Who qualifies for the General residence homestead exemption in Texas?

You own the home and live in it as your main home, and you don't claim another residence homestead anywhere. School districts must exempt $140,000 of appraised value. Any taxing unit may add a local exemption of up to 20% of value (at least $5,000). A county with a farm-to-market or flood-control tax must exempt $3,000. Deadline: Before May 1 (many districts say April 30).

Who qualifies for the Age 65 or older exemption in Texas?

You are 65 or older, own the home and live in it as your main home. You qualify the date you turn 65. A surviving spouse age 55 or older can take the deceased spouse's exemption if they live in the home. School districts must exempt an extra $60,000 on top of the $140,000. Any taxing unit may add a local exemption of at least $3,000. If you are both 65 and disabled you can get both, but not from the same taxing unit. Deadline: Before May 1. You qualify as soon as you turn 65.

Who qualifies for the Disabled person exemption in Texas?

You meet the Social Security Administration definition of disabled for federal disability insurance. Other disability programs don't automatically qualify. You may need documents. The same extra $60,000 school exemption and $3,000 minimum local option as the age 65 exemption. You can't get it from a taxing unit that already gives you the age 65 exemption. Deadline: Before May 1. You qualify when you become disabled, even after January 1.

Who qualifies for the Disabled veteran exemption (partial) in Texas?

A veteran with a service-connected disability rating from the VA or service branch. An unmarried surviving spouse keeps the veteran's amount. With no surviving spouse, unmarried children under 18 share $5,000. Off the assessed value of one property you choose, for all taxing units: 10% to under 30%, up to $5,000; 30% to under 50%, up to $7,500; 50% to under 70%, up to $10,000; 70% or more, up to $12,000. Veterans 65 or older with at least a 10% rating, or blind in one or both eyes, or who lost the use of a limb, get $12,000. The property doesn't have to be your homestead. Deadline: Before May 1.

Who qualifies for the 100% disabled veteran or surviving spouse exemption in Texas?

A veteran awarded 100% disability compensation for a service-connected disability and rated 100% disabled or individually unemployable by the VA. The unmarried surviving spouse keeps the exemption on that home, or on a later homestead in the dollar amount of the last exemption, while it stays their residence homestead. 100% of the appraised value of your home, from all taxing units. Deadline: Before May 1. If you qualify during the year, it applies from the qualification date for the rest of that year.

Rules by state / Texas

Texas property tax, line by line.

Texas has no state property tax. Each local taxing unit (county, city, school district, special districts) bills you, and many counties mail one combined bill. If your taxes are escrowed, your mortgage servicer gets the bill.

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At a glance

Who sends the bill: Each local taxing unit bills. Many counties mail one combined bill. Mortgage servicers receive the bill if taxes are escrowed.
When it comes: Starting in October. If you have no bill by mid-January, call your local tax office. Not getting a bill does not change the delinquency date.
When it's due: Generally January 31. Unpaid taxes are delinquent February 1. If the original bill is mailed after January 10, the delinquency date moves to the first day of the next month that gives you at least 21 days to pay. The date is printed on your bill.
If you pay late: On the delinquency date: 6% penalty plus 1% interest. The penalty rises 1 point a month until July 1, when it becomes 12% and stops. Interest continues at 1% a month with no cap. A private collection attorney may add up to 20%. Deferred taxes accrue 5% a year instead.
Value is set as of: January 1 of the tax year
Limits on increases: For a homestead, the appraised value can't rise more than 10% a year, plus the value of new improvements. The cap starts the January 1 after the year you first qualify for the homestead exemption. It does not cap tax rates.

Bill dates source · Assessment source

What may come off

10 programs homeowners can claim

None of these are applied for you automatically. Each one is free to apply for. If you upload your bill, we check which ones are already on it and which may fit you.

