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Central Appraisal District (CAD) and Tax Collector: What is the Difference?

June 8, 2022

If you pay property taxes in Texas, you may have heard the term Central Appraisal District or CAD for short. What does CAD mean, and how is it different from a tax collector? Keep reading to learn more. 

Central Appraisal District (CAD) 

According to the Comptroller of Texas, appraisal districts are responsible for “appraising property for property tax purposes for each taxing unit that imposes property taxes on property in the appraisal district.” Each county in Texas has an established appraisal district that operates according to the Texas Property Tax Code and the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practices (USPAP). 

The purpose of the CAD is to discover, list, and appraise all property within the county boundaries as accurately as possible to estimate a fair and equitable market value. CADs handle ownership, exemption, and value information. For example, if you need to change your property records such as mailing addresses, etc. CADs are the ones who would make these changes, and then provide the updates to the appropriate tax collectors. 

What does a County Tax Assessor-Collector Do? 

The county tax assessor-collector must assess and collect all taxes imposed on property within the county. This includes schools, cities, and special districts. 

Other duties of the tax assessor-collector in Texas include:  

  • Calculates property tax rates for the county 
  • Collects property taxes for the county
  • May collect taxes for cities, schools, and other local taxing entities 
  • Processes motor vehicle title transfers 
  • Issues motor vehicle registration and licenses 
  • May process boat titles and registrations 
  • Registers voters and may conduct elections
  • Collects various other fees for the state and county 

Source: Texas Association of Counties 

At Johnson & Starr, our goal is to keep families in their homes, and sometimes that means advising you of better options than a loan with us. We also know sometimes life happens, and you may have difficulty making payments. Our property tax loans are customized to fit your unique situation and can be flexible to adapt to nearly any loan requirement. To find out how we can help save your home, call us today at 800-203-9157. 

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