2026 fiscal calendar
Know the tax date before it becomes a penalty date.
Tax bills, payment rules, and valuation-review windows are controlled by the local jurisdiction and the governing state framework. The verified record below separates published figures from dates that require confirmation with Wharton County Central Appraisal District.
Effective rate
no single verified 2026 countywide effective rate; Texas property-tax rates are set separately by the county, cities, school districts, and other taxing units.
Statement mailing
October 2026 or as soon thereafter as practicable under Texas Tax Code §31.01(a); no more specific 2026 local mailing date was published.
Payment deadline
2026 property taxes are due by January 31, 2027; penalty and interest generally begin February 1, 2027 under the Texas property-tax schedule.
Valuation protest
May 15, 2026, or within 30 days after the 2026 Notice of Appraised Value was mailed/delivered, whichever is later; residence homestead owners generally have an April 30, 2026 early deadline or 30 days after notice, whichever is later; the deadline printed on the notice and statutory exceptions control. Official Texas Comptroller guidance: https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/protests/
Critical payment warning
Do not assume a grace period.
The verified county record identifies the payment timing above but does not establish a universal penalty schedule for this page. Late charges, interest, collection costs, tax-sale procedures, and lien or foreclosure timelines can depend on state law and the local collector’s process. If the deadline is close or a balance is delinquent, contact the tax collector directly and request the current payoff amount in writing.
Treat the published payment deadline as a hard operational date and retain your receipt or confirmation number.
Read the calendar in order
From assessment to collection
1. Valuation and notice
Review the assessment notice as soon as it arrives. The protest window may run from the notice date rather than from the payment due date.
2. Statement and account review
Match the tax statement to the parcel or account number and confirm exemptions, assessed value, taxing units, credits, and balance.
3. Payment confirmation
Use the official collector channel, then save the receipt, transaction reference, and date posted. A bank submission is not always the same as a county posting date.