General residence homestead exemption

Who: You own the home and live in it as your main home, and you don't claim another residence homestead anywhere.
What you get: School districts must exempt $140,000 of appraised value. Any taxing unit may add a local exemption of up to 20% of value (at least $5,000). A county with a farm-to-market or flood-control tax must exempt $3,000.
How to apply: File with the appraisal district in the county where the home is. Form: Form 50-114.
Deadline: Before May 1 (many districts say April 30).
If you're late: You can file up to two years after the delinquency date. A granted late filing produces a corrected bill.
After that: One time while you own and live in the home. The chief appraiser may ask for a new application.

Source

Age 65 or older exemption

Who: You are 65 or older, own the home and live in it as your main home. You qualify the date you turn 65. A surviving spouse age 55 or older can take the deceased spouse's exemption if they live in the home.
What you get: School districts must exempt an extra $60,000 on top of the $140,000. Any taxing unit may add a local exemption of at least $3,000. If you are both 65 and disabled you can get both, but not from the same taxing unit.
How to apply: File with the appraisal district. Form: Form 50-114.
Deadline: Before May 1. You qualify as soon as you turn 65.
If you're late: Up to two years after the delinquency date.
After that: One time.

Source

Disabled person exemption

Who: You meet the Social Security Administration definition of disabled for federal disability insurance. Other disability programs don't automatically qualify. You may need documents.
What you get: The same extra $60,000 school exemption and $3,000 minimum local option as the age 65 exemption. You can't get it from a taxing unit that already gives you the age 65 exemption.
How to apply: File with the appraisal district. Form: Form 50-114.
Deadline: Before May 1. You qualify when you become disabled, even after January 1.
If you're late: Up to two years after the delinquency date.
After that: One time. The district may ask for proof.

Source

Disabled veteran exemption (partial)

Who: A veteran with a service-connected disability rating from the VA or service branch. An unmarried surviving spouse keeps the veteran's amount. With no surviving spouse, unmarried children under 18 share $5,000.
What you get: Off the assessed value of one property you choose, for all taxing units: 10% to under 30%, up to $5,000; 30% to under 50%, up to $7,500; 50% to under 70%, up to $10,000; 70% or more, up to $12,000. Veterans 65 or older with at least a 10% rating, or blind in one or both eyes, or who lost the use of a limb, get $12,000. The property doesn't have to be your homestead.
How to apply: File with the appraisal district. Form: Form 50-135.
Deadline: Before May 1.
If you're late: Up to five years after the delinquency date.
After that: One time. You can't be required to reapply every year if your rating is permanent and total.

Source

100% disabled veteran or surviving spouse exemption

Who: A veteran awarded 100% disability compensation for a service-connected disability and rated 100% disabled or individually unemployable by the VA. The unmarried surviving spouse keeps the exemption on that home, or on a later homestead in the dollar amount of the last exemption, while it stays their residence homestead.
What you get: 100% of the appraised value of your home, from all taxing units.
How to apply: File with the appraisal district, with VA documentation. Form: Form 50-114.
Deadline: Before May 1. If you qualify during the year, it applies from the qualification date for the rest of that year.
If you're late: Up to five years after the delinquency date.
After that: One time. The district can't require yearly reapplication when the VA rating is permanent and total.

Form 50-114: the form

Surviving spouse of a service member killed in the line of duty

Who: You are the unremarried surviving spouse of a U.S. armed services member killed or fatally injured in the line of duty, and you live in the home.
What you get: Total exemption of your home.
How to apply: File with the appraisal district. Form: Form 50-114.
Deadline: Before May 1.
If you're late: Confirm the late filing rules with your appraisal district.
After that: One time while you stay unremarried and live in the home.

Source

Surviving spouse of a veteran who died from a qualifying condition

Who: You are the unremarried surviving spouse of a veteran who died from a qualifying condition or disease, whatever the rating at death, and you live in the home.
What you get: Total exemption of your home.
How to apply: File with the appraisal district. Form: Form 50-114.
Deadline: Before May 1.
If you're late: Confirm with your appraisal district.
After that: One time while you stay unremarried and live in the home.

