Kaufman County
Property Tax Protest
98.5% Client Success Rate and $1,282 Average Savings, Serving Forney, Terrell, Kaufman & all of Kaufman County
Protest Deadline: May 15, 2026If you own a home in Kaufman County, your property tax bill is almost certainly higher than it needs to be. With median home values near $310,000 and an average tax rate of 1.85%, the average Kaufman County homeowner pays roughly $5,700 per year in property taxes. Even a modest $30,000 overvaluation costs you $555 every year, and that overpayment compounds each year you don’t challenge it.
Resolute serves Kaufman County and in 2025 delivered a 98.5% success rate with average savings of $1,282 per client. Those aren’t projections, those are actual results from actual homeowners.
Meet Your North Texas Team
Kaufman County is the next Rockwall, that’s the story I hear from developers and residents alike. Forney has been one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas for years now, and the valuation pressure that comes with that growth is real. Kaufman CAD is trying to keep pace, but mass appraisal in a rapidly transforming market means a lot of homeowners are getting assessed on comps that don’t reflect reality. That’s our opportunity.
Colby leads Resolute’s North Texas residential team with 6 years of property tax experience and backgrounds in real estate analysis, mortgage lending, and property management. He’s backed by David Myre (15 years in property tax, 20 years as a licensed real estate agent), Matt Heaton (10 years as a residential appraiser at Dallas CAD), and Ryan Kinler (17 years at Dallas CAD). Their combined expertise gives Kaufman County homeowners access to the same caliber of representation that serves Dallas and Collin County clients.
What Kaufman Central Appraisal District Gets Wrong
Kaufman CAD uses mass appraisal models to value every property in the county. These models are designed for efficiency, not accuracy at the individual property level. Here’s where they consistently fall short:
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Forney’s rapid transformation Forney has grown from a small town to a major Dallas suburb in under a decade. Kaufman CAD’s models apply appreciation rates across rapidly changing neighborhoods where older homes, new construction, and transitional properties all exist side by side, creating valuation inconsistencies that we exploit in virtually every protest.
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Builder incentive inflation New construction in Forney, Terrell, and Heath-adjacent communities carries significant builder incentives including rate buydowns, free upgrades, and closing cost contributions that inflate the reported sale price well above actual market value. The CAD uses these sales as comparables without backing out the incentive value.
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Distance from DFW core Kaufman County properties trade at a meaningful discount to comparable square footage closer to Dallas. The CAD’s models sometimes apply appreciation rates calibrated to the broader DFW market without fully reflecting the distance penalty that real buyers apply to Kaufman County locations.
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Rural acreage complexity Kaufman County still has significant rural and semi-rural properties. As agricultural land converts to residential, valuation methodology shifts dramatically. Properties in transition between ag and residential use are frequently overvalued by the district.
Kaufman County is interesting because it’s caught between two growth waves. Forney’s first wave of growth is maturing and values are leveling off, while areas closer to Terrell and the county’s eastern edge are just beginning their growth surge.
The CAD is applying one set of assumptions across a market that’s actually in two very different phases. That disconnect is where we find our best cases.
– Colby Riggs, North Texas Residential Lead at ResoluteLet Colby’s Team Handle Your Kaufman County Protest
98.5% success rate. $1,282 average savings. Real people who know your market.
No upfront fees • Only pay if you save
Why Resolute, We’re Not an Algorithm
Kaufman County is underserved by protest firms relative to its growth rate. Most major firms focus resources on Dallas, Tarrant, and Collin, leaving Kaufman County homeowners without access to top-tier representation. Resolute brings full North Texas expertise to every Kaufman County protest.
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We analyze your property individually using proprietary data and technology. Our agents build a case specific to your home and your neighborhood. No mass-processing. No cookie-cutter approaches.
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We file all the paperwork with Kaufman CAD and schedule your hearing. You don’t touch a single form.
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We show up for you meeting with the district on your behalf, presenting your case, and fighting for the highest reduction possible. Informal review, ARB hearing, and beyond.
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You only pay if we save you money. No reduction, no fee. That’s our promise.
Kaufman County Property Tax Rates (2025)
Kaufman County property taxes are calculated by multiplying your property’s taxable value by the combined rate of all applicable taxing entities. Every property in Kaufman County is subject to at least three taxing entities: Kaufman County, a school district, and the city or municipality where you reside. Properties in Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs), which are extremely common in Forney’s newer developments, carry additional assessments that can add $0.35 to $1.00 or more per $100 to your total rate, pushing total bills well above the county baseline.
| Taxing Entity | 2025 Rate (per $100) |
|---|---|
| Kaufman County | $0.2777 |
| City of Forney | ~$0.4250 |
| City of Terrell | $0.7642 |
| City of Kaufman | ~$0.5500 |
| Forney ISD | $1.2869 |
| Kaufman ISD | $1.2552 |
| Crandall ISD | $1.1992 |
| MUD assessments (where applicable) | $0.35 to $1.00+ (varies) |
A typical Forney homeowner in Forney ISD pays a combined rate of roughly 1.85% to 2.00% of taxable value before MUD assessments. Homeowners in MUD-served developments, which is a significant portion of Forney’s newer subdivisions, can face total rates exceeding 2.30%. Terrell homeowners face higher city rates than Forney residents. View official Kaufman County tax information here.
