**
Temple 2.15% 💲**$275,000**
Belton 2.13% 💲**$295,000**
Harker Heights 2.14% 💲**$280,000**
Salado 2.09% 💲**$325,000**
📌 Tip: Homes near military bases and in high-turnover zones are often over-assessed based on inflated comps. A timely protest can bring your value back to reality.
How to Protest Your Property Tax Assessment in Bell County
If you believe your property is overvalued, you have the right to appeal your assessment with Bell County Appraisal District (BCAD).
📅 Key Deadlines for 2025
🛑 Notice of Appraised Value Sent: Early April 2025
🛑 Property Tax Protest Deadline: May 15, 2025
Step-by-Step Guide to Filing a Protest
1️⃣ Review Your BCAD Assessment
Visit bellcad.org to check your property’s appraised value.
2️⃣ Gather Supporting Evidence
Recent sales data from similar properties.
Photos of property damage or defects affecting value.
Neighboring properties’ tax assessments (to compare values).
3️⃣ File a Protest with BCAD
✅ Online: Submit your appeal at bellcad.org
✅ By Mail: Send a written protest to BCAD before the May 15th deadline:
P.O. Box 390
Belton, TX 76513
✅ In-Person: Visit BCAD’s office in Belton, Killeen or Temple to file directly.
4️⃣ Attend Your Informal Hearing
BCAD may offer a settlement to reduce your valuation.
5️⃣ Formal Hearing
If no agreement is reached, you can present your case to the Appraisal Review Board (ARB).
🔹 Need expert help? Start Your Free Property Tax Review
💰 Save Money on Your Bell County Property Taxes
Don’t wait—appealing your property tax assessment could save you thousands per year. If you’re unsure where to start, Texas Tax Appeal can handle the entire process for you.
📧 Email: info@texastaxappeal.com
🌐 Start Your Free Consultation
🔹 Protest Deadline: May 15, 2025
📌 Don't Overpay! Check if You Qualify for a Lower Tax Bill.
🛠 Resources for Bell County Property Owners
📌 Bell County Appraisal District (BCAD)- Chief Appraiser, Billy White
📌 Bell County Taxpayer Liaison Officer- Garrett Ashby
📌 Bell County Tax Assessor- Shay Luedeke
📍Unique Property Tax Situation in Bell County
Bell County’s mix of military-owned homes, rapid development, and suburban expansion creates frequent over-assessment issues—especially for those not protected by a homestead cap.
✔ Military families rotate often, but their properties are still assessed as if they're primary, long-term residences.
✔ Non-homesteaded rentals around Killeen and Belton are often taxed well above resale value.
✔ New builds and rapid appreciation in Temple skew comps across nearby established neighborhoods.
✔ Rural land near Salado and east of I-35 is being revalued in anticipation of development, even if no plans exist yet.
📌 What This Means: Whether your property is residential, rental, or commercial, there’s a good chance it’s over-appraised. Filing a protest can help correct the value and reduce your tax burden.
📞 Get a Free Property Tax Review Today! 🚀
This guide provides an overview of Bell County’s property tax system, recent market trends, and how to appeal your assessment for potential tax savings.
🔹 Bell County Appraisal District (BCAD)- oversees property valuations.
🔹 Bell County Tax Assessor-Collector- collects property taxes based off of HCAD’s valuations
🔹 Property Taxpayers' Bill of Rights
🔹 The deadline to appeal your 2025 property tax assessment is May 15.
📞 Need help filing a protest? Get a Free Consultation or Sign Up to Protest Now