To file the homestead exemption in Texas, send Form 50-114, Residence Homestead Exemption Application, to the appraisal district in the county where your home is located, with a copy of your Texas driver's license or state ID showing the new address. You can apply once you own the home and live in it as your principal residence. The general deadline is April 30 of the tax year, and late applications are allowed up to two years after the deadline. You file with your county appraisal district, not the Texas Comptroller.
I'm Taylor Ring, a Mortgage Loan Officer with Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation (The Wood Group) in Belton. After closing, this is the one piece of paperwork I remind every buyer about. On the school portion of your taxes, it takes $140,000 off your home's taxable value. Here's how to file, using the Comptroller's form and what Bell, Williamson, and McLennan appraisal districts publish.
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What the Homestead Exemption Does
A homestead exemption removes part of your home's value from taxation. According to the Texas Comptroller:
- School districts must exempt $140,000 of a residence homestead's value (Tax Code Section 11.13(b)).
- Any taxing unit may add a local option of up to 20% of appraised value, with a minimum of $5,000.
- Counties that collect farm-to-market or flood control taxes must give a $3,000 exemption.
The Comptroller's own example: if your home is appraised at $300,000 and you qualify for the $140,000 school exemption, you pay school taxes as if the home were worth $160,000.
The 10% Homestead Cap
There's a second benefit. Bell CAD explains that once a home has a homestead exemption, Tax Code Section 23.23 limits increases in its assessed value to 10% a year, not counting new improvements. That cap starts on January 1 of the tax year after the first year you qualify. It doesn't limit market value, only the value used to calculate your taxes.
Who Qualifies
To qualify for the general residence homestead exemption:
- You own the home (you have an ownership interest)
- It's your principal residence. You live there
- You don't claim a homestead exemption anywhere else, in Texas or out of state
The appraisal district's chief appraiser decides whether you qualify.
Buying After January 1
You don't have to wait until next year. If you buy after January 1, you can get the exemption for the applicable portion of that tax year as soon as you qualify, if the previous owner didn't receive the same exemption for that year. If the seller had a homestead exemption, ask your appraisal district how that year will be handled on your account.
When to File
- Not before you qualify. Bell CAD notes you can't file before the date you qualify, which means owning and living in the home.
- General deadline: April 30 of the year you're requesting the exemption. The Comptroller phrases it as "before May 1."
- Late filing: Form 50-114 allows a late homestead application, including age 65 or older and disabled person exemptions, up to two years after the filing deadline (Tax Code Section 11.431). Bell CAD words it as two years after the delinquency date, which is normally February 1.
- Disabled veterans (not surviving spouses) applying under Sections 11.131 or 11.132 have up to five years after the delinquency date.
Once the exemption is granted, you generally don't reapply each year unless the chief appraiser asks you to.
How to File, Step by Step
- Close and move in. The home has to be your principal residence first.
- Update your Texas driver's license or ID to the new address. The address on it must match the home.
- Get Form 50-114 from the Comptroller or your appraisal district, or use your district's online application.
- Fill it out. Mark the exemptions you want, list each owner, and give the date you acquired the home, the date you moved in, and the physical address. The form also asks if you're transferring an exemption or tax limitation, if any part of the property produces income, and how many acres (up to 20) you occupy.
- Attach your documents and sign the affirmation.
- Submit it to the appraisal district for your county.
- Respond quickly to follow-up. If the chief appraiser asks for more information, you have 30 days to comply or the application is denied. The deadline can be extended once, for up to 15 days, for good cause.
Documents to Have Ready
- A copy of each owner's Texas driver's license or state ID with the homestead address
- Your closing documents for the acquisition date and legal description
- Supporting documents for any extra exemption, such as a VA award letter or proof of disability
- Manufactured homes: a TDHCA statement of ownership, a purchase agreement or receipt, or a sworn affidavit (Form 50-114-A)
- Heir property: an affidavit (Form 50-114-A), the prior owner's death certificate, and a recent utility bill
Exceptions to the ID Rule
Residents of certain care facilities and participants in the Attorney General's address confidentiality program can be exempt from the ID requirement. The chief appraiser may also waive the address-match rule for holders of certain driver's licenses and for active-duty U.S. armed services members and their spouses, which matters for many families near Fort Hood.
Filing in Bell, Williamson, and McLennan Counties
| Appraisal District | How to File | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Bell CAD (Belton, Temple, Killeen, Salado) | Online application from the Bell CAD exemption page, or Form 50-114 | 411 E. Central Ave., Belton, TX 76513; 254-939-5841 |
| Williamson CAD (Georgetown, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander) | WCAD online exemption form: find your property, then click the "HS Exemption" link | 625 FM 1460, Georgetown, TX 78626; 512-930-3787 |
| McLennan CAD (Waco) | Form 50-114; check mclennancad.org for filing options | 315 S. 26th St., Waco, TX 76710; 254-752-9864 |
Sources: each district's site and the Comptroller's county directory, read October 2026. Parts of Round Rock and Cedar Park sit in Travis County, so confirm which county your address is in.
