Property Tax Rates

Who appraises your residence property? 

The Denton County Central Appraisal District (DCAD) appraises properties in Denton County including the Town of Little Elm.

Property tax is appraised on January 1 each year. This tax appraisal covers the calendar year.

Appraisals are expected to be public on or around April 18.

DCAD anticipates a 25% increase in appraisal value for single-family homes based on the current market conditions.

Visit the DCAD website here: www.dentoncad.org.

Are property appraisals capped by law?

Tax Code Section 23.23(a) sets a limit on the amount of annual increase to the appraised value of a residence homestead to not exceed the lesser of:

the market value of the property; or the sum of:

•    10 percent of the appraised value of the property for last year;

•    the appraised value of the property for last year; and

•    the market value of all new improvements to the property.

·         Tax Code Section 23.23(e) defines a new improvement as an improvement to a residence homestead made after the most recent appraisal of the property that increases its market value and was not included in the appraised value of the property for the preceding tax year. It does not include repairs to or ordinary maintenance of an existing structure, the grounds or another feature of the property. Tax Code Section 23.23(f) states that a replacement structure for one that was rendered uninhabitable or unusable by a casualty or by wind or water damage is also not considered a new improvement.

·         The appraisal limitation only applies to a residence homestead. As stated in Tax Code Section 23.23(c), the limitation takes effect Jan. 1 of the tax year following the year in which the homeowner qualifies for the homestead exemption. It expires on Jan. 1 of the tax year following the year in which the property owners no longer qualify for the residence homestead exemption.

·         If an ARB, arbitration or court determination lowered a property’s appraised value, the appraisal district cannot increase the appraised value unless the increase is reasonably supported by clear and convincing evidence.

How can you protest your property appraisal?

The appraisal districts hear all protests on property values. The deadline to file a protest is 30 days after the date the notice is mailed.

Please contact DCAD to confirm the time frame if you plan to protest the property value. For more information on property appraisal protests, click here. 

The State Comptroller's Office Property Tax Information. 

Exemptions

What do tax exemptions do? 

Tax exemptions remove part of your home's value from taxation, so they lower your taxes.

DCAD must approve all exemptions according to Texas Property Tax Code. Exemption forms are available through DCAD. 

Some exemptions must be filed each year, while others are one time only. Please contact DCAD if you have a question about exemptions or how to qualify. 

Listed below are the exemptions and the amount offered by the Town of Little Elm. These exemptions must be filed with DCAD.

If the exemptions listed below are filed by May 1, the exemption will show on the original tax statement. If not, a supplemental bill will be mailed showing the adjustment when it is received from the appraisal district.

$60,000 Over 65 Exemption: Homeowners who reach age 65 during a tax year will qualify immediately for those exemptions, as if the homeowner qualified on January 1 of the tax year. This exemption amount is subtracted after the homestead exemption. This exemption can only be used on the homestead property.

$60,000 Disabled Person Exemption: Homeowners who become disabled during a tax year will qualify immediately for those exemptions, as if the homeowner qualified on January 1 of the tax year. The person applying for this exemption must be listed as disabled by the Social Security Administration. An account cannot have the disabled person and over 65 exemption. This exemption can only be used on the homestead property.

Disabled Veterans Exemption: This exemption is calculated by the percentage of disability determined by the Veterans Administration. If you need the percentage amount, call the applicable Appraisal District. This is the only exemption that doesn't have to be applied to the homestead property. The taxpayer can attach this exemption to any property they own.

Ownership or Mailing Address Changes

If there is an ownership or mailing address change, please contact DCAD. 

Who sets property tax rates?

The Town of Little Elm determines your Little Elm property tax rates. 

NOTICE OF 2021 TAX YEAR PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR THE TOWN OF LITTLE ELM

See our table below of our 5-year history of property tax rates. In the last five years, rates have been lowered or maintained.