Texas BPP rendition by county: where and how to file
What is statewide in a Texas business personal property rendition, and how six large appraisal districts accept it.
Summary
Our answer: in Texas the rules are statewide and only the mailbox is local. Every appraisal district uses the April 15 deadline, grants an extension to May 15 when you ask in writing by April 15, and applies the $125,000 per-location exemption from 2026. What changes is how the district accepts the rendition: Harris needs the iFile number printed on your form, Dallas the PIN printed on your preprinted form, Tarrant an online dashboard and no fax or email, Travis an online portal that refuses late renditions, Williamson an online forms site, and Collin mail or email. If your form arrived without an online code, plan for paper.
Deadline April 15, written extension to May 15, $125,000 exemption per location from 2026: statewide. Online filing depends on the district and often on a code printed on the form it mails you.
| Deadline | April 15Postmarked or submitted online by that date (Dallas CAD 2026 notice). |
|---|---|
| Extension | May 15, on written request by April 15Plus up to 15 days for good cause shown in writing. |
| Exemption | $125,000 of appraised value per locationFrom January 1, 2026; related businesses at one address share it. |
| Under $125,000 | One-time certificationFiled on the rendition by April 15; stays in effect until ownership changes, the chief appraiser asks, or value exceeds $125,000. |
| Late or missing rendition | 10% penaltyUp to 50% for false or fraudulent renditions, per the Dallas CAD notice. |
Our verdict
Do not look for county rules that do not exist: the deadline, the extension, the exemption and the penalty are the same across Texas. Look at the form your district mailed you. If it carries an online code (iFile number in Harris, PIN in Dallas), the portal is the fastest route; if it does not, or you missed April 15 in Travis, plan for paper and a postmark.
Who this page is for, and who it is not for
For: a Texas business that owns equipment, furniture, computers or inventory on January 1 and wants to know where its rendition goes. Not for: property in several counties that needs a multi-location review, dealers' special inventory, protests of the appraised value (those follow the appeal process), and anyone who needs us to file for them.
Six appraisal districts, checked October 28, 2026
We read each district's own page or form. Bexar and El Paso blocked automated access (HTTP 403), so we do not describe their channel here; check their sites directly.
| Appraisal district | Online channel | What you need | Not accepted or caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harris (HCAD) | iFile, hcad.org/ifile | The iFile number printed under the account number on your form | No fax; without an iFile number, file the paper form |
| Dallas (DCAD) | Online BPP Rendition on dallascad.org | Account number and the PIN on the preprinted 2026 form, for eligible business types | Prior-year 2025 rendition visible online to help you |
| Tarrant (TAD) | Online dashboard (login and password) | A dashboard account; extensions can also be requested there | No fax or email renditions (TAD notice relayed by the City of Arlington, February 13, 2026) |
| Travis (TCAD) | Online portal | A login created with an email address | Late renditions are not accepted through the portal |
| Williamson (WCAD) | forms.wcad.org | An online forms login; past filings stay visible | Extension requests need good cause and are reviewed |
| Collin (CCAD) | None stated on the 2026 form | Form CCAD-144 (Rev 2026.02), signed on page 2 | Return by mail to McKinney or by email to [email protected] |
Sources: HCAD guide to personal property renditions; DCAD 2026 BPP rendition notice; City of Arlington, TAD notice of February 13, 2026; Travis CAD renditions page; Williamson CAD rendition page; Collin CAD form CCAD-144 Rev 2026.02.
What is the same in every Texas county
The rendition covers property you own or manage on January 1. It is due April 15, postmarked or submitted online by that date. A written request made by April 15 gives an automatic extension to May 15, and the chief appraiser may add 15 days for good cause shown in writing. From January 1, 2026, the first $125,000 of appraised value of income-producing tangible personal property at a location is exempt (HB 9), and related businesses at the same address share one $125,000. A late or missing rendition costs 10% of the tax; a false or fraudulent one, up to 50%.
Example: a Houston office below the threshold
A consulting firm in Houston owns about $60,000 of furniture and computers at its only location. It does not need to list each item: it files one rendition with HCAD by April 15, 2027 that certifies the value does not exceed $125,000, through iFile if its form carries an iFile number, on paper otherwise. It does not file again in 2028 unless HCAD asks, the business changes hands, or the value passes $125,000. A dental office in Dallas with $310,000 of equipment renders every item; DCAD applies the $125,000 exemption automatically.
Where the product stops
Business Property Desk prepares the statewide Form 50-144 answers from your asset list. It does not hold district logins, iFile numbers or PINs, does not submit, and does not confirm receipt. Travis CAD itself says it cannot confirm receipt of renditions: keep your portal status screen or proof of mailing.
Next steps
Common questions
Can I file my Texas business personal property rendition online?
In many large districts, yes, but the channel is the district's. Harris County uses iFile and needs the iFile number printed under the account number on your form; Dallas uses its Online BPP Rendition with the account number and PIN on the preprinted 2026 form; Tarrant, Travis and Williamson use an online account. Collin's 2026 form asks for mail or email.
Do I still file if my equipment is worth less than $125,000?
Yes, once. To use the exemption without rendering, you file a rendition or report by April 15 that certifies you reasonably believe the value does not exceed $125,000. The election then stays in effect until ownership changes, the chief appraiser asks for a rendition, or the value goes above $125,000.
Can I email or fax the rendition?
Depends on the district. Harris does not accept faxed renditions and Tarrant accepts neither fax nor email. Collin's 2026 form gives an email address ([email protected]). Check your district before relying on email.
What if my assets did not change since last year?
You still file. Harris County asks you to check the affirmation box in Part 3 when your January 1 assets match your last rendition exactly.
Does Business Property Desk file with my appraisal district?
No. It prepares the Form 50-144 packet and checklist. You submit it through your district's portal, by mail or by the channel your district accepts.
Check if your Texas case fits
Free checker first. The $79 packet then prepares Form 50-144 answers from your asset list and a filing checklist; you file with your own district, through its channel.
Open checkerRelated guides
Texas Form 50-144 business personal property rendition
The core fields to collect for a simple Texas business personal property rendition packet, and when the $125,000 certification replaces the full rendition.
Texas rendition deadline, extension, and penalty
Texas generally uses an April 15 rendition deadline for most property, with written extension paths and late penalties.
Missed the Texas Form 50-144 rendition deadline: what now?
What a small business should check after missing a Texas business personal property rendition deadline.
Official sources for this guide
Last reviewed: .