Bell CAD Notes
Bell CAD says single owners and married couples filing together may be able to apply online. Other individual owners who live in the home each file a separate application, and exemptions are split by ownership percentage. Bell CAD also has offices at 301 Priest Dr. in Killeen and 205 E. Central Ave. in Temple. If you just closed in Belton, the main office is a short drive.
Williamson CAD Notes
WCAD says there's no fee to file and no need to reapply annually. Its online form covers the general homestead, over-65, disabled person, and 100% disabled veteran exemptions. One practical tip from WCAD: attachments need a lower-case file extension, like ".jpg" instead of ".JPG".
Other Counties
For Coryell, Travis, or anywhere else in Texas, look up your appraisal district in the Comptroller's county directory.
Age 65 or Older and Disabled Homeowners
- School districts give an additional $60,000 exemption for homeowners 65 or older or disabled (Section 11.13(c)). Taxing units can add a local option of at least $3,000.
- Disabled means meeting the Social Security definition for disability insurance benefits. Other programs' disability benefits don't automatically qualify.
- You can qualify for both, but not from the same taxing unit.
- School tax ceiling: Bell CAD explains that the 65 or older and disabled exemptions come with a ceiling that limits school taxes to the amount paid in the year you qualified. Improvements, such as adding a garage or pool, can raise it, and the percentage can transfer to a new Texas home.
- If you already have a homestead exemption and turn 65, Form 50-114 says you may not need to reapply when the appraisal district has accurate birth date information.
- A surviving spouse age 55 or older may keep a deceased spouse's 65 or older exemption under certain conditions.
Exemptions for Disabled Veterans and Surviving Spouses
- 100% disabled veterans, or veterans rated individually unemployable, can receive a total exemption on their residence homestead (Section 11.131). You apply on Form 50-114 with your VA award letter.
- Partial exemptions for other disability ratings fall under Section 11.22 and use Form 50-135.
- Surviving spouses of armed services members or first responders killed in the line of duty, and of certain veterans, can qualify for total exemptions (Sections 11.133, 11.134, and 11.136).
Veterans buying with state help can also read my guide to the Texas Veterans Land Board home loan.
How the Exemption Affects Your Escrow
Most buyers pay property taxes through an escrow account. The CFPB explains that your servicer collects part of each monthly payment to pay taxes and insurance, and that your escrow payment, and your total monthly payment, changes when your taxes or premiums change.
So the exemption does two things for you:
- It can lower your tax bill, which can bring your escrow payment down when your servicer adjusts it.
- Skipping it means paying taxes without it, which can lead to a higher escrow payment than you planned for.
Your initial escrow deposit is part of your prepaids at closing. My guide to closing costs in Texas explains where it shows up on your Closing Disclosure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I file for a homestead exemption in Texas?
Complete Form 50-114 and file it with the appraisal district in the county where your home is located, along with a copy of your Texas driver's license or state ID showing the home's address. Many districts, including Bell CAD and Williamson CAD, also offer an online application.
When is the deadline to file a homestead exemption in Texas?
The general deadline is April 30 of the tax year you're requesting. Form 50-114 allows a late application up to two years after the filing deadline, and disabled veterans applying under Sections 11.131 or 11.132 have up to five years after the delinquency date.
Can I file for the homestead exemption right after closing?
Yes, once you own the home and live in it as your principal residence. You can't file before you qualify. If you bought after January 1, you may get the exemption for part of that tax year, as long as the previous owner didn't receive the same exemption for that year.
How much is the Texas homestead exemption?
School districts must exempt $140,000 of a residence homestead's value. Homeowners 65 or older or disabled get an additional $60,000 from school districts, and other taxing units may offer local option exemptions on top of that.
Do I have to reapply for my homestead exemption every year?
No. Once the chief appraiser grants it, you generally don't need to reapply unless the appraisal district asks you to. You must notify the appraisal district in writing before May 1 of the year after you stop qualifying.
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Related Guides
- Texas First-Time Home Buyer Programs
- Closing Costs in Texas
- Texas Veterans Land Board Home Loan
- VA Loans in Texas
- Buying a Home in Belton and Waco
- Your Next Step as a Homebuyer
Taylor Ring, NMLS #2809683 | Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, NMLS #2289 | The Wood Group of Fairway, 127 Lake Rd Ste 300, Belton, TX 76513 | Equal Housing Opportunity. This is not a commitment to lend. All loans are subject to credit approval and program guidelines, and approval, rates, and program availability are not guaranteed. This article is general information, not tax or legal advice; your appraisal district decides exemption eligibility. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Texas Comptroller, any appraisal district, or any government agency.