The Texas Homestead Exemption Guide

Bought the house? Don't forget this.

If your Texas home is your primary residence, you may qualify for a residence homestead exemption that reduces the value of your home subject to certain property taxes.

↓ Let's save some money
Here's why this matters

$140,000 can come off the taxable value for school taxes.

Texas school districts provide a $140,000 general residence homestead exemption to qualifying homeowners.

That's an exemption from taxable value, not a $140,000 check and not $140,000 off your tax bill.
01
First things first

What exactly is a homestead exemption?

It removes part of a qualifying home's value from taxation. That means the taxing unit calculates property tax using a lower taxable value.

It doesn't change what you paid for the house, and it doesn't mean the state sends you the exemption amount in cash.

$500K
A simple example

Let's say the home is valued at $500,000.

For the school district's general residence homestead exemption, the basic math looks like this.

Home value $500,000
School homestead exemption − $140,000
Value subject to school tax $360,000
02
Do you qualify?

It needs to actually be your home.

For the general Texas residence homestead exemption, you generally need an ownership interest in the property and must use it as your principal residence.

You also cannot claim another residence homestead exemption on another property.

□ You have an ownership interest in the home Owner
□ You use it as your principal residence Primary home
□ You aren't claiming another residence homestead One home
Just moved in? Texas law can allow someone who acquires a property after January 1 to receive the exemption for the applicable portion of that year once they qualify, if the previous owner did not receive the same exemption for that tax year.
The application

Meet Form 50-114.

The Residence Homestead Exemption Application is filed with the appraisal district in the county where your property is located.

Don't send it to the Texas Comptroller. Your local appraisal district is the office that processes the application and determines whether the property qualifies.

01 Find your county appraisal district
02 Complete Form 50-114
03 Gather the required supporting documents
04 Submit everything to the appraisal district
03
Before you apply

Get your paperwork together.

Form 50-114 and your appraisal district's instructions tell you what supporting documentation applies to your situation.

□ Residence Homestead Exemption Application Form 50-114
□ Required identification Check form
□ Property information Have ready
□ Any additional documentation your situation requires If applicable
Use the current form. Requirements can change, so download the latest Form 50-114 or follow your county appraisal district's application process rather than relying on an old copy saved online.
Put this on the calendar

April 30 is the general filing deadline.

The general deadline for a residence homestead exemption application is April 30 of the year for which you're requesting the exemption.

Missed it? Don't automatically assume you're out of luck. Texas allows certain residence homestead applications to be filed late, subject to the applicable rules.

There may be more

$140,000 isn't necessarily the end of it.

The general school-district exemption is only one part of Texas's residence homestead exemption system. Depending on the homeowner and where the property is located, other exemptions may apply.

+ Local-option residence homestead exemptions
+ Age 65 or older exemptions
+ Disabled-person exemptions
+ Qualifying disabled-veteran exemptions
+ Certain surviving-spouse exemptions
04
Last step

Make sure it was approved.

Filing the application isn't the same thing as assuming the exemption is now on your property. Keep the appraisal district's correspondence and review your property records and tax information.

Something look wrong? Contact the appraisal district that handles your property. The local chief appraiser determines whether a property qualifies for the exemption.
House bought. Exemption filed.

Welcome home. Now don't pay taxes on value you don't have to.

The homestead exemption is one of those Texas homeowner tasks that's easy to overlook after closing. Put it on the new-home checklist and get it handled.