If you own a home in Texas and haven't filed for homestead exemption, you are literally overpaying property taxes.
What it does:
- Exempts $100,000 of your home's assessed value from SCHOOL DISTRICT taxes (updated by Prop 4, 2023)
- Additional exemptions from city, county, and special districts (varies, typically $5K-$25K)
- Caps annual assessed value increases at 10% for school taxes (even if market value jumps 30%)
- 65+ or disabled: Additional $10,000 school tax exemption + permanent tax freeze
The math (example):
- Home assessed at $400,000
- School district tax rate: 1.2%
- Without homestead: $400K x 1.2% = $4,800 school taxes
- With homestead: ($400K - $100K) x 1.2% = $3,600 school taxes
- Annual savings: $1,200+ just on school taxes
How to file:
- Go to your county appraisal district website:
- Dallas: dallascad.org
- Tarrant: tad.org
- Collin: collincad.org
- Denton: dentoncad.com
- Download the homestead exemption application
- Provide proof of ownership and residency (driver's license matching the property address)
- File between January 1 and April 30 (but late filings are accepted up to 2 years retroactive)
You only file ONCE. It stays in effect until you sell or stop using the property as your primary residence.
Sources:
- Texas Tax Code Section 11.13 (homestead exemption)
- Texas Constitutional Amendment Prop 4 (2023) — $100K school exemption
- DCAD, TAD, CCAD, DCAD — application forms
- Texas Comptroller — property tax exemption guide
This takes 10 minutes and saves $1,000+ per year. Every year. For as long as you own the home.
Whats your experience been?
If you're 65+, the school tax FREEZE is incredible. Your school taxes are locked at whatever they were when you turned 65. Doesn't matter if your home value triples.