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Texas Program Eligibility

Discover if you — or a loved one — are eligible to save money with property tax relief.

Click the Am I Eligible? button below to get started.

Property Tax-Aide features five Texas property tax relief programs, two of which are for older residents. They are Deferral for Elderly, Disabled Person, or Disabled Veteran, Residence Homestead Exemptions for Age 65 or older, General Residence Homestead Exemption, Residence Homestead Tax Ceiling on School District Taxes for Elderly, and the Residence Homestead Tax Deferral on Appreciating Home Values.

The information on this page is updated as new information becomes available by the relevant tax agencies.

Deferral for Elderly, Disabled Person, or Disabled Veteran

Senior citizen homeowners may postpone current and delinquent taxes imposed on the individual's residence homestead. A filed tax deferral affidavit keeps homeowners from losing their homesteads because of delinquent property taxes. A pending sale to foreclose on the homestead’s tax lien will also cease as a result of filing a tax deferral affidavit.

Once a property owner no longer lives or owns the home, past taxes and deferred interest become due. The deferred property taxes accrue five (5) percent interest annually until the deferral is removed. When the property is sold or the ownership is transferred to the estate/heirs, the taxes and accrued interest become payable

Application Deadline

Deferral affidavits must generally be filed before taxes are delinquent for the tax year you want to defer. Contact your county tax office to confirm the exact deadline for your area.

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Residence Homestead Exemptions for Age 65 or older

The residence of an individual homestead owner 65 or older, or disabled, qualifies for a $60,000 residence homestead exemption for school district taxes. This is in addition to the $140,000 exemption for all homeowners. (See General Residence Homestead Exemption)

Other local taxing units (such as cities or counties) may also offer an additional homestead exemption. If they do, it must be at least $3,000.

Application Deadline

  • Generally, the deadline to file an application for an exemption is April 30.
  • You may file a late application for a residence homestead exemption, including age 65 or older or disabled, up to two years after the delinquency date. The delinquency date is normally Feb. 1.
  • Property owners already receiving a General Residence Homestead Exemption who turn age 65 in that next year, are not required to apply for age 65 or older exemption if accurate birthdate information is included in the appraisal district records or in the information the Texas Department of Public Safety provided to the appraisal district.
  • You may apply to the appraisal district the year you become age 65 or qualify for disability. If your application is approved, you will receive the exemption for the entire year in which you become age 65 or disabled and for subsequent years as long as you own a qualified residence homestead.
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General Residence Homestead Exemption

"School districts provide a $140,000 exemption on residence homesteads. A homestead includes up to 20 acres of land, as well as any improvements used for residential purposes.

Any taxing unit, including a city, county, school district, or special district, has the option to provide an exemption, up to 20 percent of the property’s appraised value, but not less than $5,000. If a county collects a special tax for farm-to-market roads or flood control, a $3,000 exemption is allowed."

Application Deadline

  • Generally, the deadline to file an application for an exemption is April 30.
  • Residence Homestead Exemption may be filed up to two years after the deadline for filing has passed.
  • Property owners apply for a general residence homestead exemption in the appraisal district.
  • New: Texas now requires county appraisal districts to verify your homestead exemption at least once every five years. If you receive a verification notice and don’t respond to it, you could lose the exemption and owe more in property taxes.
Am I eligible?

Residence Homestead Tax Ceiling on School District Taxes for Elderly

This a limit on the amount of school district taxes paid on the residence homestead of an owner age 65 or older or a disabled homeowner. The tax ceiling is the amount of school district taxes paid on the qualified property when the homeowner qualified for the age 65 or older or disabled person exemption. The amount of school taxes the property owner pays cannot increase as long as he or she owns and lives in the home.

Application Deadline

There is no need to apply as long as there is an Over 65 Exemption on the property

Am I eligible?

Residence Homestead Tax Deferral on Appreciating Home Values

A property owner who qualifies for the deferral can take advantage by deferring the current taxes on the value of the homestead increased by more than 5% from the preceding year, excluding any new improvements. This tax relief allows homeowners to pay the property taxes on 105 percent of the preceding year’s appraised value of their homestead, plus the taxes on any new improvements to the homestead. The deferral postpones the remaining taxes, with interest accruing at 8 percent per year but does not cancel them.

Application Deadline

Your county appraiser or tax office may have slight variations in application procedures, so it’s best to contact them directly or visit their website to confirm current requirements, including deadlines to apply.

Am I eligible?

Property Tax-Aide has independently selected the property tax relief programs featured on this website that we think are the most relevant and beneficial to older adults. It is not an exhaustive list of all property tax relief programs available in each state. Please consult your local tax agency for a comprehensive listing of property tax relief programs in your area.

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