Williamson County Property Tax Guide for 55+ Buyers

How Williamson County Property Taxes Are Structured

Texas has no state property tax. Your bill in Williamson County is the sum of rates levied by every taxing entity that covers your specific property: the school district (Georgetown ISD in Sun City's case), the City of Georgetown, and Williamson County. Each entity sets its rate independently. The Williamson County Appraisal District (WCAD) determines assessed value; the Tax Assessor-Collector bills you.

2025 Verified Tax Rates — Georgetown City Limits

Entity	2025-26 Rate (per $100 AV)	Over-65 Exemption Available
Georgetown ISD	$1.0506	$10,000 off AV + school tax FROZEN
City of Georgetown	~$0.374	City taxes frozen at 65 (2004 voter initiative)
Williamson County	~$0.356	$125,000 exemption for 65+ (one of TX's most generous)
Combined Rate	~$1.78 / $100	Statewide homestead exemption: $140,000 off AV

Sources: Georgetown ISD official 2025-26 board-adopted rate; City of Georgetown 2025 tax notice; Williamson County Appraisal District. Georgetown ISD M&O rate $0.6931 + I&S $0.3575 = $1.0506. City rate is the 2024-adopted $0.374 (2025 no-new-revenue rate $0.340; adopted rate may differ — verify at wilcotx.gov). County base rate ~$0.356. Rates in unincorporated Williamson County omit the city rate.

The Statewide $140,000 Homestead Exemption

Texas voters approved increasing the homestead exemption to $140,000 in 2025. This means the first $140,000 of assessed value is removed before calculating any tax. On a $350,000 home, you are taxed on $210,000, not $350,000 — immediately. This applies to all homestead owners, not just seniors.

The Over-65 Additions That Stack on Top

Seniors receive three additional layers beyond the base homestead exemption, and all three apply in Georgetown:

Georgetown ISD: $10,000 additional exemption — reduces the school district taxable value by another $10,000
Williamson County: $125,000 additional exemption — one of the most generous county over-65 exemptions in Texas; on most Sun City homes, this reduces county-taxable value to near zero
School tax freeze: Once filed, the Georgetown ISD dollar amount on your bill cannot increase as long as you own and occupy the home
City of Georgetown tax freeze: Under a 2004 voter-approved initiative, city taxes are also frozen at 65

Example calculation for a $380,000 Sun City home, age 67: Market value $380,000 → subtract $140,000 homestead = $240,000 for ISD. Subtract additional $10,000 ISD over-65 = ISD taxes on $230,000 → ~$2,416/year, frozen permanently. For county: $380,000 − $140,000 − $125,000 = $115,000 → county tax ~$410/year. City: $380,000 − $140,000 = $240,000 → city tax ~$898/year, frozen. Total: approximately $3,724/year ($310/month).

How to File the Over-65 Exemption — Step by Step

File with WCAD, not the Tax Assessor-Collector. Williamson County Appraisal District (WCAD) processes exemptions. The Tax Assessor-Collector (same building, different office) collects payments. Many buyers confuse the two. Go to wcad.org or call (512) 930-3787.
Download Form 50-114 (Residence Homestead Exemption Application) from wcad.org. This is the Texas-standard form for all homestead and over-65 exemptions. Complete Sections 1 through 6.
Attach copies of: driver's license or state ID showing current property address; and proof of age (passport, birth certificate, or DL if it shows birthdate). Both spouses must file if both names are on the deed.
Submit by April 30 for the current tax year — but you can file anytime, including immediately after closing. You may also file up to two years late to claim missed exemptions (though late filing is capped).
Confirm the freeze is applied. In the first October after filing, your property tax statement should reflect the frozen amount. Contact WCAD if it does not. Save your exemption approval letter permanently.

The 10% Annual Appraisal Cap (Homestead Protection)

For any property with an approved homestead exemption, Texas law caps annual assessed value increases at 10%, regardless of actual market value gains. In a fast-growing market like Williamson County — where WCAD reported average assessment increases of 6.3% in 2025 and 19.6% for newer homes — this cap provides meaningful protection for established homeowners. The cap takes effect automatically once homestead exemption is approved; you do not need to file anything additional.

Unincorporated Williamson County vs. Georgetown City Limits

Sun City Georgetown is within Georgetown city limits. The city rate (~$0.374/$100) applies. Some newer communities in the wider Georgetown/Round Rock corridor are in unincorporated Williamson County — no city rate applies, which lowers total bills by approximately 20–25% compared to city-limits properties. Verify your specific address before comparing communities on tax cost. This is a common source of apples-to-oranges tax comparisons in the area.

Resources

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