By Harsha N Hegde

If you’ve searched your address on Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) property search, you’ve likely noticed how much information is publicly visible — your name, property address, and appraised value.

Here’s the reality: HCAD is legally required to make most property information public under Texas law.
But there are limited exceptions where you can request that your name and home address be hidden.

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What the Law Says: Texas Tax Code §25.025

Texas Tax Code §25.025 allows certain individuals to keep their home address confidential in appraisal district records.

Under subsection (a), the following people may request confidentiality:

• Current or former peace officers
• County jailers or correctional officers
• Employees of a community supervision and corrections department
• Judges, prosecutors, and certain elected officials
• Criminal investigators with law enforcement agencies
• Employees of DFPS (Department of Family and Protective Services)
• Active-duty military members
• Victims of family violence with a protective order
• Participants in the Texas Address Confidentiality Program (ACP)

Once a written request is filed and approved:

• The appraisal district must remove or suppress the person’s name and home address from public access.
• The information remains visible internally to taxing authorities but not to the general public.

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How to Request Confidentiality from HCAD

If you qualify under §25.025, you can use the official HCAD form:

👉 HCAD Request for Confidentiality (PDF)

Submit your completed form to:

Harris County Appraisal District
Information & Assistance Division
P.O. Box 920975
Houston, TX 77292-0975
Fax: (713) 368-2219
Email: [email protected]

Once processed and approved, your name will be shown as “Current Owner” in HCAD’s public records and property search results.
However — this does not remove your name from other Harris County databases.

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Important: HCAD Confidentiality Doesn’t Cover the Tax Office or County Clerk

Filing the HCAD Request for Confidentiality only affects HCAD’s appraisal records website (hcad.org).
Your name will show as “Current Owner”, but it will still appear in:

1. Harris County Tax Office (HCTAX)

The Tax Office maintains its own billing and payment records that remain public, even after HCAD approves your confidentiality request. To remove your name from public search results on hctax.net, submit:

👉 HCTAX Form OPT-001 — Request to Omit Personal Information from Tax Records

Important caveats:

• Once you file OPT-001, your name will no longer appear in public searches on hctax.net.
• However, you will lose access to search your own tax history.
• You will still be able to pay your property tax online, but cannot look up prior payment records by name.

2. Harris County Clerk’s Office

All property deeds, transfers, and liens are public records by law.
Even if your name is hidden in HCAD and HCTAX systems, it will still appear in the County Clerk’s deed search.

To achieve stronger privacy for future ownership, consider:

• Titling property under an LLC or trust, so the entity’s name (not yours) appears on the recorded deed.
• Using a business or trust mailing address on deeds and tax correspondence.

Note on Homestead Exemptions

If you’re thinking of using an LLC or trust to keep your name private, be aware of how this affects your Texas homestead exemption:

• LLC / Corporation / Partnership: ❌ Not eligible.
  Texas Tax Code §11.13 limits the residence homestead exemption to property owned by an individual.
  If your home is deeded to an LLC or other business entity, the exemption is automatically lost.

• Trust: ✅ Eligible only if it’s a qualifying trust.
  Under Tax Code §11.13(j), a home held in trust can still qualify if you (the trustor or a named beneficiary) have the right to occupy the property as your principal residence under the terms of the trust.
  Most appraisal districts—including HCAD—will ask for a copy or certificate of the trust when you apply.

• Practical takeaway:
  Use a trust if you want some privacy without losing your homestead benefits.
  Avoid titling your homestead in an LLC unless you’re ready to give up the exemption and pay higher property taxes.

Summary

Source	What the Public Sees	How to Hide Your Name	Caveats
HCAD	”Current Owner” replaces your name	File HCAD Confidentiality Form	Only applies to appraisal site
HCTAX	Owner name in tax lookup	File OPT-001 Form	Can’t view past tax history
County Clerk	Deeds and ownership transfers	Own via LLC or trust	Always public record

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What If You Don’t Qualify?

If you’re not in one of the protected categories, HCAD cannot legally remove your name — it’s considered public information under the Texas Public Information Act and Tax Code.

However, you still have some privacy options:

1. Use an alternate mailing address

You can list a PO Box or business address on your deed. HCAD will publish that as your mailing address.

2. Hold property through an entity

If privacy is critical, consider owning your property through an LLC or trust. The entity’s name, not yours, appears in the public record.

3. Remove your info from private sites

Sites like Redfin, Zillow, and Realtor.com often mirror HCAD data. You can contact them directly and request removal from public pages — many comply voluntarily.

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Why Property Records Are Public

Appraisal districts like HCAD operate under Texas Government Code §552 (Public Information Act), which treats property ownership and valuation as public information.
The intent is transparency — allowing taxpayers to compare property values and ensure fair assessments — not to compromise personal privacy.

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References

• Texas Tax Code §25.025 — Confidentiality of Certain Home Address Information
• HCAD Request for Confidentiality Form (PDF)
• HCTAX Form OPT-001 — Request to Omit Personal Information
• Texas Public Information Act, Chapter 552, Government Code

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Final Thoughts

If HCAD approves your confidentiality request, your name will change to “Current Owner”.
To hide your name from HCTAX, submit Form OPT-001 — but be aware this disables tax-history searches.
Even after these steps, your deed remains public with the County Clerk unless the property is titled through a trust or LLC.

About the Author

Harsha N Hegde is the founder of squaredeal.tax, a DIY platform that helps Texas homeowners protest unfair property tax assessments using comps-based evidence and practical guidance.

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