Texas Post Judgment Interest Rate: How to Calculate What You're Owed

How Texas Sets the Rate

Post-judgment interest in Texas is governed by Chapter 304 of the Texas Finance Code. The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) publishes the rate monthly, calculated from the federal prime rate.

Under Finance Code § 304.003, the rate has a 5% floor and a 15% ceiling. As of October 2026, the post-judgment interest rate is 6.75% per annum.

The rate that applies to your judgment is the one in effect on the date the judge signs the judgment — not when you file the writ, not when you collect. That rate stays fixed for the life of the judgment, regardless of later OCCC rate changes.

If the underlying claim was based on a contract that specified an interest rate, Finance Code § 304.002 sets the post-judgment rate at the lesser of the contract rate or 18% per year.

The Daily Interest Formula

Post-judgment interest accrues on the unpaid judgment balance, including court costs awarded in the judgment, and compounds annually under Finance Code § 304.006. The daily calculation:

Daily interest = (Unpaid judgment balance × Annual rate) ÷ 365

At each anniversary, accrued interest is added to the balance under § 304.006.

For a $5,000 judgment at 6.75%:

• Daily interest: ($5,000 × 0.0675) ÷ 365 = $0.92 per day
• Monthly (average during the first year): approximately $28.13
• Annual: $337.50

If the debtor makes partial payments, recalculate from the reduced balance as of the payment date. A money judgment earns post-judgment interest on court costs awarded in the judgment under Finance Code § 304.003. Do not assume later-added enforcement fees earn interest without checking the court's order and applicable law.

What Counts Toward the Total Owed

The full amount a debtor owes includes:

• Original judgment principal — the amount the judge awarded
• Post-judgment interest — accruing daily from the date of signing
• Court costs — filing fees, citation fees, and certified copy charges awarded in the judgment
• Enforcement costs — constable fees for executing writs, abstract recording fees, and other recoverable collection expenses (file fee bills with the court to add these)

You cannot add unapproved expenses — private investigator costs, legal research fees, or attorney fees not awarded in the judgment — without a separate court order.

Where to Find the Current Rate

The OCCC publishes current and historical post-judgment interest rates on its Interest Rates page. The rate table goes back years, so you can verify the rate that was in effect when your specific judgment was signed.

The current rate changes on the first of each month. Bookmark the page if you're tracking interest over a long collection period.

Why Tracking Interest Matters

Every month you don't collect, the judgment grows. On a $10,000 judgment at 6.75%, interest is $675 in the first year. At a constant 6.75% with no payments, annual compounding produces about $9,217 in interest over 10 years — nearly the original judgment amount.

When you request a writ of execution, the Justice Court Clerk includes the accrued interest in the writ. Having your own running calculation ensures the numbers match.

The Texas judgment collection guide includes a judgment balance tracker worksheet that accounts for interest accrual, partial payments, and enforcement costs.

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