How Kaufman CAD Calculates Your Assessed Value
The Kaufman Central Appraisal District (Kaufman CAD) appraises all taxable property in Kaufman County using a mass appraisal process. Rather than inspecting each property individually, Kaufman CAD uses statistical models to value all properties simultaneously based on comparable sales, property characteristics, and neighborhood data. Your assessed value is intended to reflect the market value of your property as of January 1 of each tax year.
Two values matter on your notice: market value and assessed value. For homesteaded properties, Texas law caps the increase in assessed value at 10% per year regardless of how much market value rises. Non-homesteaded properties, including investment and rental properties, carry no such cap and can be reassessed at full market value each year. With every major Kaufman County ISD carrying the maximum $0.50 per $100 debt service rate, the effective bill can be surprisingly high even on a modestly valued home.
Because Kaufman CAD is applying mass appraisal models across a rapidly transforming market, where older rural properties, maturing first-wave suburban developments in Forney, and brand-new construction near Terrell all coexist, the models introduce errors at the individual level. Homes in transitional neighborhoods, properties losing agricultural exemptions, and new construction with builder incentives are all especially prone to overvaluation.
Why Kaufman County Assessments Keep Rising
Kaufman County, and Forney in particular, has been among the fastest-growing communities in Texas for several years. Proximity to Dallas, relatively affordable land, and a wave of master-planned residential development have driven sustained value appreciation. While Kaufman County has actually reduced its county-level tax rate by roughly 20% since 2020 as the tax base has grown, rising appraised values have more than offset those rate reductions for most homeowners.
For homesteaded properties, the 10% annual cap provides some protection but does not prevent creeping increases year over year. For newer properties that have not yet established homestead status, and for investment properties with no cap at all, the exposure is considerably greater. Protesting annually is the most reliable way to ensure your assessed value reflects the actual market, particularly as Forney’s first-wave growth matures and values begin leveling off in some neighborhoods.
How to Pay Your Kaufman County Property Taxes
Kaufman County property tax bills are mailed in October each year and are due by January 31 of the following year without penalty. The Kaufman County Tax Assessor-Collector administers tax collection for Kaufman County and all taxing jurisdictions within the county at 100 N. Washington St., Kaufman, TX 75142. Payments can be made in the following ways:
- Online: Pay through the Kaufman County Tax Office portal at kaufmancounty.net using a credit card, debit card, or eCheck.
- By mail: Send a check payable to the Kaufman County Tax Assessor-Collector to the address on your tax statement.
- In person: Visit the Kaufman County Tax Office at 100 N. Washington St., Kaufman, TX 75142. Bring your tax statement or property account number.
- Payment plans: Qualifying homesteaded properties may be eligible for installment payment options. Contact the Tax Assessor-Collector’s office at 469-376-4596 for details.
Taxes not paid by January 31 accrue penalty and interest beginning February 1. Delinquent accounts referred to a collection attorney by July 1 will incur additional fees. If you are waiting on the outcome of a protest, you are still responsible for paying your taxes on time to avoid penalties. Any overpayment resulting from a successful protest will be refunded.
Kaufman County 2026 Protest Calendar
| Date | What Happens |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Valuation date, your property’s value is assessed as of this date |
| ~April 15, 2026 | Kaufman CAD expected to mail Notice of Appraised Value |
| April 30, 2026 | Deadline to file homestead exemption for 2026 |
| May 15, 2026 | Protest filing deadline (or 30 days after notice, whichever is later) |
| June – Sept 2026 | Informal reviews and ARB hearings (Resolute attends for you) |
Don’t Forget Your Exemptions
Exemptions and protests work together. Make sure you’ve filed for everything you qualify for:
General Homestead
$140,000 off school district taxes (new for 2026). File by April 30.
Over-65 / Disabled
Additional $60,000 off school taxes, plus a tax ceiling (freeze) on school district taxes.
Disabled Veteran
Partial or full exemption based on disability rating. 100% disabled veterans pay zero property tax.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the Kaufman County property tax protest deadline for 2026?The Kaufman County property tax protest deadline for 2026 is May 15, 2026, or 30 days after Kaufman CAD mails your Notice of Appraised Value, whichever is later. Kaufman CAD typically mails notices in April.
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How much does Resolute charge to protest in Kaufman County?Resolute works on a contingency basis. You pay nothing upfront, and no fee at all unless we reduce your property tax bill. Our commission is a percentage of the actual savings we secure. If we don’t get a reduction, you owe nothing.
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Is there any risk in protesting my Kaufman County property taxes?No. There is no risk to protesting your Kaufman County property taxes. If Kaufman CAD does not grant a reduction, your appraisal simply remains at its current value. Your property value cannot increase as a result of filing a protest.