Texas homestead exemption questions, answered

School districts must exempt $140,000 of a homestead’s value from tax year 2025 on. Owners 65 or older or disabled get $60,000 more, for $200,000 off school taxes. Other taxing units may add a percentage exemption of up to 20%. More

No. Once granted, a residence homestead exemption stays in place until you move or no longer qualify (Tax Code §11.43(c)). The appraisal district may send a letter asking you to confirm it, and you must answer that letter. More

No. Filing with your appraisal district is free. You do not need to pay a company or hire anyone to file. More

No. You may claim only one residence homestead at a time, in or outside Texas (Tax Code §11.13(h)). More

It applies to tax years beginning January 1, 2025, so it first appeared on 2025 tax bills. More

No. If your home already had a homestead exemption, the appraisal district applies the higher amount. If your home had no homestead exemption, you must apply. More

From tax year 2025, an owner 65 or older with both exemptions on file gets $140,000 plus $60,000, or $200,000, off school district taxable value. More

Up to 2 years after the delinquency date for each tax year, which is usually February 1 of the next year (Tax Code §11.431). Disabled veterans can go back up to 5 years for their veteran exemptions (§11.439). More

No. The appraisal district notifies the tax office within 30 days of approval, and the tax office must refund the overpaid tax within 60 days of that notice. More

File now. If the late window for that year is still open, ask the appraisal district to apply the exemption to that year. If you closed after January 1 and the seller did not have the exemption that year, you may also qualify for part of the year you bought. More

If your taxes are paid through escrow, a lower bill can lower your monthly payment after the servicer’s next escrow analysis. More

In many counties, yes. Dallas, Tarrant and Collin appraisal districts offer online filing; Denton CAD accepts the printed form by email. Check your own appraisal district’s website. More

Generally yes. The appraisal district may not grant the exemption unless the address on your Texas driver license or state ID matches the home, with waivers for active-duty military, their spouses, and a few others (Tax Code §11.43(n), (p)). More

It varies by district. Several weeks to a few months is common; Denton CAD says it usually shows online within 90 days. More

Look up your property on your appraisal district’s website and check the exemptions listed, then confirm the exemption on your next tax statement. More

Yes, for most owners: the application is due before May 1 of the tax year. Buyers, people who turn 65 or become disabled, and late filers have other deadlines. More

You can still file a late application for that year up to 2 years after its delinquency date (5 years for disabled veteran exemptions). If approved, any overpaid tax is refunded. More

If you acquired the home after January 1, the application is due before the first anniversary of the date you acquired it (Tax Code §11.43(d)). More

Yes. You may file once you live in the home. Whether it applies to that year depends on the January 1 rule and on whether the seller had a homestead exemption that year. More

No. It stays with the seller for that tax year. You must file your own application. More

No. You must apply again for the new home. A 65+ or disability school tax ceiling can be transferred proportionally with a certificate from your old appraisal district (Tax Code §11.26(g), (h)). More

Often, but not always. Tax Code §11.43(m) lets the appraisal district grant it without an application when its records or DPS data show your age. Check your property record and apply if it is not listed. More

Generally no, because of the school tax ceiling. They can rise if you add improvements, such as an addition, and the ceiling is lowered when exemptions increase. More

Yes, proportionally. Ask your current appraisal district for a ceiling transfer certificate and give it to the district for the new home (Tax Code §11.26(g), (h)). More

You need to meet the Social Security disability standard. Receiving SSDI is the most common proof; benefits from other programs do not automatically qualify. More

Not from the same taxing unit in the same year. You may receive one from one unit and the other from a different unit. More

10% to 29%: $5,000; 30% to 49%: $7,500; 50% to 69%: $10,000; 70% to 100%: $12,000. $12,000 applies at age 65 with at least 10%, or for total blindness in one or both eyes or loss of use of a limb. At 100% or individual unemployability, the homestead is fully exempt. More

Up to 5 years after the delinquency date for each tax year, under Tax Code §11.439. More

Yes. A veteran rated individually unemployable for a service-connected disability qualifies for the total homestead exemption under Tax Code §11.131. More

Your homestead’s taxable appraised value cannot rise more than 10% a year over last year’s appraised value, plus the value of new improvements. It starts the year after your first year with the homestead exemption. More

Yes. The seller’s capped value does not carry over. Your own cap starts the tax year after the first year you qualify for the homestead exemption. More

No. You reapply only if your appraisal district sends you a written request, or when you move to a new home. More

Appraisal districts must review every homestead at least once every five years, and may require a new application when they have reason to believe you no longer qualify. The notice must state the reason. More

The district can remove the exemption, which raises your taxes. Dallas CAD removes it if there is no response within 30 days. More

If it asks for a fee to file a homestead exemption or a "designation of homestead," it is not from your appraisal district. Filing the exemption is free. Check the sender against your appraisal district’s official website. More

A document filed with the county clerk that relates to protecting a home from forced sale for certain debts. It is not a property tax exemption application. More

No. You can file directly with your appraisal district for free. More

With the Dallas Central Appraisal District (www.dallascad.org). Yes. Search your property on dallascad.org, open the property address, and choose "File Homestead Exemption Online." The same page has a "Print Homestead Exemption Form" link. More

No. Filing with the appraisal district is free. More

With the Tarrant Appraisal District (www.tad.org). Yes. Tarrant Appraisal District launched a new online homestead application on February 11, 2025, at tad.org/forms/homestead-exemption, with a dashboard to check your exemption status. A downloadable application is still available. More

No. Filing with the appraisal district is free. More

With the Collin Central Appraisal District (collincad.org). Yes, through the Collin CAD Taxpayer Portal at onlineportal.collincad.org. Collin CAD says emailed applications are not accepted. More

No. Filing with the appraisal district is free. More

With the Denton Central Appraisal District (www.dentoncad.com). Denton CAD says the printed application can be emailed back to info@dentoncad.com. Its FAQ does not describe a separate online filing portal. More

No. Filing with the appraisal district is free. More