Every taxing unit on a Mercedes bill
Your bill adds up one line per taxing unit. These are the units on the 2025 appraisal roll for homes inside Mercedes city limits, with Mercedes ISD as the school district. Rates are dollars per $100 of taxable value.
| Taxing unit | M&O 2025 | I&S 2025 | 2025 rateadopted | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hidalgo CountyCounty | 0.518000 | 0.057000 | 0.575000 | Comptroller 2025 county file, HCAD roll record |
| Hidalgo County Drainage District #1Drainage district | 0.049500 | 0.062800 | 0.112300 | Comptroller 2025 special district file, HCAD 2025 roll |
| South Texas College DistrictCollege district | 0.140000 | 0.022000 | 0.162000 | Comptroller 2025 special district file, HCAD 2025 roll |
| South Texas ISD (magnet district)School district (countywide) | 0.049200 | 0.000000 | 0.049200 | Cameron CAD 2025 rates, HCAD 2025 roll |
| City of MercedesCity | 0.515200 | 0.269800 | 0.785000 | Comptroller 2025 city file, HCAD 2025 roll |
| Mercedes ISDSchool district | 0.757200 | 0.340000 | 1.097200 | Comptroller 2025 school file, HCAD 2025 roll |
| Combined (Mercedes ISD) | 2.780700 |
What makes up the Mercedes rate
Mercedes ISD is the biggest line on a Mercedes bill: 1.0972 of the 2.7807 per $100, or 39% of the 2025 total. The countywide units (Hidalgo County, Hidalgo County Drainage District #1, South Texas College District and South Texas ISD (magnet district)) add 0.8985.
The City of Mercedes's own 2025 rate is 0.7850, the highest of the 10 Hidalgo County city rates on this site (from 0.3514 to 0.7850).
At 2025 rates, Mercedes's combined 2.7807 is the 18th lowest of the 20 Valley cities on this site and the highest of the 10 in Hidalgo County.
Which school district?
Mercedes city limits cross more than one school district, and the school district is the biggest line on the bill. About 80.6% of the homes are in Mercedes ISD, so the tables on this page default to it. Your district depends on your exact address. Look it up on the Hidalgo County Appraisal District property search.
| School district | Share of homes in city limits (2020) | Combined rate 2025 | Homestead tax at $300,000 (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes ISD | about 80.6% | 2.7807 | $6,804 |
| Weslaco ISD | about 17.9% | 2.6268 | $6,557 |
| Progreso ISD | about 1.5% | 2.9864 | $7,133 |
On a $300,000 homestead the Weslaco ISD part of Mercedes pays about $6,557 a year, and the Progreso ISD part about $7,133, a difference of $575.
Of the 6,098 housing units the 2020 Census counted inside Mercedes city limits, 4,913 in Mercedes ISD, 1,093 in Weslaco ISD and 92 in Progreso ISD.
Units that tax only some homes
No other taxing units showed up on the 12 sampled homes inside Mercedes city limits on the 2025 roll. A public improvement district (PID) in a newer subdivision bills an assessment, not a tax rate; the title company can tell you if a lot has one.
A Mercedes mailing address can sit outside city limits, where there is no city tax and an emergency services district may tax instead. Your appraisal district record lists every unit on your home.
Estimate your Mercedes property tax
Annual tax only. Pick your school district, enter the appraised value from your notice, and choose your exemptions.
The percentage is each district's share of the city's homes (2020 Census). Your exact district depends on your address.
Estimated property tax
$6,804 a year
Estimated 2025 property tax for Mercedes, $300,000 taxable value before exemptions, combined rate 2.780700 per $100.
| Taxing unit | Rate per $100 | Taxable value | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hidalgo County | 0.575000 | $300,000 | $1,725 |
| Hidalgo County Drainage District #1 | 0.112300 | $300,000 | $337 |
| South Texas College District | 0.162000 | $300,000 | $486 |
| South Texas ISD (magnet district) | 0.049200 | $295,000 | $145 |
| City of Mercedes | 0.785000 | $300,000 | $2,355 |
| Mercedes ISD | 1.097200 | $160,000 | $1,756 |
| Total (estimate) | 2.780700 | $6,804 |
Estimate. Local-option exemptions and the 65+ school tax ceiling can lower it; your tax office has your exact bill.
