The Williamson Central Appraisal District (WCAD) sets the market value of property in Williamson County as of January 1 each year, reviews and grants exemptions, mails notices of appraised value, and handles value protests. WCAD does not set tax rates or collect taxes; the Williamson County Tax Assessor-Collector sends bills and takes payments. WCAD is at 625 FM 1460, Georgetown, TX 78626, phone 512-930-3787, online at wcad.org.
I'm Taylor Ring, a Mortgage Loan Officer with Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation (The Wood Group) in Belton. I'm not affiliated with WCAD. Buyers looking in Georgetown, Round Rock, Cedar Park, and Leander ask me about WCAD more than almost any other office, because property taxes are a big piece of the monthly payment in Williamson County. This guide pulls from wcad.org, Williamson County, and the Texas Comptroller, read October 22, 2026, including the county's 2026 tax statement schedule.
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WCAD and Tax Office Contacts
| Office | Address | Phone | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williamson Central Appraisal District (values, exemptions, protests) | 625 FM 1460, Georgetown, TX 78626 | 512-930-3787 | Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Williamson County Tax Office, Georgetown | 1848 Texas Trail, Georgetown, TX 78626 | 512-943-1601 | Monday 8 am to 5:30 pm; Tuesday to Friday 8 am to 4 pm |
| Williamson County Tax Office, Round Rock | 1801 E Old Settlers Boulevard, Suite 115, Round Rock, TX 78664 | 512-943-1601 | Same as above |
| Williamson County Tax Office, Cedar Park | 350 Discovery Boulevard, Suite 101, Cedar Park, TX 78613 | 512-943-1601 | Same as above |
| Williamson County Tax Office, Taylor | 412 Vance Street, Suite 1, Taylor, TX 76574 | 512-943-1601 | Same as above |
The tax office takes property tax questions at propertytax@wilcotx.gov. WCAD's contact page links separate online forms for ownership changes, mailing address updates, mapping issues, public information requests, and protest withdrawals or reschedules. Sources: WCAD contact page, the Williamson County Tax Office, and the Comptroller's Williamson County directory, all checked October 22, 2026.
Near the county line? Round Rock sits mostly in Williamson County, with a small area in Travis County along IH 35. A home in that part is appraised by the Travis Central Appraisal District, not WCAD. My Round Rock buyer page covers that split.
What WCAD Does, and What It Doesn't
The county tax office spells out the split. WCAD handles:
- Deciding which property is taxable, what it's worth, and who owns it
- Reviewing and granting exemptions
- Address and ownership changes
- Mailing Notices of Appraised Value
- Value protests
The tax office handles: bills and payments for the county and the other taxing units it collects for. It says it is "not responsible for the setting of tax rates or determining property values." The county also notes WCAD is a separate local agency, not part of county government.
Who sets rates: each taxing unit, such as the county, your city (Georgetown, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, and others), your school district, and any special district. The county says tax rate hearings are "typically held in August and September."
The Tax Formula
Williamson County publishes it plainly: property tax = tax rate x taxable value / 100. Taxable value is appraised value minus the exemptions each unit grants, so your school district line and your city line can show different taxable values.
How to Look Up a Property on WCAD
- Go to wcad.org and use the Property Search box at the top of the page, or open the Map to search and select properties on a parcel map.
- Open the property to see values, exemptions, and taxing units. WCAD says a copy of the owner's appraisal notice is in the search details.
- Under More Resources on the listing, the Exemption Status Look Up link shows whether a submitted application is still pending.
For questions the search doesn't answer, WCAD's home page links a help center where you can search its knowledge base or submit a support ticket.
What to Check Before You Buy
- The seller's taxes aren't yours. WCAD explains a homestead qualifies for the homestead cap in the second full year the exemption has been on the property for the same owner, and the cap does not transfer with ownership. A long-held home's capped value can sit well below market value.
- Over-65 and disability exemptions belong to the owner. If the seller has them, the bill you see is lower than yours will be.
- New construction: WCAD values property as of January 1 and inspects new homes during on-site inspections. If a house wasn't finished on January 1, the current-year value may not reflect the finished home, and the next year's will.
- Look at the school district. Round Rock ISD, for example, crosses into Travis County and parts of Cedar Park and Austin, according to the city. Confirm the district for any address.
Filing Your Homestead Exemption With WCAD
WCAD's online form is the quickest route. Find your property in the search box and click the HS Exemption link. The online application covers the general residence homestead, over-65, 100% disabled veteran, and disabled person exemptions.
