How do I file a property tax protest in San Marcos, Texas?

Most of San Marcos is in Hays County and filed with Hays Central Appraisal District. Small portions of San Marcos are in Caldwell or Guadalupe counties and use their respective CADs. Hays CAD accepts protests through hayscad.com online portal, by mail to 21001 IH-35 N, Kyle, TX 78640, or by email. The deadline is May 15 or 30 days after the CAD mailed your Notice of Appraised Value, whichever is later.

Is Kyle in Travis County or Hays County?

Kyle is entirely in Hays County and assessed by Hays CAD. Similarly, Buda is in Hays. Dripping Springs is in Hays. Wimberley is in Hays. The Travis/Hays county line runs roughly along Highway 967 and north — Travis is north, Hays is south.

What is the property tax rate in Hays County?

Combined rates in Hays County typically run 2.0–2.6% of taxable value. The school district is largest (Hays CISD, Dripping Springs ISD, San Marcos CISD, Wimberley ISD) at ~$1.05–$1.30 per $100. City of San Marcos / Kyle / Buda / Dripping Springs adds $0.40–$0.55. Hays County adds ~$0.36. Austin Community College adds ~$0.10. MUD rates in newer master-planned developments around Kyle and Buda can add $0.30–$0.70 more.

Why has Kyle's property tax grown so fast?

Kyle is among the fastest-growing cities in the United States. Population went from ~28,000 in 2010 to ~70,000+ in 2024 — roughly 150% growth. Hays CAD has worked to keep up with rapid market appreciation, producing year-over-year appraised value increases of 30-60% in some Kyle subdivisions during 2020-2022. Most successful Kyle protests focus on within-subdivision unequal-appraisal arguments under §41.43(b)(3), since master-planned-community comp data is dense.

When is the Hays CAD property tax protest deadline?

May 15 or 30 days after Hays CAD mailed your Notice of Appraised Value, whichever is later. Deadline is set by Texas Tax Code §41.44.

How to Protest Your Property Tax in Hays County, Texas

By Chris Outlaw · Published May 2026 · ~9 minute read · Covers San Marcos, Kyle, Buda, Wimberley, Dripping Springs, Driftwood, Hays, Niederwald, Mountain City

Hays County is the southern flank of the Austin metro, and the demographic story of central Texas growth in one chart: a county that doubled in population between 2010 and 2024 as the Austin housing market pushed homebuyers further out the I-35 corridor. Kyle alone went from a small town of 28,000 to a city of 70,000+. San Marcos remains a college town (Texas State University) but is increasingly a bedroom suburb of Austin. Dripping Springs and Wimberley occupy a distinct Hill Country market further west. This guide is the Hays County edition of our protest playbook.

In this guide

Hays CAD by the numbers
The Austin metro growth dynamic
Filing your protest, step-by-step
By city — San Marcos, Kyle, Buda, Wimberley, Dripping Springs
Hays County tax rates
FAQ

Hays CAD by the numbers

Hays Central Appraisal District

21001 N IH-35, Kyle, TX 78640

Public website	hayscad.com
Phone	(512) 268-2522
Online protest filing	Yes — via hayscad.com property owner portal
Service area	Hays County, Texas (≈275,000 residents)

Hays County covers approximately 678 square miles south and west of Travis County. Major populated areas: San Marcos (~70,000, the county seat, home to Texas State University), Kyle (~70,000), Buda (~26,000), Dripping Springs (~10,000, but a much larger market area), Wimberley (~3,000 in the city, larger surrounding area), Driftwood (small unincorporated area), Hays (small city of the same name), Niederwald, Mountain City, Uhland, Bear Creek.

The Austin metro growth dynamic

Hays County's residential market is shaped by Austin's housing pressure. As Travis County values exploded in 2020-2022, buyers pushed south. Kyle and Buda absorbed the bulk of that migration with aggressive new construction; San Marcos became a more bedroom-community market than a college-only town; the Hill Country to the west (Wimberley, Driftwood, Dripping Springs) became higher-end destinations for buyers leaving Travis.

The result: Hays CAD has been catching up to rapidly-appreciating market values throughout the post-pandemic period, with year-over-year appraised-value jumps frequently exceeding 30% in some subdivisions. The §23.23 10% homestead cap softens this for established homeowners; new buyers (cap reset on purchase) face the full impact.

For Kyle and Buda master-planned communities (Plum Creek, Steeplechase, Bunton Creek, Sunfield, etc.), within-subdivision comp data is dense and unequal-appraisal arguments under §41.43(b)(3) are particularly effective.

Filing your protest, step-by-step

1-6Standard workflow

Visit hayscad.com, search for your property, verify CAD record. Register and file online checking both "Value over market" and "Unequal appraisal" grounds. Pull comparables (subdivision filter, ±25% sqft, ±10 years), compute median, build packet. Request CAD evidence under §41.461. Attend hearing.

See our detailed how-tos: comparable properties, Form 50-132 walkthrough, ARB hearing playbook, hearing scripts.

By city — San Marcos, Kyle, Buda, Wimberley, Dripping Springs

San Marcos

The county seat (~70,000 residents) and home to Texas State University. Older central San Marcos has 1920s-1960s housing alongside newer student-rental construction. Major master-planned communities (Trace, Whisper) on the south side. San Marcos CISD covers most of the city.

Kyle

One of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. (~70,000 in 2024, up from ~28,000 in 2010). Mostly post-2010 master-planned construction: Plum Creek, Sunfield, 6 Creeks, Cool Springs, Bunton Creek. Hays CISD covers most of Kyle. Excellent within-subdivision comp data for protests.

Buda

Smaller suburb (~26,000) but similarly growing. Mostly post-2005 construction. Subdivisions: Garlic Creek, Sunfield (extends into Kyle), Whispering Hollow, Shadow Creek. Hays CISD.

Wimberley, Driftwood

Hill Country destinations west of I-35. Wimberley (~3,000 in the city itself, larger area) has mostly upscale and unique-property residential. Driftwood is unincorporated. Wimberley ISD. Property condition and lot characteristics vary enormously here; condition adjustments matter more than per-sqft comps alone.

Dripping Springs

Upscale Hill Country area west of Austin (~10,000 in the city, much larger market area). Dripping Springs ISD has consistently strong school ratings, which supports premium pricing. Belterra is the largest master-planned community.

Hays County tax rates

Entity	Approx. rate (per $100)
School district (Hays CISD, Dripping Springs ISD, San Marcos CISD, Wimberley ISD)	~$1.05 – $1.30
City of San Marcos / Kyle / Buda / Dripping Springs	~$0.40 – $0.55
Hays County	~$0.36
Austin Community College	~$0.10
Hays County Healthcare District	~$0.05
MUD or ESD (varies)	~$0.30 – $0.70
Approximate combined	~$2.00 – $2.60 per $100 (≈2.0–2.6%)

Hays County coverage is on TaxStand's 2027 roadmap.

Austin metro expansion (Travis + Williamson + Hays) follows DFW launch.

Get notified when TaxStand opens for Hays County

Hays CAD (hayscad.com) is the authoritative source. This article is for general educational use and does not constitute legal or tax advice.