You know that feeling. You walk to the mailbox, see that envelope from the Tarrant County Tax Assessor, and your stomach drops.
It’s stressful.
My wife Shayla and I have been living and working right here in the DFW area for a long time. We raised our two boys here. We’ve been solving real estate problems right here in Texas since 2006, and let me tell you, nothing gets folks more worked up than property taxes. And I don’t blame them.
It feels like you never truly own your home when the property tax bill keeps climbing, right?
But here is the good news. You have options. Whether you are worried about the rising rates, looking for exemptions, or you’ve fallen behind and don’t know how to catch up—take a deep breath. We can figure this out.
2026 Arlington Tax Rates & Deadlines
First off, let’s talk about what you are actually paying. It’s easy to get angry at the “city,” but your tax bill is actually a pie cut into several slices.
Understanding the Property Tax Rate Breakdown
When you look at that bill, you aren’t just paying the City of Arlington. You’re paying Tarrant County. You’re paying the outcome of the Fort Worth tax rate decisions if you’re on the border, but mostly, you are paying the Arlington Independent School District (AISD).
Usually, the school district funding takes the biggest bite.
Then you have Tarrant County College and the Hospital District. As a family-owned business, Four 19 Properties feels the pinch of these rising costs just like you do. We see the valuations go up on our own home and the properties we manage. It’s frustrating when the assessed value goes up, but your paycheck doesn’t.
Understanding who you are paying is the first step. The second step? Knowing when to pay.
Key Deadlines You Can’t Miss
I cannot stress this enough. Mark these dates on your calendar. Put a sticky note on the fridge.
- January 1: This is the date the county decides what your house is worth for the year.
- January 31: This is the big one. Your taxes are due.
If you mail that check on February 1st? You’re late.
That’s when the penalties start nibbling at your budget. It starts small—7% strictly for penalty and interest in February—but it snowballs fast. We hate seeing good folks lose their hard-earned money to late fees. It’s just not right.
Lowering Your Bill: Protests & Exemptions
You work hard for your money. You shouldn’t pay a penny more than you legally have to.
The Homestead & Over-65 Exemptions
If you live in your Texas house, you need the Homestead Exemption. It’s the single best tool property owners have.
Recent changes have bumped the school district exemption up significantly (up to $100,000 in many cases). That is massive savings.
For our seniors, it gets even better. You have a “Tax Ceiling” for school taxes. This means that even if your home value triples, the amount you pay for the school portion shouldn’t go up. We want you to protect what matters most—your home’s equity. If you aren’t sure if you have these in place, check out our guide on property tax exemptions. It takes ten minutes to check, and it could save you thousands.
How to Protest Your Appraisal (May 15 Deadline)
Every year around April, you’ll get a “Notice of Appraised Value.”
Do not throw this assessment notice away.
The county is guessing what your Texas house is worth. Often, they guess high. You have the right to say, “No, that’s wrong.”
Is it worth the hassle? Absolutely.
Protesting protects your family’s finances. You can show them photos of repairs needed—a cracked driveway, an old roof, a fence falling down. These things lower property value. Whether you are worried about Dallas property taxes or sitting right here near I-30 in Arlington, the protest process is your right as a homeowner. Use it.
The “July 1st Cliff”: Penalties for Non-Payment
This is the part that keeps me up at night.
I’ve sat at kitchen tables with families who thought they had more time. They didn’t.
If you miss the January 31st deadline, you pay a penalty. It hurts, but it’s manageable. But July 1st is the date you have to fear.
On July 1st, a collection penalty of up to 20% is added to your total bill. This is for the attorney fees the county pays to come after you.
Think about that. If you owe $5,000, suddenly you owe an extra $1,000 just for the lawyer. That money doesn’t go to schools. It doesn’t go to roads. It’s gone.
Shayla and I hate seeing good folks lose 20% of their equity just because they missed a deadline. Don’t let that happen.
What If You Can’t Pay Your Taxes? (3 Options)
Life happens. Jobs get lost. Medical bills pile up. We get it. If you are staring at that bill and the money just isn’t in the bank, don’t ignore it. It won’t go away.
Here are three paths you can take.
Option 1: Tarrant County Installment Agreements
If you are over 65, disabled, or a disabled veteran, the county has a heart.
You can pay your taxes in four equal installments without paying those nasty penalties. You have to set this up before the delinquency date usually, but it’s a great tool if you qualify. It smooths out the bumps in the road.
Option 2: Tax Deferral (Abatement)
This is a pause button.
If you are over 65 or disabled, you can file an affidavit to stop the lawsuits and the foreclosure. It stops the tax man at the door.
But—and please hear me on this—it is not free money. The taxes still pile up. Interest accrues at 5% to 8% a year. It buys time, but be careful—it eats away at the inheritance you leave your kids.
Option 3: Selling Before Foreclosure
Sometimes, the hole is just too deep. And that’s okay.
Sometimes the best way to protect your family is to cash out and move on. To stop the bleeding.
If you are years behind and the county is threatening to take the house, you can sell your foreclosure situation before it happens. You can sell the house, pay off the taxes at closing, and walk away with the remaining equity in your pocket. It’s a fresh start.
How to Sell a House with Unpaid Taxes in Arlington
If you decide that selling is the best route for your family, we can help.
At Four 19 Properties, we specialize in these tough situations. We aren’t trying to list your house and wait six months. We buy Texas properties directly.
Here is how it works with taxes: You don’t pay them out of pocket.
We handle the mess so you don’t have to. When we buy your house, the title company takes the money for the taxes out of the purchase price, sends it to the county, and gives you the rest.
Shayla and I built this company on a promise. We only do Win-Win deals. If our offer doesn’t help you, we won’t do it. We are here to serve, not just buy.
Whether you are in Arlington, or you need to sell your house in Dallas, or you have family over in Fort Worth dealing with the same thing, we are here.
Real estate is our passion, but helping neighbors is our calling.
If you’re drowning in tax debt, give us a call. We’ll sit down, look at the numbers, and pray over the decision with you if you’d like. No pressure. Just honest help.