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Homestead Exemption: 6 Things To Know Before You File

December 7, 2020
By: Texas Title

Homestead Exemption

What is the purpose of a Homestead Exemption?

As one of the largest ongoing expenses related to owning real estate in Texas, the savings related to the Homestead Exemption could be hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

Am I eligible to file for a Homestead Exemption?

As a general rule for most taxing jurisdictions in Texas, if you purchase a property that you also occupy as your primary residence, you may file for a Homestead Exemption.

Asset Protection and Homestead Exemption.

In addition to receiving a lower tax rate on your primary residence in Texas, the homestead exemption also offers important asset exemption to this class of asset. In fact, Texas, unlike other states with homestead exemption laws, has an unlimited dollar value on the homestead exemption and the protections offered.

What is the deadline to file for a Homestead Exemption?

You must file the application no earlier than January 1 of the year following your purchase through April 30 of that same year. If you miss the deadline, you will likely be unable to apply again until the next year, thus being subjected to a higher tax burden during that time. In most cases, you may be able to file for up to two years if you missed the April 30 deadline.

How do I quickly, easily, and most importantly, correctly apply for a Homestead Exemption?

  1. Download the universal fill-in-the-blank Homestead Exemption form.
  2. Determine the appropriate mailing address information for your specific county.
  3. Take time to complete the application thoroughly.
  4. Mail your completed application to your county appraisal district. It’s best to send the application via certified mail so you can show the postmark and delivery date should it get lost or misplaced.

Below are links where you will find the Universal Homestead Exemption Form and the contact information for all the County Appraisal Districts:

Warning! Do not reply to solicitation letters about Homestead Exemptions and/or Mortgage Protection Insurance. 

Some companies are mailing letters to new home buyers immediately after they close on a property, falsely claiming that they need to pay a fee to file for a Homestead Exemption. The appraisal office does NOT mail letters to solicit money from new home buyers and they do NOT charge a fee to file for a Homestead Exemption. Please disregard any correspondence you receive in the mail related to filing your Homestead Exemption.

Sources:

County Websites:

Collin County
Dallas County
Denton County
Ellis County
Grayson County
Johnson County
Kaufman County
Parker County
Rockwall County
Tarrant County

Your Homestead Exemption will be denied unless all of the required documents show the same homestead address.

 

 

 


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