What a Mercedes home pays at $200,000, $300,000 and $400,000
| Appraised value | No exemptions | Homestead | Homestead, 65 or older |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200,000 | $5,561 | $4,023 | $3,365 |
| $300,000 | $8,342 | $6,804 | $6,145 |
| $400,000 | $11,123 | $9,584 | $8,926 |
What the exemptions are worth in Mercedes
| Exemption | Saves a year | Tax left |
|---|---|---|
| Homestead ($140,000 off Mercedes ISD, $5,000 off South Texas ISD) | $1,539 | $6,804 |
| Add 65 or older, or disabled ($60,000 more off Mercedes ISD) | $658 | $6,145 |
| Add a veteran rating of 70% or more ($12,000 off every unit) | $334 | $6,470 |
| Veteran with a 100% rating or individual unemployability | $6,804 | $0 |
Not in those figures: on the 2025 Hidalgo CAD roll, Hidalgo County took $15,000 off (about $86 a year) for the 65+ accounts we sampled.
Rules and forms: how each exemption works, the homestead guide and the disabled veteran guide.
New construction in Mercedes
New-home communities in Mercedes on this site, with the tax stack each community page uses (school district and combined rate). Community pages use 2025 adopted rates.
- Los Prados, Esperanza Homes: Mercedes ISD, 1.9957 per $100
- Crown Haven, Affordable Homes of South Texas: Mercedes ISD, 2.7807 per $100
- Tiger Crossing, Affordable Homes of South Texas: Mercedes ISD, 2.7807 per $100
Protest deadline
Who sends the bill, and when it is due
The Hidalgo County Tax Assessor-Collector, (956) 318-2157, collects for Hidalgo County, Hidalgo County Drainage District #1, South Texas College District, South Texas ISD (magnet district), the City of Mercedes and Mercedes ISD. Online: hidalgocounty.us.
2026 bills go out in October and November 2026 and are on time if paid by Monday, Feb. 1, 2027, because Jan. 31 falls on a Sunday (Tax Code 31.02, 1.06). Penalties and installment plans.
Nearby cities
Questions
How much are property taxes on a $300,000 house in Mercedes?
About $8,342 a year with no exemptions, $6,804 with a homestead exemption and $6,145 at 65 or older (2025 rates, Mercedes ISD).
What is the property tax rate in Mercedes, TX?
2.7807 per $100 (2.78%) for most homes in 2025: 6 taxing units.
Which school district am I in?
Most homes inside Mercedes city limits (about 80.6%) are in Mercedes ISD. Others are in Weslaco ISD (about 17.9%), Progreso ISD (about 1.5%). Check your address on the Hidalgo County Appraisal District property search.
When and where do I pay Mercedes property taxes?
The Hidalgo County Tax Assessor-Collector, (956) 318-2157, collects for Hidalgo County, Hidalgo County Drainage District #1, South Texas College District, South Texas ISD (magnet district), the City of Mercedes and Mercedes ISD. 2026 bills are on time if paid by Monday, Feb. 1, 2027, because Jan. 31 is a Sunday.
Next steps
- Living in Mercedes: the Mercedes community guide.
- Building or buying new: new construction in Mercedes (each community page shows its own tax stack).
- Countywide view: Hidalgo County property tax rates, and all 20 Valley cities compared.
- Mortgage and affordability math: calculators.
From Amy
Protesting your home's value? I can pull recent sales of comparable homes near yours from the MLS for your hearing. I help with single-family homes only, not farms, ranches, duplexes, multifamily or commercial property, and I do not file protests for you. Book a call. I work in English and Spanish.
Sources and method
Units: 12 of 13 sampled Hidalgo County Appraisal District 2025 roll records with a Mercedes mailing address that were inside city limits (sampled Oct 14, 2026). Rates: checked Oct 16, 2026 against the sources below. Full method and data file.