Property Tax Help: Lower Your Property Taxes with the Homestead Exemption

Property tax exemptions come in all shapes and sizes. The one every homeowner in Texas should know, though, is the homestead exemption. And with a looming April 30th deadline, it’s even more important you know what it is and how it can affect your annual property tax bill.

What makes the homestead exemption so special is it gives all Texas homeowners the opportunity to receive an exemption of $25,000. Separate optional exemptions can also be offered by any taxing unit of up to 20% on the value of your primary residence.

If you’re just hearing about it for the first time here, there’s still a couple of weeks to figure out whether you can qualify or not. Your application must be postmarked by April 30 in order to allow your local county tax to process your statement before the fall.

Along with the homestead exemption, below is a list of other tax exemption opportunities the state of Texas provides to its property-owning citizens:

• Age 65 or older and disabled exemptions: Individuals age 65 or older or disabled residence homestead owners qualify for a $10,000 homestead exemption for school taxes, in addition to the $25,000 exemption for all homeowners. If the owner qualifies for both the $10,000 exemption for age 65 or older homeowners and the $10,000 exemption for disabled homeowners, the owner must choose one or the other. The owner cannot receive both exemptions.
  
• Optional age 65 or older or disabled exemptions: Any taxing unit may offer an additional exemption amount of at least $3,000 for taxpayers age 65 or older and/or disabled.
  
• County taxes: If a county collects a special tax for farm-to-market roads or flood control, a residence homestead is allowed to receive a $3,000 exemption for this tax. If the county grants an optional exemption for homeowners age 65 or older or disabled, the owners will receive only the local-option exemption.
  
• Optional percentage exemptions: Any taxing unit, including a city, county, school, or special district, may offer an exemption of up to 20 percent of a home's value. But, no matter what the percentage is, the amount of an optional exemption cannot be less than $5,000. Each taxing unit decides if it will offer the exemption and at what percentage. This percentage exemption is added to any other home exemption for which an owner qualifies. The taxing unit must decide before July 1 of the tax year to offer this exemption.
  

To apply for a homestead exemption, fill out this form and file it at your local appraisal district office.

At Propel Tax, we want you to understand that property tax loans don’t need to be complicated. If there’s an opportunity for our clients to receive other forms of relief, we want them to know how. It’s our job and passion to help those in financial need. If you have any questions on property tax exemptions give us a call at 877.324.8445 and we’d be happy to provide you with the resources that you need to in order to have peace of mind.