Property taxes in Comal County, TX are set by a stack of taxing units: the county ($0.273 per $100 for 2026), the county’s Lateral Road and Flood Control levy ($0.032015), your school district (Comal ISD $1.0748 or New Braunfels ISD $1.0377), your city if you’re inside city limits, and any emergency services district, MUD, or water district. For tax year 2026, that adds up to about $1.38 to $1.80 per $100 before exemptions for most addresses without a MUD, and about $2.33 or more with one. Exemptions lower the bill a lot. Here’s how to estimate it before you write an offer.
Brock Bremmer | U.S. Air Force Reserves Veteran | Real Estate Agent | eXp Realty | San Antonio Metro Area
New Braunfels and Hill Country Buyer Specialist
Also see: New Braunfels Property Taxes | Cost of Living in New Braunfels | Guadalupe County Property Taxes
The 2026 Tax Stack
The county tax office publishes every adopted rate it collects. These are the tax year 2026 rates, which apply to bills mailed this fall and due by January 31, 2027.
| Taxing unit | 2026 adopted rate (per $100) |
| Comal County | $0.273000 |
| Lateral Road and Flood Control | $0.032015 |
| Comal ISD | $1.074800 |
| New Braunfels ISD | $1.037700 |
| City of New Braunfels | $0.415613 |
| City of Bulverde | $0.295343 |
| City of Garden Ridge | $0.254138 |
| City of Spring Branch | $0.072625 |
| Emergency services districts No. 1–7 | $0.048438 to $0.100000 |
| MUDs and water districts with a levy | $0.850000 to $0.950000 (York Creek $0.004) |
- Other cities: Parts of Schertz, Selma, and Fair Oaks Ranch also sit in the county. Their city rates are set and collected outside the county tax office, so check the city’s own notice
- Other school districts: Comal ISD and New Braunfels ISD cover most of the county. The appraisal district’s exemption schedule also lists Boerne ISD and Wimberley ISD for edge areas. Confirm the district for the exact address on its appraisal record
Sample Combined Rates by Location
Common combinations, adding the 2026 adopted rates before exemptions. Every row includes the county and Lateral Road, and all but one use Comal ISD:
| Combination | Total per $100 |
| Unincorporated + an ESD | About $1.43 to $1.48 |
| City of Garden Ridge | $1.633953 (plus any ESD) |
| City of Bulverde | $1.675158 (plus any ESD) |
| City of New Braunfels + New Braunfels ISD | $1.758328 |
| City of New Braunfels | $1.795428 |
| Unincorporated + a $0.95 MUD or WID | About $2.33 (plus any ESD) |
Older articles quote a much lower countywide figure. Add up the units on the actual property record instead.
Homestead Exemptions That Change the Math
- School districts: Every Texas school district exempts $140,000 of a homestead’s value, plus $60,000 more for owners 65 or older or disabled, with a school tax ceiling
- Comal ISD’s extra 20%: Comal ISD also grants a 20% local option homestead exemption on top of the $140,000. The appraisal district’s schedule shows New Braunfels ISD at $140,000 without the 20%
- County: The county gives a 20% homestead exemption ($5,000 minimum) and $50,000 more for owners 65 or older. The Lateral Road levy is 20% plus $3,000
- Cities: New Braunfels and Spring Branch each offer 20% ($5,000 minimum). Garden Ridge and Bulverde list no general homestead exemption, though Bulverde has $40,000 for owners 65 or older
- Appraisal cap: Once a homestead exemption is in place, the taxable appraised value of the home generally can’t rise more than 10% a year, not counting new improvements
Worked Example: A $400,000 Homestead
Take a $400,000 home inside New Braunfels city limits with a general homestead exemption, using 2026 rates and the exemption amounts above:
- In Comal ISD: County about $874, Lateral Road about $101, city about $1,330, and school about $1,935, for roughly $4,240 a year. Before exemptions, the same home would owe about $7,182
- In New Braunfels ISD: The school line is about $2,698, for roughly $5,003 a year, even though the school rate is lower. The difference is Comal ISD’s extra 20% exemption
