Property Tax Consultants Travis Central County Appraisal District

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 149012 Austin, Texas 78714

Physical Address: 8314 Cross Park Austin, Texas 78754

Phone: (512) 834-9317 (512) 835-5371 (fax)

Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday   7:45 AM - 4:45 PM

Travis Central County Appraisal District is a political subdivision of the State of Texas and is responsible for establishing and maintaining accurate property values for all real and business personal property.

The following cities and towns are serviced by the Travis Central Appraisal District:
Anderson Mill, Austin, Barton Creek, Bee Cave, Briarcliff, Creedmoor, Garfield, Hudson Bend, Jollyville, Jonestown, Lago Vista, Lakeway, Lost Creek, Manor, Onion Creek, Pflugerville, Point Venture, Rollingwood, San Leanna, Shady Hollow, Sunset Valley, The Hills, Volente, Webberville, Wells Branch, West Lake Hills, and Windemere. Appraisal districts are assigned the task of locating and accurately valuing all taxable property within the county. Personal property not used for the production of income is not taxable. However, real property, business personal property and mineral interests are taxable unless they are subject to an exemption. For example, real estate owned by the government is typically exempt from taxation.

The Appraisal District is governed by a board of directors appointed by the taxing entities participating in the Appraisal District.

Appraisal District Board of Directors:

Tom Granger (Chairman)	Lon Brooks	Dennis Jones
Kristoffer Lands	Richard Lavine	Nash Martinez
Eleanor Powell	Nelda Spears	June Kunkel
Blanca Zamor-Garcia

The Appraisal District Board of Directors Role, in the Property Tax System, is to hire the chief appraiser, set the budget, and appoint the appraisal review board members. The board of directors has no authority when it comes to setting the values or any being involved in any of the appraisal methods utilized by the chief appraiser. The chief appraiser?s responsibility is to carry out the appraisal district?s legal duties, hire staff members, property appraisals, and manage the appraisal office.

Chief Appraiser:
Art Cory

The Travis Central Appraisal District and the ARB are two different entities.  The ARB’s function is to hear and resolve taxpayer protests, determine challenges from the taxing units, make determinations regarding exemptions, and correction motions. The ARB must review and approve the appraisal records after hearing a protest. The appraisal review board has no role in the day-to-day operations of the appraisal district. However, in resolving protests and/or challenges, the ARB can order the Chief appraiser to change a value or correct the records. In resolving the taxpayer protests, the ARB can make changes or set a value to the property in question.  After reviewing evidence from the taxpayer and the chief appraiser the ARB will make a decision.

Glossary of Travis County Property Tax Terms

The property tax value Austin Texas residents receive in their assessment can be very confusing. If you’re overwhelmed by your Travis Appraisal District property tax documents, consider hiring a professional tax consultant to review valuation paperwork and ensure you’re being taxed fairly. In addition enlisting the help of a professional, it may be helpful to review the guide below, which includes the definitions of common property tax terms.

• Real property: In addition to the physical building and land that houses your business, real property also includes anything that is part of the land and is essentially “immovable.” Examples include sheds, barns, storage units, large outdoor machinery, etc.
• Personal property: This type of property includes “movable” equipment, inventory and assets used to generate business income. Personal property items are usually kept within your place of business and taken with you when you move or sell your property.
• Millage rate: Local taxing authorities set the millage rate for commercial property taxes. One mil equals $1 of every $1000 in property, so if the millage rate is 30, you’re tax rate is $30 per $1000 of property.
• Assessment Value: After using fair market values or assessment ratios to determine the value of your property, the taxing authority will provide you with a commercial property value. By multiplying property value by the current millage rate, they’ll determine the total taxes owed on your property.
• Reassessment: As time passes and market conditions change, taxing authorities reassess the value of residential and commercial properties. This process ensures that taxpayers are being taxed “equally and uniformly,” as stated in the Texas Constitution.
• Delinquent taxes: If you’re unable to pay Travis County property tax, you may are considered “delinquent” and will be assessed late fees and penalties. A lien may also be placed on your property until back taxes and penalties are paid in full.

If you disagree with the property value indicated in your assessment notice, remember that you have the right to appeal through the Travis Appraisal District. In the meantime, however, you’ll be required to pay all outstanding taxes. Once the appeal is resolved, you’ll receive a refund if you’ve overpaid your Travis County property tax. For additional property tax help or to find out more about appealing your real estate tax documents, call a professional Travis County tax consultant today.