Texas Property Tax Exemptions
Exemptions reduce the taxable value of your property, lowering your tax bill every year. Many homeowners miss exemptions they qualify for.
Available exemptions
Texas offers several property tax exemptions for homeowners. Each reduces the appraised value used to calculate your taxes. You can qualify for more than one.
Homestead Exemption
Eligibility: Own and occupy the property as your primary residence as of January 1.
The general homestead exemption removes $100,000 from your property's appraised value for school district taxes. Many cities and counties offer additional exemptions on top of this. There are no income or age requirements — if you own and live in the home, you likely qualify.
The homestead exemption also caps annual appraisal increases at 10% for your homestead property, protecting you from dramatic year-over-year jumps.
Over-65 Exemption
Eligibility: Homeowner age 65 or older, living in the property as primary residence.
Provides an additional $10,000 exemption from school district taxes on top of the homestead exemption. Many cities and counties offer their own over-65 exemptions as well.
The most valuable benefit is the school district tax freeze: your school taxes are capped at the amount you paid in the year you turned 65 (or the year you qualified). Even if your property value increases, your school tax bill stays the same.
Disabled Veteran Exemption
Eligibility: Veterans with a VA-rated service-connected disability.
The exemption amount is tiered based on your VA disability rating:
Disabled Person Exemption
Eligibility: Homeowner who meets Social Security disability criteria.
Provides a $10,000 exemption from school district taxes, similar to the over-65 exemption. Also includes a school tax ceiling (freeze) in the year you qualify. You cannot claim both the over-65 and disabled person exemptions — choose whichever gives you the greater benefit.
Surviving Spouse Exemptions
Eligibility: Surviving spouse of a qualifying homeowner.
If your spouse qualified for an over-65 or disabled person exemption, you may be able to keep their tax ceiling and exemptions after their death, provided you were 55 or older at the time and continue to live in the home. Surviving spouses of 100% disabled veterans may also qualify for a full property tax exemption.