Tarrant County Appraisal District

The Tarrant County Appraisal District (TAD) is a governmental agency responsible for determining the market value of real and personal property for ad valorem tax purposes within Tarrant County, Texas. Operating under the Texas Property Tax Code, it provides annual appraisals that form the basis for property taxes levied by the county, school districts, cities, and other local taxing units. In addition to valuation, TAD administers various property tax exemptions, such as homestead, over‑65, and disability exemptions, and maintains a public database where owners can review their assessed values and file protests. The agency is overseen by a board of directors composed of representatives from the major taxing entities in the county, ensuring accountability to the jurisdictions it serves. Its core competency lies in mass appraisal methodology, utilizing computer‑assisted modeling and field inspections to achieve uniform and equitable valuations across a diverse urban and suburban landscape. TAD also offers online services, including property search, exemption applications, and electronic protest submission, to improve accessibility for taxpayers.

In March 2024, TAD disclosed that it had suffered a criminal ransomware attack that disrupted its network and led hackers to demand a $700,000 payment to avoid the potential release of personal information. The incident prompted the agency to secure its systems, engage external cybersecurity experts, and report the breach to law enforcement while investigating whether any data had been compromised. According to the agency’s statement, the attack is suspected to involve the Medusa ransomware group, although the investigation remains ongoing. As part of its response, TAD’s board authorized up to $235,000 for recovery software and consultant fees to restore affected systems and strengthen defenses. The agency noted that its operations remained partially offline during the recovery, with services being brought back incrementally as remediation progressed. No decision regarding ransom payment had been made at the time of the public update, and the district continued to work with authorities to address the threat.