If you own a home in Van Alstyne, Howe, Anna, or Gunter, your property tax bill should arrive within the next few weeks. If you're thinking about buying or selling, it's worth understanding now, because the tax bill can change what a home really costs each month and what shows up at closing.
(Last updated October 21, 2026. This is general information, not tax or legal advice. Dates and amounts can change, so check your own bill and your county's website.)
Key dates to know
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| October to early November | Bills are mailed. Grayson County says late October or early November, and Collin County says October. They're due upon receipt. |
| January 31 | Last day to pay without penalty or interest. In 2027, January 31 falls on a Sunday. Grayson County moves a weekend deadline to the next business day, but check the date printed on your bill. |
| February onward | Unpaid taxes become delinquent. In Grayson County, penalty and interest start at 7% in February and rise to 18% by July, and a 20% attorney fee applies to unpaid real property accounts starting July 1. |
| Before May 1 | General deadline to apply for a homestead exemption. |
| May 15 (or 30 days after your notice) | Deadline to protest your appraised value. It's generally May 15 or 30 days after the appraisal district's notice, whichever is later. |
Sources: Grayson County Tax Office, Collin County Tax Assessor-Collector, Texas Comptroller. Penalty figures are Grayson County's published schedule.
Which county do you pay?
Our area spans two counties, and the county shown on your bill decides which office you deal with. Properties in Grayson County are handled by the Grayson County Tax Office for payments and the Grayson Central Appraisal District for values and exemptions. Properties in Collin County use the Collin County Tax Assessor-Collector and the Collin Central Appraisal District. Anna sits mainly in Collin County, and parts of Van Alstyne's area fall in each county, so don't assume. Your bill also includes taxes for the school district, the city if you're inside city limits, and sometimes other districts.
If you own your home
Make sure your homestead exemption is on file. According to the Texas Comptroller, school districts offer a $140,000 residence homestead exemption, plus an additional $60,000 for owners who are 65 or older or disabled. The general deadline to apply is before May 1. If you bought this year and haven't applied, now is a good time to check.
Know about the 10% cap. Texas limits the yearly increase in a homestead's taxable value to 10%. The Dallas County Tax Office explains that this limit takes effect one year after you receive the homestead exemption, and that it is removed when the property is sold. The cap helps long-time owners, but it doesn't follow the home to a new owner.
Check your value, and consider a protest. The Comptroller says you generally have until May 15 or 30 days after the appraisal district's notice, whichever is later, to file a protest with the Appraisal Review Board. You can use Form 50-132, or a written notice that identifies the property and says you disagree. Late protests are only heard if you show good cause.
If your mortgage company pays your taxes, send them the bill as soon as it arrives if they haven't already received it. Grayson County also offers quarter payments to homeowners with an over-65 or disability exemption, and to qualified disaster-area owners.
If you're buying
Don't rely on the tax figure in the listing. It often reflects the current owner's exemptions and, in some cases, a capped value. Because the cap is removed when a home sells, a new owner's bill can be higher than the seller's. Ask Kelly to help you estimate taxes based on the likely purchase price and the exemptions you'll qualify for, and look the property up on the appraisal district's website.
Plan to file your own homestead application. Don't assume the seller's exemption carries over. The Comptroller notes that a buyer who acquires a home after January 1 may qualify for the general exemption for the rest of that tax year, once qualified, if the previous owner didn't receive it for that year.
Include taxes in your monthly payment. With rates above 7%, a higher-than-expected tax bill can matter as much as the rate itself. I wrote more about payments in this post on rates and buydowns.
If you're selling
Texas property tax bills don't go out until fall, so a sale earlier in the year is usually closed with the taxes prorated between you and the buyer. According to a Texas title company's explanation, if the current-year bill isn't out yet, the buyer typically receives a credit from the seller for January 1 through closing. If the bill has been issued, the seller pays it and the buyer credits the seller from closing through year-end. How this works for you is set by your contract and your title company, so ask them early so there are no surprises on the closing statement.
It also helps to know that a buyer will look closely at the tax amount. If your homestead exemption or a capped value makes your bill unusually low, it can look different to a buyer once the home changes hands. Being upfront about that can keep an offer from stalling later. If you're deciding whether to list now or wait, you may want to read this post on listing in fall versus spring.
A quick checklist
- Watch your mailbox from late October. If your bill doesn't arrive, you can still look it up and pay online. Not receiving a bill doesn't change the amount owed or the due date.
- Confirm your homestead exemption is on your bill.
- If you pay by card, note the convenience fee. Grayson County lists up to 2.15% for cards and $1.50 for e-checks.
- Mark January 31 and your protest deadline on the calendar.
- Planning a move? Ask for a tax estimate before you make or accept an offer.
Buying or selling and want the real numbers?
I'm glad to help you estimate the full monthly cost of a home, including taxes, or to give you a free pricing review for yours. There's no obligation. (If your home is currently listed with another agent, please review your listing agreement before making changes.)
Kelly Bishop is a full-time real estate agent serving Van Alstyne, Howe, Anna, Gunter, and surrounding communities since 2018, and co-owner and Broker of Record of Rise Realty Texas.
Sources: Grayson County Tax Office FAQ; Collin County Tax Assessor-Collector; Grayson Central Appraisal District; Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (exemptions and protests); Dallas County Tax Office (homestead cap); Independence Title (tax prorations). Viewed October 21, 2026. This is general information, not tax or legal advice.