What Is a Homestead Exemption in Texas?
A homestead exemption in Texas is a property tax benefit that reduces the taxable value of your primary residence. If you own and live in a home in Texas, the homestead exemption removes $140,000 from your home's value before school district taxes are calculated, meaning you pay school taxes on a lower amount. Combined with optional city and county exemptions, eligible homeowners can exempt $180,000 or more from their total taxable value.
The homestead exemption is free to apply for, renews automatically each year, and is available to any Texas homeowner who uses the property as their primary residence. It is the single most impactful way to reduce your property tax bill before even filing a protest.
How Much Can You Save with a Homestead Exemption?
For 2026, the school district homestead exemption is $140,000. That is up from $100,000 thanks to Proposition 13 (SB 4), which Texas voters approved in November 2025. Most cities and counties also offer optional exemptions of up to 20% of your home's value (minimum $5,000). On a $200,000 home, that 20% local exemption adds another $40,000, bringing total potential exemptions above $180,000.
Here is how the Texas homestead exemption works in 2026, who qualifies, how much you can save, and how to apply.
Texas Homestead Exemption Amounts (2026)
Here are the current exemption amounts available to Texas homeowners:
| Exemption Type |
School Districts |
Cities/Counties |
| General Homestead |
$140,000 |
Up to 20% of value (min $5,000) |
| Over 65 or Disabled |
Additional $10,000 |
At least $3,000 (optional) |
| Disabled Veteran (10-100%) |
$5,000 - $12,000+ |
Varies |
| 100% Disabled Veteran |
100% exemption |
100% exemption |
Maximum school district exemption for seniors/disabled: $150,000 ($140,000 general + $10,000 additional)
What Changed with Proposition 13?
In November 2025, Texas voters approved Proposition 13 (SB 4), which:
- Raised the school district homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000
- Built on the prior 2023 Proposition 4 increase (which had bumped the exemption from $40,000 to $100,000) and made the 10% appraisal cap apply to all homesteads from year one
- Delivers roughly $400 in additional annual school-tax savings for the typical Texas homeowner on top of the Prop 4 savings
Together, Prop 4 and Prop 13 represent the largest property tax reduction in Texas history. Learn more about recent Texas property tax law changes.
How Much Can You Save?
The Texas homestead exemption reduces your taxable value, not your tax bill directly. Your savings depend on local tax rates.
Example calculation (2026):
- Home market value: $400,000
- School district tax rate: 1.0%
- Without exemption: $400,000 × 1.0% = $4,000 in school taxes
- With $140,000 exemption: $260,000 × 1.0% = $2,600 in school taxes
- Annual savings: $1,400 (school taxes only)
Additional savings come from city, county, and special district exemptions where offered. Note that your exemption is applied to your appraised value, so understanding the difference between appraised value and capped value can help you maximize savings.
Who Qualifies for a Texas Homestead Exemption?
To qualify for a residential homestead exemption in Texas, you must:
- Own the property - Your name must be on the deed (not an LLC or corporation)
- Occupy it as your primary residence - Live there more than half the year
- Not claim a homestead exemption elsewhere - Only one homestead per person/couple
- Be a Texas resident - The home must be in Texas
Documentation That May Be Required
- Texas driver's license or ID with the property address
- Vehicle registration showing the property address
- Voter registration at the property address
- Utility bills in your name at the property
How to Apply for a Texas Homestead Exemption in 2026
Follow these steps to apply for your homestead exemption:
Step 1: Determine Your Deadline
The deadline to apply for a homestead exemption is typically April 30 of the tax year. However, you can file a late application up to two years after the deadline and receive the exemption for that year.
For 2026 property taxes: Apply by April 30, 2026 (or file late by April 30, 2028).
Step 2: Get the Application Form
Download Form 50-114 (Application for Residential Homestead Exemption) from:
Step 3: Complete the Application
The form requires:
- Property information (address, legal description, account number)
- Owner information
- Affirmation that the property is your primary residence
- Information about any additional exemptions (over 65, disabled, veteran)
Step 4: Submit to Your County Appraisal District
Submit the completed application to your county's appraisal district (not the tax assessor-collector). Methods vary by county:
- Online - Many counties accept electronic applications
- Mail - Send to your county appraisal district
- In person - Drop off at the appraisal district office
Apply for Your Homestead Exemption by County
Use these direct links to apply online with your county's appraisal district:
Don't see your county? Search for "[Your County] Appraisal District" to find your local CAD website.
Step 5: Receive Confirmation
The appraisal district will review your application and notify you of approval or denial. Once approved, the exemption automatically renews each year unless your eligibility changes.
Types of Texas Homestead Exemptions
General Residential Homestead Exemption
Available to all homeowners who use the property as their primary residence.
- School districts: $100,000 exemption (mandatory)
- Cities and counties: Up to 20% of home value, minimum $5,000 (optional, varies by jurisdiction)
Over 65 Exemption
Available to homeowners age 65 or older. For comprehensive details, see our complete guide to Texas property taxes for seniors.
- Additional $10,000 exemption from school district taxes
- School tax ceiling - Your school taxes are frozen at the amount due the year you turn 65
- Counties and cities may offer additional exemptions (minimum $3,000)
Important: You must apply the year you turn 65 to receive the tax ceiling benefit.
Disabled Person Exemption
Available to homeowners who are disabled as defined by federal law.
- Same benefits as the over-65 exemption
- Cannot be combined with the over-65 exemption (choose one)
Disabled Veteran Exemption
Available to veterans with a VA disability rating.
| Disability Rating |
Exemption Amount |
| 10-29% |
$5,000 |
| 30-49% |
$7,500 |
| 50-69% |
$10,000 |
| 70-100% |
$12,000 |
| 100% (unemployable) |
100% exemption |
Surviving spouses may qualify to continue the exemption.
Surviving Spouse of First Responder
Surviving spouses of first responders killed in the line of duty may qualify for a 100% homestead exemption.
Homestead Exemption vs. Property Tax Protest
The homestead exemption and property tax protests are two different ways to reduce your property taxes, and you can use both.
|
Homestead Exemption |
Property Tax Protest |
| What it does |
Reduces taxable value by fixed amount |
Reduces appraised value |
| How often |
Apply once, renews automatically |
File annually |
| Who benefits |
Only primary residences |
All property types |
| Deadline |
April 30 |
May 15 (or 30 days after notice) |
Best strategy: Apply for all exemptions you qualify for, then protest your appraised value annually. The exemption is applied to your (hopefully reduced) appraised value. For the full picture of every way to reduce your bill, see our guide on how to lower property taxes in Texas.
Texas Homestead Exemption Checklist
Print or save this checklist to ensure you have everything ready for your application:
Documents to Gather
Application Steps
Important Deadlines for 2026
After Approval
Don't Leave Money on the Table
If you own a home in Texas and haven't applied for your homestead exemption, you could be overpaying by $1,400 or more per year in school taxes alone. The application is free and only takes a few minutes.
And once you have your exemption, consider protesting your property tax appraisal to save even more. Ballard Property Tax Protest helps Texas homeowners reduce their assessed values through evidence-based protests, and there is no fee unless we lower your value.
Estimate your 2026 savings in under a minute.
Protest in Your County
After your homestead exemption is on file, the next-biggest lever is protesting your appraised value. We have detailed guides for the largest Texas counties:
