# ExemptBack

> ExemptBack is self-help software for Texas homeowners. A free check compares your home against Texas homestead exemption law, estimates back-year refunds and yearly savings, and tells you when you do not need to buy anything.

Key facts (Texas, tax year 2025 and later; law table verified 2026-11-05; content reviewed 2026-11-07):
- School districts must exempt $140,000 of a residence homestead's value (Tax Code §11.13(b)); it was $100,000 for 2023–2024.
- Owners 65 or older or disabled get $60,000 more from school districts (§11.13(c)), $200,000 in total, plus a school tax ceiling (§11.26).
- Any taxing unit may add a local homestead exemption of up to 20% (minimum $5,000) (§11.13(n)).
- Disabled veterans: 10% to 29% $5,000, 30% to 49% $7,500, 50% to 69% $10,000, 70% to 100% $12,000 (§11.22); total homestead exemption at 100% or individual unemployability (§11.131).
- Regular deadline: before May 1. Buyers: before the first anniversary of purchase. 65+/disabled: within one year of qualifying.
- Late applications: up to 2 years after the delinquency date (§11.431); 5 years for disabled veteran exemptions (§11.439). Overpaid tax is refunded within 60 days of the collector being notified; no separate refund request.
- Filing with the county appraisal district is free (Form 50-114; Form 50-135 for the partial veteran exemption).
- ExemptBack is private self-help software: not a government agency, law firm, or property tax consultant. The check is free; an optional self-help kit is sold separately.

## Tools
- [Free homestead exemption check](https://exemptback.com/check): estimates back-year refunds and yearly savings from your county record. Free; no account needed.

## Guides
- [The Texas homestead exemption, explained](https://exemptback.com/texas-homestead-exemption): A Texas residence homestead exemption lowers the taxable value of the home you own and live in. Markdown: https://exemptback.com/md/texas-homestead-exemption.md
- [The $140,000 homestead exemption: what changed in 2025](https://exemptback.com/texas-homestead-exemption-increase): From tax year 2025, the Texas school district homestead exemption is $140,000 (up from $100,000), and homeowners 65 or older or disabled get an additional $60,000 (up from $10,000), for $200,000 in total. Markdown: https://exemptback.com/md/texas-homestead-exemption-increase.md
- [How to file a homestead exemption in Texas](https://exemptback.com/how-to-file-homestead-exemption-texas): To file a Texas homestead exemption, look up your property on your county appraisal district’s website, complete Comptroller Form 50-114, attach a copy of a Texas driver license or state ID showing the home’s address, and submit it online, by mail, or in person to that appraisal district. Markdown: https://exemptback.com/md/how-to-file-homestead-exemption-texas.md
- [Texas homestead exemption deadlines](https://exemptback.com/homestead-exemption-deadline-texas): The regular Texas homestead deadline is April 30 (the form is due before May 1, Tax Code §11.43(d)). Markdown: https://exemptback.com/md/homestead-exemption-deadline-texas.md
- [Filed late? How to get back years of homestead savings](https://exemptback.com/late-homestead-exemption-refund): In Texas you can file a late residence homestead application up to 2 years after the delinquency date for that tax year, usually February 1 of the following year (Tax Code §11.431). Markdown: https://exemptback.com/md/late-homestead-exemption-refund.md
- [Just bought a home? Your homestead exemption checklist](https://exemptback.com/homestead-exemption-new-homeowners-texas): After buying a Texas home, file Form 50-114 with your appraisal district once you live there; the deadline is the first anniversary of your purchase. Markdown: https://exemptback.com/md/homestead-exemption-new-homeowners-texas.md
- [Texas property tax exemptions at 65 and older](https://exemptback.com/over-65-property-tax-exemption-texas): A Texas homeowner 65 or older gets an additional $60,000 school district exemption from tax year 2025, on top of the $140,000 general homestead exemption, for $200,000 total. Markdown: https://exemptback.com/md/over-65-property-tax-exemption-texas.md
- [The Texas disability homestead exemption](https://exemptback.com/disability-homestead-exemption-texas): A Texas homeowner who is disabled under the Social Security disability standard gets an additional $60,000 school district exemption from tax year 2025 (Tax Code §11.13(c)), plus a school tax ceiling. Markdown: https://exemptback.com/md/disability-homestead-exemption-texas.md
- [Texas property tax exemptions for disabled veterans](https://exemptback.com/disabled-veteran-property-tax-exemption-texas): Texas exempts $5,000 to $12,000 of one property’s value for a disabled veteran based on the VA rating (Tax Code §11.22, Form 50-135). Markdown: https://exemptback.com/md/disabled-veteran-property-tax-exemption-texas.md
- [The 10% homestead cap and the tax ceiling](https://exemptback.com/homestead-cap-and-tax-ceiling-texas): Once a Texas home has a homestead exemption, its taxable appraised value cannot rise more than 10% a year plus new improvements (Tax Code §23.23), starting the tax year after the first year it qualifies. Markdown: https://exemptback.com/md/homestead-cap-and-tax-ceiling-texas.md
- [Got a letter asking you to reapply?](https://exemptback.com/homestead-exemption-reapply-letter-texas): Texas appraisal districts must review every residence homestead exemption at least once every five tax years (Tax Code §11.43(h-1), from SB 1801). Markdown: https://exemptback.com/md/homestead-exemption-reapply-letter-texas.md
- [Paid homestead letters: what they are and what to do](https://exemptback.com/homestead-exemption-scam-letters-texas): You never have to pay anyone to file a Texas homestead exemption; your appraisal district accepts the application for free. Markdown: https://exemptback.com/md/homestead-exemption-scam-letters-texas.md

