Texas property tax exemptions can lower your bill — there are breaks for owner-occupants, seniors, veterans, and homeowners with disabilities, and many people who qualify never claim them. That is money left on the table every year. Below are the Texas property tax exemptions that exist, who qualifies, and how to apply. Amounts and income limits change over time and some are set locally, so treat each figure as a
starting point and confirm the current number with your local assessor.
Texas Property Tax at a Glance
| Homestead & Primary-Residence Relief | Available — see below |
| Senior Relief (Age 65+) | Available — see below |
| Veteran & Disabled-Veteran Relief | Available — see below |
| Disability Relief | Available — see below |
Verified from official state and county sources.
In This Texas Guide:
Texas Property Tax Exemptions & Relief
An exemption lowers the value your tax is figured on (or, in some states, gives you a credit or caps how fast your value can rise) — so the same tax rate produces a smaller bill. Here is each of the Texas property tax exemptions available to homeowners.
Relief does not look the same everywhere. Some states knock a flat dollar amount off your home’s value; others give a credit on the tax itself, cap how much your assessed value can rise each year, or freeze the bill for qualifying seniors. A few offer an income-based rebate instead of a value exemption. The point is the same — a lower bill for people who qualify — but the
form differs, so read each program below for how it actually works rather than assuming it is a simple dollar discount.
Homestead & Primary-Residence Relief
General Residence Homestead Exemption (Tax Code 11.13): removes $140,000 of value from school district taxes for an owner-occupied primary residence (raised from $100,000 by Proposition 13, approved November 2025). Counties/cities may add optional local exemptions (up to 20%, minimum $5,000). It also unlocks the 10% appraisal cap. File Form 50-114 with your county appraisal district (deadline generally April 30; can file anytime that year, retroactive up to 2 years).
How much / how it works: $140,000 off school-district taxable value (current, per the Texas Comptroller), plus optional local exemptions. Confirm current figures with your county appraisal district.
Senior Relief (Age 65+)
Over-65 or Disabled homeowners get an additional school exemption (a $10,000 statutory amount plus a further $60,000 from recent reform) AND a school-tax CEILING that freezes the school portion of the bill at the year-you-qualified level. Optional county/city over-65 exemptions and freezes also exist. A 65+/disabled owner may also DEFER all property tax (Tax Code 33.06). Cannot combine over-65 and disabled – take the larger.
How much / how it works: Additional school exemption for 65+/disabled (about $70,000 on top of the general homestead) plus a permanent school-tax ceiling. Confirm current amounts with your county appraisal district.
Veteran & Disabled-Veteran Relief
Disabled Veterans get a partial exemption by rating – $5,000 (10-29%), $7,500 (30-49%), $10,000 (50-69%), $12,000 (70%+) on any one property (Form 50-135). A veteran rated 100% disabled (or individually unemployable) gets a FULL exemption of the residence homestead (Tax Code 11.131, Form 50-114). Surviving spouses of 100% disabled veterans, servicemembers killed in action, and first responders killed in the line of duty are also fully exempt.
How much / how it works: $5,000-$12,000 partial, up to a full exemption at 100%. Confirm with your county appraisal district.
Disability Relief
A homeowner who meets the Social Security definition of disabled gets the same additional school exemption and school-tax ceiling as the over-65 group (choose whichever is larger – they don’t stack). Apply with Form 50-114.
How much / how it works: Additional school exemption (about $70,000) plus a school-tax ceiling. Confirm with your county appraisal district.
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Not sure which Texas breaks you qualify for?
How to Apply for Texas Property Tax Exemptions
Texas property tax exemptions are almost never automatic — you have to file for them, usually with your local assessor, and usually by a set date each year. Apply once for most breaks and they carry forward, but a few (like some senior or income-based programs) must be renewed. If you just bought your home, or just turned 65, or your disability or veteran status changed, that is the moment
to file.
Even one missed exemption can cost hundreds of dollars a year, so it is worth ten minutes to check.
Don’t want to appeal your Texas taxes yourself? A property tax appeal service can file everything for you and usually only charges if it wins — typically a share of what it saves you. It is one option; you can also appeal on your own for free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Texas property tax exemptions are available?
Texas has relief for owner-occupants (homestead), seniors 65+, veterans and disabled veterans, and homeowners with disabilities. The details, amounts, and income limits are covered above — and each is worth checking, because they can stack.
Who qualifies for a homestead exemption in Texas?
Generally an owner who lives in the home as their primary residence. Exact rules — and whether the state uses a dollar exemption, a credit, or an assessment cap — are described in the homestead section above.
How do I apply for Texas property tax exemptions?
File the application with your local assessor, usually by a set date each year. Most exemptions carry forward once approved; some must be renewed. Confirm the current form and deadline with your assessor.
Can I claim more than one of the Texas property tax exemptions?
Often yes — for example a homestead break plus a senior or veteran break — though some programs interact. The sections above note where that applies; your assessor can confirm what stacks.
Texas Property Tax Sources & Data
- Tax Foundation — Property Taxes by State & County: taxfoundation.org
- U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey): census.gov/acs
- Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (property tax data): lincolninst.edu
Exemption details for Texas on this page were verified from official Texas state and county sources and last
checked in July 2026. Amounts, income limits, and deadlines change and many are set locally — confirm the current
figures and forms with your local assessor before you rely on them.
More Property Tax Guides
- Property Tax Rates by State
- Property Tax by County
- Are You Overpaying? Over-Assessment Checker
- Property Tax Exemption Finder
Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Know Property Tax is an independent educational resource. It is not a government agency, not a county assessor, and not a tax-appeal service. Property tax rates, bills, exemptions, and deadlines change over time and vary by county and property. Confirm anything that affects your taxes with your county assessor or a licensed professional before you act.