In order to protect the interest of property owners, it is CCADs policy not to make address changes over the telephone. Please request address changes in writing, stating the address or account number of the property to be changed, the new mailing address, printed owner name and signature. Please include a daytime phone number where you can be reached in case we have any questions. The request may be mailed or faxed to Customer Service at 469-742-9207.

The Texas Property Tax Code requires that all property is taxable unless the State Legislature has passed laws to exempt it. Houses, mobile homes, lots, acreage, commercial buildings, apartments, oil and gas reserves, industrials, utilities and business inventory and equipment are all taxable.

Improvement means:

• A building, structure or fixture erected on or affixed to land; or
• A transportable structure that is designed to be occupied for residential or business purposes, whether or not it is affixed to land, if the owner of the structure owns the land on which it is located.

By utilizing comparable sales, income and/or cost data, a CCAD appraiser applies generally accepted mass appraisal techniques to estimate a value for your property.

There are three main parts to the property tax system in Texas.

• An appraisal district in each county sets the value of property each year and administers exemptions.
• An Appraisal Review Board settles disagreements between property owners and the appraisal district about property values and exemptions; they also make determinations on challenges initiated by taxing units.
• Local taxing units, which include the county, city, school district, and special districts, decide how much money they will spend. This, in turn, determines the total amount of taxes that property owners must pay.

The governing body (such as a city council, school board, county commissioner's court, etc.) of each taxing entity sets the rates for their jurisdiction. The taxing units decide what services they will provide in the coming year and how much revenue they will need to provide those services. Each taxing unit adopts a tax rate that will raise the needed tax dollars.

The Collin Central Appraisal District does not levy taxes, set tax rates or collect taxes. The appraisal district does not capture the amount of taxes on any property. Click here for the link to the Assessor-Collector offices in Collin County.

No, not since the creation of appraisal districts in 1982. State law requires property taxes to be based on the full, 100%, market value of a property less eligible exemptions.

The Board of Directors of the Collin Central Appraisal District is comprised of five members and one "ex officio" member who govern the operation of the appraisal district by setting policies, adopting a budget, approving contracts, etc. The County Tax Assessor/Collector, by law, serves as the ex officio member of the Board. The remaining five members must meet eligibility requirements. To be eligible to serve on the Board of Directors, the individuals must be a resident of the district and have resided in the same district for at least two years immediately preceding taking office. Board members serve two-year terms beginning on January 1 of even numbered years.

The governing bodies of all taxing units within the district select the appraisal district's directors. If the governing bodies do not select the county tax assessor collector as a director, the county tax assessor-collector serves as a non-voting director.

Each taxing unit located in the appraisal district pays a pro-rata share of the CCAD budget. Some appraisal districts have adopted different funding mechanisms. Most appraisal districts base each taxing unit's share on the amount of taxes levied by that unit compared to the total taxes levied by all units in the district.

During our annual reappraisal, value changes may occur for several reasons:

• Due to market conditions, rising or falling values;
• The correction of the data base, such as a change in square footage, a pool or other secondary improvement not previously accounted for or a correction of property characteristics; or
• A value may be changed for equalization purposes.

In order to make accurate appraisals on every property in our jurisdiction, it is necessary to visit them periodically to ensure that the data used in making the appraisal is correct. For instance, since we last visited your home the condition of the structure could have changed. The appraisal district could have received a copy of a building permit indicating that a room was being added, the house was being remodeled, or some amenity such as a pool or detached garage was being added to or removed from the property.

Market value, often referred to as "fair market value" in the discussion of property taxes, means the price at which a property would transfer for cash or its equivalent under prevailing market conditions if:

• exposed for sale in the open market with a reasonable time for the seller to find a purchaser;
• both the seller and purchaser know of all the uses and purposes to which the property is adapted and for which it is capable of being used and of the enforceable restrictions on its use; and
• both the seller and purchaser seek to maximize their gains and neither is in a position to take advantage of the exigencies of the other.

The appraisal district will complete an onsite inspection of your property at your request under certain restrictions. If an on-site inspection is required, which would likely include the inspection of the interior of the property, including photographs, an appointment will need to occur during normal business hours (M-F 8:00AM to 4:00PM). An inspection request during the Appraisal Review Board process could be difficult because of time and staffing constraints. However, it is our goal to accommodate all inspection requests and we will do our best to work around any timing issues.

Yes, however market appreciation can often offset physical depreciation.

The house is either measured in the field or taken from building plans submitted during the permitting process and verified by field review. The house is then classified based on construction type and quality, then depreciated according to its age and effective age (observed condition). Typically, the market value is based on sales of similar properties. In some circumstances, such as new construction, the appraiser may utilize the Cost Approach to Value, but typically a residential property is appraised via the Sales Comparison (Market) Approach basing the value on comparable sales within the subject neighborhood, adjusting for differences such as lot value, quality, condition, and size.

The improvement (house) is added to the appraisal roll at the percent of market value, generally based on completion, as of January 1^st of the tax year.

Yes. Age, size, condition, quality and type of construction of the house/improvements are all taken into consideration.