Texas Homestead Exemption Guide
A homestead exemption is separate from — and just as valuable as — a property tax protest. It doesn't change your appraised value; it reduces how much of that value is actually taxable. Here's who qualifies, the current exemption amounts, and how to apply, sourced directly from the Texas Comptroller.
What Is a Homestead Exemption in Texas?
A homestead exemption removes part of your home's value from taxation. It applies to the home you own and occupy as your principal residence — not a rental, vacation home, or investment property. Per the Texas Comptroller, you must have an ownership interest in the property, use it as your principal residence, and not claim a homestead exemption on any other property in or outside Texas (source).
A homestead exemption and a property tax protest are two different tools that both lower your tax bill. The exemption reduces the taxable portion of a given appraised value; a protest challenges the appraised value itself. See our guide to protesting property taxes in Texas for the second tool.
How Much Is the Homestead Exemption Worth?
Those two figures apply to school district taxes, which are the largest share of most Texas property tax bills. Cities, counties, and other local taxing units can, at their own discretion, offer additional homestead exemptions on top of the school-tax amount — check with your specific taxing units for those local amounts (source: Texas Comptroller).
Illustrative example, not a guarantee: if your home is appraised at $400,000 and your school district's tax rate is roughly 1%, a $140,000 exemption removes that amount from the taxable base — taxing $260,000 instead of $400,000. The actual dollar savings depends on your specific appraised value and the tax rates set by each of your local taxing units, which change every year. Your county appraisal district or tax office can tell you your exact taxable value after exemption.
Who Qualifies?
Per the Texas Comptroller, to qualify for the general residence homestead exemption you must:
- Have an ownership interest in the property
- Use the property as your principal residence
- Not claim a homestead exemption on another residence, in Texas or any other state
Homeowners who are 65 or older, or who meet the state's disability definition, qualify for the additional $60,000 exemption on top of the general amount (source: Texas Comptroller). Contact your county appraisal district if you're unsure whether your specific situation qualifies.
How to Apply for a Homestead Exemption
File Form 50-114
Complete Texas Comptroller Form 50-114, “Application for Residence Homestead Exemption,” and submit it to your county appraisal district. Most appraisal districts, including TCAD, WCAD, and Hays CAD, also accept it through their online portal.
Deadline
The general deadline to file is before May 1 (source: Texas Comptroller). File as soon as you own and occupy the home rather than waiting — ask your appraisal district directly if you've missed the deadline, since acceptance of late applications is a question for the district, not something we assert here.
Where to file, by county
Travis County (TCAD) · Williamson County (WCAD) · Hays County (Hays CAD)
Already have your exemption? Check if you're still over-assessed
A homestead exemption and a protest work together — the exemption lowers your taxable value, a successful protest lowers your appraised value in the first place.
Check My Property