Williamson County vs Travis County Property Taxes: What Austin-Area Homeowners Need to Know

The Two Appraisal Districts: WCAD vs TCAD

Williamson County properties are valued by the Williamson Central Appraisal District (WCAD), headquartered in Georgetown. Travis County properties are valued by the Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD), headquartered in Austin. These are entirely separate agencies with different staff, different comparable sales databases, and different historical assessment patterns. If your home is near the county line — in Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Leander, or Brushy Creek — it is critical to know which district has jurisdiction over your property. You can confirm by looking up your property record on wcad.org or tcad.org.

Property Tax Rates: Williamson vs Travis

Total effective property tax rates in both counties include multiple taxing entities — the county itself, city taxes, school district taxes, and special district levies. The combined rate varies significantly by exact location.

• ✓Williamson County: Total effective rates typically range from 1.8% to 2.4% of assessed value depending on city and school district
• ✓Travis County: Total effective rates typically range from 1.7% to 2.3% depending on city and school district
• ✓Round Rock ISD (Williamson): Historically has had lower tax rates than Austin ISD (Travis)
• ✓City of Austin taxes apply to Travis County properties within Austin city limits; unincorporated Williamson County properties avoid city taxes
• ✓Both counties allow homeowners to protest the assessed value — not the tax rate itself

Assessment Patterns: How WCAD and TCAD Differ

Both WCAD and TCAD use computer-assisted mass appraisal, but their historical assessment patterns differ. TCAD, covering Austin proper and surrounding communities, has historically been aggressive with assessments in high-demand neighborhoods. WCAD, covering rapidly growing communities like Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park, and Leander, faces the challenge of valuing a market that grew explosively and then corrected. The most important factor is whether your specific property is over-assessed relative to its current market value.

Protest Deadlines: Both Counties Follow the Same Texas Law

Whether you are in Williamson County or Travis County, the Texas Tax Code sets your protest deadline as the later of May 15, 2026 or 30 days from the date your Notice of Appraised Value was mailed.

• ✓WCAD protest deadline: May 15, 2026 (or 30 days from notice mailing date)
• ✓TCAD protest deadline: May 15, 2026 (or 30 days from notice mailing date)
• ✓WCAD address: 625 FM 1460, Georgetown, TX 78626
• ✓TCAD address: 850 E. Anderson Lane, Austin, TX 78752
• ✓TaxAppeal files certified mail protests in both counties

Which County Has More Protest Opportunity in 2026?

Both counties present protest opportunities in 2026. Travis County — particularly Austin proper — has seen significant price corrections in certain market segments including condos and urban homes. Williamson County, particularly communities like Leander, Liberty Hill, and newer Georgetown subdivisions, saw the most dramatic appreciation in 2021-2022 and some of the sharpest corrections thereafter as inventory surged.

Protesting in Both Counties: $79 Flat for Either

TaxAppeal USA serves all Texas counties — both Williamson and Travis — at the same flat $79 fee. Whether you are in Round Rock (WCAD) or Pflugerville (either TCAD or WCAD depending on exact location), we pull your assessed value, analyze comparable sales, draft your protest letter citing Texas Tax Code §41.41 and §41.43, and file via USPS certified mail with return receipt.

Frequently Asked Questions