## DFW appraisal districts
- [Dallas County homestead exemption](https://exemptback.com/dallas-county-homestead-exemption): Dallas County homeowners file the Texas homestead exemption (Form 50-114) with the Dallas Central Appraisal District, not the tax office. Markdown: https://exemptback.com/md/dallas-county-homestead-exemption.md
- [Tarrant County homestead exemption](https://exemptback.com/tarrant-county-homestead-exemption): Tarrant County homeowners file the Texas homestead exemption (Form 50-114) with the Tarrant Appraisal District, not the tax office. Markdown: https://exemptback.com/md/tarrant-county-homestead-exemption.md
- [Collin County homestead exemption](https://exemptback.com/collin-county-homestead-exemption): Collin County homeowners file the Texas homestead exemption (Form 50-114) with the Collin Central Appraisal District, not the tax office. Markdown: https://exemptback.com/md/collin-county-homestead-exemption.md
- [Denton County homestead exemption](https://exemptback.com/denton-county-homestead-exemption): Denton County homeowners file the Texas homestead exemption (Form 50-114) with the Denton Central Appraisal District, not the tax office. Markdown: https://exemptback.com/md/denton-county-homestead-exemption.md

## Reference
- [FAQ](https://exemptback.com/faq): every question and answer on the site. Markdown: https://exemptback.com/md/faq.md
- [Glossary](https://exemptback.com/glossary): Texas property tax terms. Markdown: https://exemptback.com/md/glossary.md
- [About and research method](https://exemptback.com/about): what ExemptBack is and how content is sourced. Markdown: https://exemptback.com/md/about.md

## Data
- [Open data catalog](https://exemptback.com/datasets/index.json): 13 JSON/CSV datasets under CC BY 4.0.
- [Texas residence homestead exemptions](https://exemptback.com/datasets/exemptions.json): Each Texas homestead-related exemption with amount, statute, form, who qualifies, and late-filing window.
- [School district homestead exemption amounts by tax year](https://exemptback.com/datasets/exemption-amounts-by-year.csv): General and 65+/disabled school district exemption amounts by tax year, as used by the ExemptBack calculator.
- [Texas homestead filing deadlines and late-filing windows](https://exemptback.com/datasets/deadlines.json): Regular, buyer, 65+ and late-filing deadlines, with the last late-filing date for each tax year.
- [Texas disabled veteran exemption schedule](https://exemptback.com/datasets/disabled-veteran-schedule.csv): Exempt amount by VA disability rating under Tax Code §11.22 and the §11.131 total exemption.
- [DFW appraisal districts: how to file a homestead exemption](https://exemptback.com/datasets/dfw-appraisal-districts.json): Dallas, Tarrant, Collin and Denton appraisal district websites, online filing options, addresses and phone numbers.
- [Texas homestead exemption questions and answers](https://exemptback.com/datasets/faq.json): Every question and answer published on ExemptBack, with the page it comes from.
- [Texas property tax glossary](https://exemptback.com/datasets/glossary.json): Definitions of Texas homestead and property tax terms.
- [How Texans search for homestead exemption help](https://exemptback.com/datasets/search-intent.json): Short-tail and long-tail query clusters observed in community threads, appraisal district FAQs and news, mapped to the page that answers each.
- [Texas homeowner homestead exemption pain points](https://exemptback.com/datasets/homeowner-pain-points.json): Recurring problems Texas homeowners report with homestead exemptions, each with sources.
- [Texas homestead exemption statistics](https://exemptback.com/datasets/statistics.json): Dated, sourced figures: 2025 proposition vote results, unclaimed exemption estimates, complaint counts.
- [Recent Texas homestead exemption legislation](https://exemptback.com/datasets/legislation.json): Bills and constitutional amendments that changed homestead exemptions since 2023.
- [Sources](https://exemptback.com/datasets/sources.json): Every primary and secondary source cited across ExemptBack.
- [ExemptBack page tree](https://exemptback.com/datasets/site-pages.json): Every public page with its topic, canonical URL, markdown mirror and last review date.

## Optional
- [Full text of all guides](https://exemptback.com/llms-full.txt)
- [Sitemap](https://exemptback.com/sitemap.xml)
- [Disclaimers and the law the calculator uses](https://exemptback.com/disclaimer)