The McLennan County Appraisal District, officially the McLennan Central Appraisal District (MCAD), sets the market value of property in McLennan County as of January 1 each year, processes homestead and other exemptions, and supports the protest process. MCAD does not set tax rates or collect taxes; the McLennan County Tax Office collects them. MCAD's office is at 315 S. 26th Street, Waco, TX 76710, phone 254-752-9864, online at mclennancad.org.
I'm Taylor Ring, a Mortgage Loan Officer with Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation (The Wood Group) in Belton. I'm not affiliated with MCAD. Buyers looking at homes in Waco, Hewitt, Woodway, Robinson, and the rest of McLennan County ask me about the district because its values drive the tax part of their monthly payment. You'll see it called both the McLennan County Appraisal District and the McLennan Central Appraisal District; they're the same office. Everything below comes from mclennancad.org, McLennan County, and the Texas Comptroller, read October 22, 2026.
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MCAD Office, Phone, and Hours
| Office | Address | Phone | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| McLennan Central Appraisal District (values, exemptions, protests) | 315 S. 26th Street, Waco, TX 76710 | 254-752-9864 | Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| McLennan County Tax Office (tax bills and payments) | 215 N. 5th Street, Suite 118, Waco, TX 76701 | 254-757-5130 | Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
Useful MCAD email addresses (from MCAD's contact page):
- General questions and open records: mcadmail@mclennancad.org
- Property Owner Assistance: cust@mclennancad.org
- Online protest (E-File team): efileteam@mclennancad.org
- Taxpayer Liaison Officer: tlo@mclennancad.org
The tax office's mailing address is P.O. Box 406, Waco, TX 76703. Sources: MCAD contact page, the McLennan County Tax Office, and the Comptroller's McLennan County directory, all checked October 22, 2026. MCAD posts a holiday schedule; for the rest of 2026 it lists closures on November 11, November 26 and 27, the morning of December 2, and December 24 and 25.
What MCAD Does, and What It Doesn't
MCAD's General FAQ lays out the three parts of the Texas property tax system: the appraisal district sets values, the Appraisal Review Board (ARB) settles disagreements, and local taxing units decide how much they'll spend.
What MCAD does:
- Values property as of January 1. MCAD says its appraisers use comparable sales, income, and cost data with generally accepted appraisal techniques.
- Processes exemptions, including the general residence homestead, age 65 or older, disabled person, and disabled veteran exemptions.
- Mails notices of appraised value and runs the online protest portal.
- Appraises for every local taxing unit. That includes McLennan County, McLennan Community College, the City of Waco and the other cities (such as Hewitt, Woodway, Robinson, Lorena, Bellmead, and McGregor), and school districts such as Waco ISD, Midway ISD, China Spring ISD, Robinson ISD, and Lorena ISD. MCAD's Entities page has the full list.
What MCAD doesn't do:
- Set tax rates. The governing body of each taxing unit (city council, school board, commissioners court) sets its own rate.
- Collect taxes or quote your bill. MCAD's FAQ is direct about it: the district "does not levy taxes, set the tax rate, or collect any taxes" and points owners to the McLennan County Tax Office at 254-757-5130.
- Tax on a percentage. MCAD notes that taxes are based on 100% of market value, before exemptions.
How a Tax Bill Is Figured
The math is: taxable value x tax rate / 100 = tax for that unit. Taxable value is your appraised value minus the exemptions that unit grants. You get one line for each taxing unit, so a Waco ISD home pays county, city, college, and school district taxes, plus any special district.
How to Look Up a Property's Value on MCAD
- Go to mclennancad.org and choose Property Search (or Map Search for the interactive map).
- Search by owner name, property address, account number, or doing business as (DBA).
- Open the account to see values, exemptions, and taxing units.
MCAD's search tips: skip suffixes such as St, Dr, Ln, Ave, Rd, and Cv; enter fewer words if you can't find a property; and use "%" as a wildcard (for example, "100%" brings up street numbers starting with 100). MCAD also cautions that current-year information is a "work in progress," and prior-year data may not match the values certified to the tax office.
Market Value vs. Appraised Value on a Homestead
- Market value is what the property would sell for on January 1.
- Appraised value on a homestead is capped. Under Tax Code Section 23.23, it can't rise more than 10% a year, plus the value of new improvements, until it catches up to market value. MCAD's FAQ describes the same "homestead cap value."
What to Check on a Listing's MCAD Record
- Don't budget on the seller's bill. The Comptroller explains the cap expires January 1 of the year after the owner stops qualifying, and a new owner's cap takes effect January 1 of the year after they qualify. A long-held home's capped value can sit well below market value.