What WCAD says to know:
- No fee, no annual reapplying. File once. You'd reapply only if you move, add another exemption (such as over-65), or the chief appraiser asks by mail. WCAD notes the chief appraiser must review each homestead exemption at least once every five tax years under Tax Code Section 11.43(h-1).
- Texas ID with your current address. You need a Texas driver's license or ID card showing your current physical address.
- Lowercase file extensions. Attachments need a lowercase extension, such as driverlicense.jpg instead of driverlicense.JPG.
- Bought during the year? For homes purchased on or after January 1, 2022, WCAD says a new owner may qualify for the applicable portion of the tax year once they own and occupy the home, if the previous owner didn't receive the exemption that year.
- Missed a year? File one application and enter the first year you believe you qualified; WCAD applies it to all qualifying years. Comptroller Form 50-114 allows late residence homestead applications up to two years after the filing deadline.
- Be patient. WCAD says processing can take up to 90 days under Section 11.45 and asks owners to wait at least 90 days before calling. Duplicate applications don't speed it up.
What it's worth: Tax Code Section 11.13(b) requires every school district to give a $140,000 homestead exemption, and owners 65 or older or disabled get another $60,000 from school taxes. Cities and the county can add local exemptions. For the steps and paperwork, see how to file a homestead exemption in Texas, the over-65 homestead exemption guide, and the disabled veteran property tax exemption guide.
The Homestead Cap in Williamson County
- The cap limits existing assessed value increases to 10% per year, no matter how much market value rises.
- New value from a remodel or addition is assessed at full market value the first year, then folded into the capped value the next year.
- It starts in the second full year the exemption is on the property for the same owner.
Protesting Your WCAD Value
Deadline
WCAD's usual deadline: on or before May 15, or 30 days after the Notice of Appraised Value was mailed, 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.
Late protests: WCAD says a late protest may be allowed for good cause, meaning a reason beyond your control, and it's due before the ARB approves the records. If you believe a required notice was never mailed, WCAD says you may protest until the day before taxes become delinquent (usually February 1) or no later than the 125th day after you received a tax bill, and the ARB decides whether to hear it.
How to File
- Online: if your notice shows an Online Passcode and watermark, search for your property on wcad.org and click the protest icon.
- By mail: send the notice of protest that comes with your appraisal notice, or Comptroller Form 50-132. The Comptroller says a written protest that identifies the owner, the property, and what you disagree with is enough.
Evidence and Sales Data
WCAD's "Common Misconceptions" page makes two points buyers should know:
- Sales prices aren't public. State law (Government Code Section 552.149) bars appraisal districts from releasing sales information except to the owner or agent as evidence for a protest. WCAD says any sales evidence you provide helps it value property correctly, and it runs a voluntary Sales Survey.
- Pay on time anyway. A protest doesn't stop the clock. WCAD says a pending late protest does not change the delinquency date, and the Comptroller explains that a court appeal generally requires paying the undisputed amount before the delinquency date.
The Comptroller lists helpful evidence: photos of your home and comparables, repair estimates, and sales price documentation such as listings and closing statements. If you bought recently, your closing statement is useful evidence.
The Williamson County ARB
The Appraisal Review Board is a group of citizens independent from WCAD that hears formal protests. Its page on wcad.org offers forms to reschedule a hearing, request a late protest, and request a telephone or virtual hearing. If you disagree with the ARB's order, the Comptroller explains you can go to district court within 60 days or request regular binding arbitration (available for any residence homestead), also within 60 days.
WCAD also notes the appraisal roll is typically certified to taxing units by July 25, and after that, changes become very limited. Don't wait for the bill to raise a value problem.
2026 Williamson County Tax Bills: What's Different This Year
From the county's October 13, 2026 news release:
- 2026 tax statements are being mailed the week of October 19.
- About 130,000 properties will get bills later. Coupland ISD, Florence ISD, Georgetown ISD, Leander ISD, and Round Rock ISD must have their adopted tax rates approved by voters in the November election, so statements for those properties will be mailed after the November 3 tax rate election results are final.
- Due on receipt. Pay in full on or before Sunday, January 31, 2027. The delinquency date is Monday, February 1, 2027, when a 7% penalty and interest are added.
- Ways to pay: drop boxes at all tax office locations, and drive-thru service in Cedar Park, Georgetown, and Round Rock.
