What Are Property Taxes Like in Boerne Texas?

Property taxes are one of the most common questions buyers ask before purchasing in the Boerne area — and one of the most important things to understand before you make an offer on any Kendall County home. Here is an honest breakdown.

How Texas Property Taxes Work in Kendall County

Texas has no state income tax, and local services are funded primarily through property taxes. In Kendall County, your annual property tax bill is the product of your home's appraised value multiplied by the combined rate from multiple taxing entities: Boerne ISD (the largest component for most homeowners), Kendall County, and any applicable city or special district rates. According to propertytaxrates.org, combined tax rates for Texas residential property commonly range from 1.8% to 2.5% of market value. On a $500,000 Boerne home, that translates to an estimated annual property tax bill of approximately $9,000 to $12,500 before any exemptions.

The Homestead Exemption: Your Most Important Tool

Texas voters approved Proposition 13 in November 2025, raising the general school district homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000 in taxable value — applied retroactively to 2025 tax bills. This means that if your Boerne home is appraised at $500,000 and you have your homestead exemption in place, you pay school district taxes as if the home were worth only $360,000. The savings are substantial and compound meaningfully over time. For homeowners 65 or older or with a disability, the total combined school district exemption reaches $200,000, producing average savings of $900 or more per year per data from Ownwell.

Applying for the homestead exemption in Kendall County requires filing Form 50-114 with the Kendall County Appraisal District by April 30 of the tax year. Your Texas Driver's License must show the property address. The application is free and only needs to be filed once — the exemption stays in place until you sell or move. Late applications are accepted for up to two prior tax years.

The Homestead Cap

In addition to the exemption, the homestead designation provides a statutory appraisal cap. Under Texas Tax Code Section 23.23, the appraised value of a homesteaded property cannot increase by more than 10% per year, regardless of what the actual market value does. In a market like Boerne where home values have appreciated significantly over the past decade, this cap has provided meaningful long-term tax savings for established homeowners.

What to Ask Before You Make an Offer

Before making an offer on any Boerne or Kendall County property, buyers should request an estimate of the property's current and projected annual property taxes. This should include: the current appraised value on file with the Kendall County Appraisal District; the combined local tax rate for all applicable entities; the current homestead exemption status of the property; and an estimate of what your taxes will look like after purchasing, including whether you will be eligible to apply for the homestead exemption in the first year. Your agent and title company can help walk you through this analysis before you sign anything.

Agricultural Exemptions on Acreage Properties

For buyers purchasing acreage in Kendall County, an agricultural exemption — also called an "ag exemption" in Texas — can dramatically reduce the property tax burden by shifting the valuation from market value to productivity value for land in qualifying agricultural use. Texas Farm Credit describes this as one of the most significant property tax tools available to rural Texas landowners. Buyers considering acreage purchases in the Boerne or Kendall County area should ask their agent specifically about current ag exemption status and the requirements to maintain it after purchase.

Rise Property Group | KW Boerne, Powered by PLACE | Licensed in Texas | therisepropertygroup.com