This page helps you check Property Tax information in McLennan County, Texas, find the right official search tools, review deadlines, and decide whether you need the Tax Office or the McLennan Central Appraisal District.
The main public path runs through the McLennan County Tax Office for tax account lookup and payment, with the McLennan Central Appraisal District handling property values, owner records, and protest filings. This site is independent and does not provide tax, financial, or legal advice or guarantees, so use official resources for final decisions.
McLennan County Tax Office property search
Have your tax account details ready before you start the search.
- Owner name, entered as last name then first name
- Property address, using the format shown by the Tax Office such as 100 N 01
- Account number without dashes
- CAD reference number or Property ID if you have it
- Owner ID if you are searching by the appraisal district owner reference number
Use the county tax search to locate the account first, then move to payment if the account is available online.
- Open the official property tax search.
- Search by owner name, property address, account number, CAD reference number, or owner ID.
- If a name search does not work, try the format with a percent sign between last and first name, such as SMITH%ADAM.
- Review the account result and confirm it matches the property you need.
- Proceed to online payment when the payment option is available for that account.
Important: the Tax Office states that online payments are currently unavailable on the search page at times, so check the account first and use the office contact options below if payment cannot be completed online.
Payment deadlines and charges
The county states that property taxes are due when you receive the bill and become delinquent if they are not paid before February 1 of the following year. If January 31 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the deadline moves to the next regular business day.
The Tax Office also notes that online credit card and e-check payments are handled through an outside payment service.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Online credit card fee | 2.19% convenience fee paid directly to Certified Payments |
| Online e-check fee | $1.50 flat fee paid directly to Certified Payments |
| Delinquency date | Before February 1 of the year after the tax is imposed |
| Late penalty shown for 2025 | 7% in February, 9% in March, 11% in April, 13% in May, 15% in June, and 18% in July |
| Attorney fee | Up to 20%, with some highlighted taxing entities charging 15% |
You can review the county payment page for online payment notes, tax sale information, and office details through the McLennan County Tax Office page.
Appraisal records and protests
If you need value, ownership, or appraisal-side property details, use the McLennan Central Appraisal District instead of the tax collection search. The appraisal district property search shows fields such as year, PropID, Tax Office ID, owner name, property address, legal description, and market value.
You can begin with the MCAD property search to review appraisal information. For owners and agents using online services, MCAD also offers a Public Portal for account access.
MCAD states that owners whose market value increased by at least $1,000 will receive a Notice of Appraised Value each spring. If you disagree with the market value, the protest deadline is May 15 or 30 days after the notice is mailed, whichever is later.
MCAD says protests may be filed by mail, by email, in person at 315 S 26th Street in Waco, or online for most residential properties during the stated filing window. More detail is available on the protest process page.
Tax rates and exemption basics
McLennan County publishes current tax rates for county taxing districts, and the appraisal district provides Truth in Taxation information for estimated taxes and rate adoption updates. These tools are useful when you want to compare current rates or follow annual rate changes for a property.
You can review the county’s published rates on the Tax Rates page and check Truth in Taxation updates through MCAD TNT Information.
For exemptions, Texas notes that applications are filed with the appraisal district in the county where the property is located, and the general deadline for most exemption applications is before May 1. Residence homestead, over-65, disability, and disabled veteran exemptions are among the programs described by the state. You can review statewide exemption guidance on the Texas property tax exemptions page.
Property tax contacts
Use the Tax Office for account lookup, payment, and collection questions. Use MCAD for appraisal records, values, protests, and exemption processing.
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McLennan County Tax Office — 215 N 5th Street Suite 118, Waco, TX 76701
Phone: (254) 757-5130
Research: (254) 757-5133
Collecting: (254) 757-5134
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 406, Waco, TX 76703 -
McLennan Central Appraisal District — 315 S 26th Street, Waco, TX 76710
Phone: (254) 752-9864
Email: mcadmail@mclennancad.org
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Common questions
How do I find my McLennan County property tax account online?
Start with the McLennan County Tax Office search tool. You can search by owner name, property address, account number, CAD reference number, or owner ID. If a name search does not return the record, try the last name and first name format with a percent sign between them.
What should I do if online payment is unavailable?
The tax search page notes that online payments may be unavailable at times. When that happens, confirm the account in the tax search first, then contact the McLennan County Tax Office at (254) 757-5130 or the research line at (254) 757-5133. The county also says questions about the outside payment site should go to the Tax Office.
When do McLennan County property taxes become delinquent?
Taxes are due on receipt of the bill and become delinquent if they are not paid before February 1 of the following year. If January 31 falls on a weekend, the due date moves to the next regular business day. Late penalties increase over the following months, so check your account before paying.
Who handles property value disputes or exemption questions?
The McLennan Central Appraisal District handles appraisal records, market values, protests, and most exemption filings. MCAD says the protest deadline is May 15 or 30 days after the Notice of Appraised Value is mailed, whichever is later. Use the appraisal district when your issue is about value, ownership details, or exemption eligibility rather than tax collection.
Are older McLennan County tax rolls available online?
The county states that tax rolls from 2007 through 2014 are currently unavailable, while tax rolls from 2006 and earlier are available online. If you need records from an unavailable range, contact the Tax Office to confirm the best next step. That can save time before you make a trip or submit a request.