Source

Surviving spouse of a first responder killed in the line of duty

Who: You are the unremarried surviving spouse of certain first responders killed or fatally injured in the line of duty, and you live in the home.
What you get: Total exemption of your home.
How to apply: File with the appraisal district. Form: Form 50-114.
Deadline: Before May 1.
If you're late: Confirm with your appraisal district.
After that: One time while you stay unremarried and live in the home.

Source

School tax ceiling

Who: You qualify for the age 65 or disabled homestead exemption, or you are a surviving spouse age 55 or older who qualifies for the deceased spouse's age 65 exemption.
What you get: Your school taxes on the home are capped at the amount from the first year you qualify. It is a tax ceiling, not a value freeze, so new improvements or a rate change can change the capped amount. It can move to a later Texas homestead as a percentage. Cities, counties and special districts may adopt their own ceilings.
How to apply: It comes with the age 65 or disabled exemption on Form 50-114. To move it to a new home, get a school tax ceiling certificate from the appraisal district. Form: Form 50-114 / Form 50-272.
Deadline: Same as the age 65 or disabled exemption.

Form 50-114 / Form 50-272: the form

Tax deferral

Who: You are 65 or older, disabled, or qualified for a disabled veteran exemption, and you own and live in the home.
What you get: Collection, suit and tax sale are put off while you own and live in the home, and until the 181st day after the collector's notice once you stop. The lien stays. Interest is 5% a year instead of the regular penalty and interest. The right can't be transferred to someone else.
How to apply: File an affidavit with the chief appraiser, who notifies each taxing unit. Form: Deferral affidavit.
Deadline: File the affidavit to stop collection. Interest already accrued before the deferral stays.

Deferral affidavit: the form

Think your value is too high?

Asking for a lower appraised value

Free review: Yes. Your notice of appraised value explains how to ask for an informal conference with the appraisal district before the ARB hearing.
Formal appeal: The Appraisal Review Board (ARB). You can then appeal to state district court, and in some cases to binding arbitration or the State Office of Administrative Hearings.
Deadline: May 15, or 30 days after the appraisal district mails your notice of appraised value, whichever is later. Homestead notices are due by April 1 or as soon after as practicable. A late protest is allowed for good cause before the ARB approves the appraisal records. If you never got a notice, you can protest until the day before delinquency, usually February 1.
Fee: No fee to file with the ARB. Court and arbitration filings have fees.
Good to know: The ARB decides the protest. Ask the appraisal district whether your value could go up before you file.

A formal appeal reopens your whole value: the board can raise it as well as lower it. Bring recent sales of similar homes.

Source · We never charge for help asking for a lower value.

What can't come off

Charges you can't remove

School, city, county and special-district debt taxes on the value left after exemptions
Maintenance and operations taxes on the value left after exemptions
Value of new improvements, which is outside the 10% homestead cap
Taxes from units that haven't adopted a local homestead or over-65 exemption
PID and other special assessments that aren't based on value

Your bill is the sum of every taxing unit that taxes your parcel: county, city, school and special districts, including municipal utility districts (MUDs). Districts don't have to offer a local homestead or over-65 exemption. Only the school amounts and the county $3,000 farm-to-market or flood-control exemption are required. Public improvement district (PID) and similar special assessments are not ad valorem taxes and the homestead exemption doesn't remove them. Your appraisal district's exemption list shows which optional exemptions each district adopted.

Watch out. Anyone who charges to protest your value, negotiate with the appraisal district or act as your agent must be registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, unless they are a Texas attorney, a Texas CPA, your employee, or another listed exemption. A registered consultant may not promise a specific result. Don't pay for something you can do yourself: you can file the exemption form and protest for free.

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Rules checked October 28, 2026 against official Texas sources. Rules change: check the deadline with your county before you rely on it. Not legal or tax advice.