Texas Money Guide: Tax, Tipping and Passes

A trip to Texas from elsewhere in the United States needs no currency planning at all: cards work as they do at home and cash machines are everywhere. What is worth knowing is how prices are built here, because the number on a shelf, a menu or a booking page is often not the number you pay.

Sales tax is added at the register

The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts sets a 6.25 percent state sales and use tax. Cities, counties and some districts may add local sales tax of up to 2 percent, for a maximum combined rate of 8.25 percent. In most cities you visit, expect the full combined amount to be added when you pay. Shelf and menu prices are shown before tax, as in most states, so the total at the register is a little higher than the sticker.

Hotel tax is added to the room

Lodging carries its own tax. The Comptroller sets the state hotel occupancy tax at 6 percent of the cost of a room, and cities, certain counties and special districts may add a local hotel tax on top. Together these add noticeably to a nightly rate in the big cities. When you compare hotels or short term rentals, compare the total with taxes and fees, not the advertised room rate.

Tipping

Tipping in Texas follows the national custom, and it is part of how many service workers are paid. A tip of around 15 to 20 percent is customary at a table service restaurant, a few dollars per bag is usual for a hotel porter, and drivers and guides generally expect a tip as well. At a counter service barbecue joint or taqueria, a tip jar or a screen prompt is common; tipping there is a smaller, more personal choice. Some restaurants add a service charge for large groups, so read the bill before adding more.

Parks and passes

National park entrance is covered by the America the Beautiful passes, but those cover entrance and standard amenity fees, not camping, tours, lodging or anything run by a concessioner. Texas state parks are separate. They charge their own daily entrance fees per person, and the Texas State Parks Pass gives a year of free entry to 88 state parks for the holder and their guests, though it does not guarantee entry when a park reaches capacity. A reserved day pass does. Check current fees with the park before you go.

Cards and cash

Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including at most food trucks, markets and rodeo grounds. Contactless payment is common in the cities. A little cash is still useful for tips, small town cafes, parking lots near events, and the occasional rural shop that has kept a cash only habit. Tell your bank you are traveling if it tends to flag purchases away from home.

Where money goes further

Many of the best Texas experiences are free or nearly so: the grounds at San Jacinto Battleground, the Capitol in Austin with its free guided tours, the San Antonio missions, LBJ State Park, the River Walk and the Fort Worth cattle drive. A trip built around a few ticketed highlights and plenty of these will cost far less than the hotel rates suggest.

Sources

• Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts: Sales and use tax: the 6.25 percent state sales and use tax, local taxes of up to 2 percent, and a maximum combined rate of 8.25 percent. Accessed 11 October 2026.
• Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts: Hotel occupancy tax: the state rate is 6 percent of the cost of a room, and cities, certain counties and special districts may impose an additional local hotel tax. Accessed 11 October 2026.
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: Passes: the Texas State Parks Pass for unlimited entry to 88 state parks, with capacity limits that mean pass holders are not guaranteed entry, and day passes that guarantee entry when reserved. Accessed 11 October 2026.
• National Park Service: Passes: the America the Beautiful series and what each pass covers at federal recreation sites. Accessed 11 October 2026.