- Escrowed owners can view billing through the county's Search My Property system.
- Quarter payments: owners with an over-65, disabled, or disabled veteran homestead can pay in four installments due January 31, March 31, May 31, and July 31.
Closing this fall? The standard Texas resale contract (TREC 20-19, paragraph 13) prorates current-year taxes through the closing date and has the parties adjust when the actual statements come out. If you close on a Georgetown, Leander, or Round Rock ISD home before those statements are mailed, expect the proration to be an estimate. If taxes aren't paid at or before closing, the contract makes the buyer responsible for current-year taxes. Ask your title company how it's handling it.
How WCAD Values Reach Your Monthly Payment
Most buyers pay taxes through escrow. The CFPB explains that when taxes change, your escrow payment changes too. Under 12 CFR 1024.17, a servicer can collect one-twelfth of estimated annual taxes and insurance each month, hold a cushion of up to two months, and spread a shortage of one month or more over at least 12 months.
Hypothetical example: A buyer purchases a Cedar Park home from an owner who had held it for years. The seller's capped value meant a 2026 bill of about $6,000. The buyer's first escrow analysis after a full year uses the home's full market value, and the estimate rises to about $9,000 a year. That $3,000 gap works out to $250 a month, and if it shows up as a shortage the servicer can spread it over 12 months on top of the higher ongoing payment. Round illustrative numbers, not actual Williamson County taxes.
How to avoid surprises:
- Ask for a tax estimate on full market value with your own exemptions, not the seller's bill. I use that approach in how much house can I afford in Texas.
- File your homestead exemption online as soon as you qualify.
- Watch for your notice each spring and protest by the deadline if the value is off.
- Budget for the initial escrow deposit; see closing costs in Texas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Williamson Central Appraisal District?
The Williamson Central Appraisal District, or WCAD, values property in Williamson County as of January 1, reviews and grants exemptions, mails notices of appraised value, and handles protests. It does not set tax rates or collect taxes. WCAD is at 625 FM 1460 in Georgetown, phone 512-930-3787.
How do I file a homestead exemption with WCAD?
Find your property in the search box on wcad.org and click the HS Exemption link. There is no fee and no need to reapply every year. You need a Texas driver's license or ID card showing your current address, and attachments need lowercase file extensions. WCAD says processing can take up to 90 days.
When is the WCAD protest deadline?
The usual deadline is on or before May 15 or 30 days after the Notice of Appraised Value was mailed, whichever is later. If your notice shows an Online Passcode, you can file online at wcad.org. Late protests may be allowed for good cause if filed before the Appraisal Review Board approves the records.
When are Williamson County property taxes due?
Williamson County says 2026 taxes are due on receipt and must be paid in full by January 31, 2027, with a 7% penalty and interest added on February 1, 2027. Statements for about 130,000 properties in Coupland, Florence, Georgetown, Leander, and Round Rock ISDs will be mailed after the November 3 tax rate election results are final.
Does the homestead cap transfer when I buy a home in Williamson County?
No. WCAD says the homestead cap does not transfer with ownership. A new owner's home qualifies for the cap in the second full year the homestead exemption has been on the property for that owner, and the cap then limits increases in existing assessed value to 10% per year.
Shopping in Georgetown, Round Rock, Cedar Park, or Leander?
I'll build your payment on a realistic tax estimate for the address you're considering, so the first escrow review doesn't change your budget.
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Related Guides
- Buying a Home in Round Rock, TX
- Buying a Home in Cedar Park, TX
- Buying a Home in Leander, TX
- How to File a Homestead Exemption in Texas
- Texas Homestead Exemption Over 65
- Bell County Appraisal District Guide
Sources
- Williamson Central Appraisal District: home page, contact, online exemption information, things to know before filing a homestead exemption, online protest filing, common misconceptions, Williamson County ARB, and residential appraisal
- Williamson County: Tax Office, Property Tax, and the October 13, 2026 tax statement news release
- Texas Comptroller: Williamson County directory, Appraisal Protests and Appeals, Property Tax Exemptions, Form 50-114, and Form 50-132
- Texas Real Estate Commission: One to Four Family Residential Contract (Resale), TREC 20-19
- 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 Williamson Central Appraisal District, the Williamson County Appraisal Review Board, the Williamson County Tax Assessor-Collector, the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, or any government agency. Contact WCAD directly for official values, deadlines, and exemption decisions.