- Exemptions and freezes belong to the owner. If the seller is 65 or older, MCAD explains their school taxes are frozen at a ceiling. That ceiling, and the over-65 exemption, don't pass to you.
- Look at the taxing units. Two homes a few miles apart can sit in different cities or school districts with different rates.
- Tell MCAD about your sale if you want to. MCAD's E-Services page has a voluntary Sales Survey that asks owners about recent property sales.
Filing Your Homestead Exemption in McLennan County
- Where: MCAD's homepage says you can file your homestead exemption online through its Public Portal (E-Services). Paper forms, including Comptroller Form 50-114, are on MCAD's Forms page, or you can pick one up at the office.
- What you need: Form 50-114 asks for a copy of your Texas driver's license or state ID, and the address generally needs to match the home.
- When: generally January 1 through April 30 of the tax year. Form 50-114 allows a late application for a residence homestead, including age 65 or older or disabled, up to two years after the filing deadline.
- Once is enough. MCAD says only a one-time application is required unless the chief appraiser asks you to reapply. You do file again when you move to a new homestead.
- Bought after January 1? The Comptroller explains that a new owner can receive the general homestead exemption for the applicable part of that year right away, if the previous owner didn't receive the same exemption.
What it's worth: Tax Code Section 11.13(b) requires every school district to give a $140,000 homestead exemption, and Section 11.13(c) adds $60,000 for homeowners 65 or older or disabled. The county, cities, and college may add local exemptions. MCAD's FAQ also notes a homestead can include up to 20 acres used for residential purposes, and that the over-65 exemption is applied automatically if MCAD already has your Texas driver's license or ID on file.
Step-by-step help: how to file a homestead exemption in Texas, the Texas homestead exemption over 65, and the Texas disabled veteran property tax exemption.
How to Protest Your McLennan County Appraisal
The Deadline
MCAD's FAQ gives the usual deadline: May 15, or 30 days after the Notice of Appraised Value was sent, whichever is later. For a residence homestead, Tax Code Section 25.19 calls for the notice by April 1, or as soon as practical after that. MCAD adds that you can still protest even if no notice was generated for your property.
Three Ways to File
- Online: log in to MCAD's Public Portal. New users create an account with the owner ID and PIN from the appraisal notice. If you don't have the notice, MCAD's online guide says to request a PIN with your email and owner ID, or call 254-752-9864.
- By mail or email: MCAD's E-Services page offers a "Protest by Mail" email template to the E-File team.
- On paper: use Comptroller Form 50-132, Property Owner's Notice of Protest. MCAD says a plain letter also works if it gives the owner's name, identifies the property, and states the reason for the protest.
Informal Meeting, Then the ARB
If you file online, MCAD's E-File guide says you'll get emails when you file, if the district makes an offer, when it uploads its evidence, and when your hearing is scheduled, and you can upload your own evidence in the portal. MCAD's FAQ says most value issues can be resolved by talking with one of its staff appraisers, and suggests making an appointment because appraisers may be in the field. You can't change your opinion of value inside the portal, but you can change it at an informal meeting or before the ARB. If you don't settle, your protest goes to the McLennan County Appraisal Review Board, a panel of private citizens.
A caution from MCAD's online guide: don't withdraw a protest planning to refile. Once withdrawn, you'd need a new paper protest before the deadline, and you may lose the right to argue value for that tax year.
Evidence That Helps
MCAD's suggestions include:
- Photos or a builder's statement showing a hidden defect
- A copy of an appraisal from the last 36 months. MCAD notes that if you financed the home, you're entitled to a copy of the appraisal from your lender.
- Sales of similar homes in size, age, location, and construction, as close to January 1 as possible
- Insurance records
The Comptroller adds repair estimates and sales price documentation, such as listings and closing statements. For a recent purchase, your closing documents may be the strongest evidence you have. Keep in mind the ARB decides value; it can't lower a tax rate.
If You Disagree With the ARB
The Comptroller explains you can appeal to district court within 60 days of receiving the ARB's written order, or request regular binding arbitration, which is available for any residence homestead, also within 60 days. Pay the undisputed portion of your taxes before the delinquency date to keep your appeal alive.