- The takeaway: Two homes at the same price a few streets apart can carry different escrow payments. Ask your lender to run escrow with the exemptions you’ll qualify for. First-year estimates often start from the seller’s bill
MUDs, WIDs, and New Construction
- Who levies: The 2026 list includes Canyon Ranch, Johnson Ranch, Kyndwood, Meyer Ranch, and Simmons Valley MUDs, Water Improvement District 3A, and Water Control District 6. Most are at or near $0.95 per $100
- Notice to Purchaser: Texas Water Code §49.452 requires the seller to give you a district notice before you sign, showing the tax rate and bonds. These districts repay bonds for roads, water, and drainage
- January 1 rule: Property is valued as of January 1. A home finished mid-year may be taxed mostly on the lot for that year, then at full value the next year. Budget for the jump
- Exemption filing: File the homestead application (Comptroller Form 50-114) with the appraisal district after you move in. Texas allows a partial-year homestead exemption if the prior owner didn’t claim one that year
Protests, Bills, and Payment Options
- Protest deadline: May 15, or 30 days after your notice of appraised value was mailed, whichever is later. You can protest even if you didn’t receive a notice
- How to file: The appraisal district accepts protests through its online portal (fastest), by email to [email protected] in PDF format, by mail, or in person at 900 S. Seguin Ave. in New Braunfels. An informal meeting with an appraiser comes before any review board hearing
- Paying: The tax office levies taxes in October and then mails statements. Pay by January 31 to avoid penalty and interest, which start February 1. Owners 65 or older, disabled owners, and disabled veterans with a homestead can choose quarterly installments
VA and Military Buyers
- Disabled veteran exemptions: Texas Tax Code §11.22 provides partial exemptions based on VA disability rating. Under §11.131, a veteran rated 100% disabled or individually unemployable may qualify for a total exemption on the homestead
- Escrow: VA loans escrow taxes and insurance, so the stack above directly sets your monthly payment
Frequently Asked Questions: Comal County Property Taxes
What is the property tax rate in Comal County, TX?
There isn’t one countywide rate. For tax year 2026, the county levies $0.273 and Lateral Road $0.032015 per $100, and the school district adds $1.0748 (Comal ISD) or $1.0377 (New Braunfels ISD). With city, ESD, or MUD rates added, most addresses fall between about $1.38 and $1.80 per $100 before exemptions, and MUD or WID areas reach about $2.33.
When is the Comal County property tax protest deadline?
The Comal Appraisal District deadline is May 15 or 30 days after your notice of appraised value was mailed, whichever is later. You can file online, by email, by mail, or in person at 900 S. Seguin Ave. in New Braunfels. You may protest even if you didn’t receive a notice.
Ready to Buy in Comal County?
Brock Bremmer with eXp Realty is a U.S. Air Force Reserves veteran who has helped buyers and sellers close 120+ homes across the San Antonio metro. He pulls the taxing units for every home you’re considering, compares escrow across school districts and MUDs, reviews district notices with you, and coordinates VA, FHA, or conventional financing.
- 📞 Call or text: 210-501-5088
- 📧 Email: [email protected]
- 📅 Schedule a free consultation
Also see: Living in New Braunfels | Living in Garden Ridge | Cost of Living in Bulverde | Meyer Ranch Buyer’s Guide | New Braunfels VA Loan Guide
Sources: County tax office: 2026 rates for all taxing units; County tax office: property taxes; Appraisal district: exemptions; Appraisal district exemption schedule; Appraisal district: protest information; Comal ISD: current tax rate; Texas Comptroller: property tax exemptions; Texas Tax Code Chapter 11; Texas Tax Code §23.23; Texas Water Code §49.452.