McLennan County Property Tax Calendar
| When | What Happens | Source |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Property valued and exemption qualification set | Comptroller |
| January 1 to April 30 | Homestead exemption filing period | Form 50-114 |
| By April 1 | Notices of appraised value for residence homesteads | Tax Code 25.19 |
| May 15 (or 30 days after notice) | Usual protest deadline | MCAD, Comptroller |
| After you file | Informal meeting, then ARB hearing if needed | MCAD |
| When the bill arrives (usually fall) | Taxes are due on receipt | McLennan County Tax Office |
| January 31 | Last day to pay without penalty | McLennan County Tax Office |
| February 1 | Unpaid taxes become delinquent | McLennan County Tax Office |
The tax office notes that if January 31 falls on a weekend, taxes are due the next business day. It accepts online payments by card or e-check through an outside vendor that charges a convenience fee.
How MCAD Values Show Up in Your Payment
Most buyers pay property taxes through an escrow account. The CFPB explains that when your taxes change, your escrow payment and total monthly payment change with them. Under federal escrow rules (12 CFR 1024.17), your servicer can:
- Collect one-twelfth of the estimated annual taxes and insurance each month
- Keep a cushion of up to two months of escrow payments
- Spread a shortage of one month's escrow payment or more over at least 12 months
Hypothetical example: A buyer purchases a Waco home from a longtime owner who was 65 or older. The seller's bill reflected the over-65 exemption and a frozen school tax ceiling, and came to $1,800 a year ($150 a month). The buyer's first escrow estimate is built on the full value with only the general homestead exemption, about $4,800 a year ($400 a month). Budgeting on the seller's bill would have been $250 a month short. Round illustrative numbers, not actual McLennan County taxes.
How to stay ahead of it:
- Ask for a tax estimate based on full market value and your own exemptions. I build that into every estimate; see how much house can I afford in Texas.
- File your homestead exemption as soon as you qualify.
- Read your notice each spring and protest by the deadline if the value is off.
- Know what you'll prepay at closing. My closing costs in Texas guide covers the initial escrow deposit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the McLennan County Appraisal District?
The McLennan County Appraisal District, officially the McLennan Central Appraisal District or MCAD, values property in McLennan County as of January 1, processes exemptions, and handles protests with the Appraisal Review Board. It does not set tax rates or collect taxes. Its office is at 315 S. 26th Street in Waco, phone 254-752-9864.
How do I look up a property's value in McLennan County?
Use Property Search on mclennancad.org. You can search by owner name, property address, account number, or doing business as name, and there is also a Map Search. MCAD suggests leaving off street suffixes and entering fewer words if a property does not come up.
When is the deadline to protest my McLennan County appraisal?
The usual deadline is May 15 or 30 days after the Notice of Appraised Value was sent, whichever is later. You can file online through MCAD's Public Portal using the owner ID and PIN on your notice, by mail or email, or with a letter that names the owner, identifies the property, and gives the reason.
How do I file a homestead exemption in McLennan County?
File online through MCAD's Public Portal or use Comptroller Form 50-114 from MCAD's Forms page. Include a copy of your Texas driver's license or ID showing the home's address. The usual filing period is January 1 through April 30, and late applications are allowed up to two years after the filing deadline.
Who collects property taxes in McLennan County?
The McLennan County Tax Office collects property taxes, not the appraisal district. It is at 215 N. 5th Street, Suite 118, in Waco, phone 254-757-5130. Taxes are due when you receive the bill and become delinquent if not paid before February 1 of the following year.
Planning a Waco-Area Purchase?
I'll estimate your taxes on the home's full value with your own exemptions, so your payment holds up after the first escrow review.
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Related Guides
- Buying a Home in Waco
- How to File a Homestead Exemption in Texas
- Texas Homestead Exemption Over 65
- Texas Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption
- Bell County Appraisal District Guide
- Closing Costs in Texas
Sources
- McLennan Central Appraisal District: home page, contact, property search information, E-Services, entities, and forms, plus MCAD's General FAQ, online protest guide, and 2026 holiday schedule linked from its site
- McLennan County: Tax Office
- Texas Comptroller: McLennan County directory, Appraisal Protests and Appeals, Valuing Property, Property Tax Exemptions, Form 50-114, and Form 50-132
- CFPB escrow accounts and 12 CFR 1024.17
Taylor Ring, NMLS #2809683 | Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, NMLS #2289 | The Wood Group of Fairway, 127 Lake Rd Ste 300, Belton, TX 76513 | Equal Housing Opportunity. This is not a commitment to lend. All loans are subject to credit approval and program guidelines, and approval, rates, and program availability are not guaranteed. This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the McLennan Central Appraisal District, the McLennan County Appraisal Review Board, the McLennan County Tax Office, the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, or any government agency. Contact MCAD directly for official values, deadlines, and exemption decisions.