Homestead Exemption Facts for Austin Texas

What exemptions are available?
There are several partial and absolute exemptions available. Some of these exemptions includ:

• General Residential Homestead
• Over 65
• Over 55 Surviving Spouse
• Disability Homestead
• Disabled Veterans, Charitable
• Religious
• Freeport and Pollution Control

Additional information can be found on the Forms page of their website under Exemptions or by contacting Customer Services at (512) 834-9138.

Does my home qualify for an exemption?

As a general rule to qualify for an exemption you must own your home and it must be your principal place of residence. Additional qualifications may apply based on the exemption.  Additional information can be found on the Forms page of our website under Exemptions or by contacting Customer Services at (512) 834-9138.

Is there a fee to file for an exemption?
It is not necessary for homeowners to pay anyone to file for a homesteead exemption or to obtain a refund for the late filing of a homestead or senior citizen exemption. Homestead exemption forms are available for free. You can download an application from our website on the Forms page under Exemptions or you can request that an application be mailed to you by contacting Customer Services at (512) 834-9138. The applications must be filed with appraisal district and may be hand delivered, mailed or faxed. There is no application fee and this service is provided free of charge.

Where do I have to go to file my homestead exemption?

8314 Cross Park Drive  Austin, TX 78754

Fax your Homestead Exemption: 512-834-8651  (not available on the site had to call)

 Can I file my exemption electronically?

No, you can not file electronically. We accept applications by mail, fax, or in person at our Customer Services Department.

Will this protect me in case of a lawsuit?

Texas has two distinct laws for designating a homestead. The Texas Tax Code offers homeowners a way to apply for homestead exemptions to reduce local property taxes.  The Texas Property Code allows homeowners to designate their homesteads to protect them from a forces sale to satisfy creditors. This law does not, however, protect the homeowner from tax foreclosure sales of their homes for delinquent taxes. For more information on homestead designation as provided by the Texas Property Code please contact the Office of Attorney General at www.oag.state.tx.us

How much will I save?

An exemption removes part of the value of your property from taxation and lowers your tax bill. In addition to the state mandated exemption amounts for school taxes, each taxing unit decides whether to offer the optional exemption and at what percentage.  For example, Travis County offers a 20 percent exemption for the Homestead exemption.  If your property were valued at $200,000 and you qualify for the 20 percent Homestead exemption from the county ($40,000), you would pay county taxes on your home as if it were worth only $160,000. The amount of savings depends on the exemption and the amount of exemption allowed by each taxing units.

How do I apply for an exemption?

Exemption applications are available from the Customer Services department during normal business hours. You may also request to have an application mailed to you at (512) 834-9138, or you may download the application from the Forms page of their website.

Do I apply for a homestead exemption annually?

Only a one-time application is required, unless by written notice, the Chief Appraiser requests the property owner to file a new application. However, a new application is required when a property owner’s residence homestead is changed.

Do I have to fill out the top box on the Homestead Exemption form (Property ID, Property Type, Geo ID and  Legal Description ?

If you have the Property ID number that is helpful in processing the application; however, it is not required. You can search for the property by ID, Owners’s Name, Address, and Ref ID

What is situs?

Situs is the physical location address of the property.

I am married, do both owners have to sign the application?

No, the application only requires the signature of one of the residents. That individual must be listed on the deed.

How long before I can view my exemption on the website?

The website is updated only twice a month. Also, current year exemptions will not be reflected until after the value notices have been released (sometime mid April).

I own more than one home, can I get a homestead on both?

A person may not receive a homestead exemption for more than residence homestead in the same year.  You can receive a homestead exemption only for your main or principal residence.

What if I owned the property before I was married?

You can still only have one exemption which must be claimed on your principal residence.

I own my own homestead, but also own a home with my child that they live in. Would they qualify for a homestead?

They must have ownership interest in the property to qualify and would only receive a portion of the exemption based on the percent of ownership.

My exemption fell off from last year, why?

Exemptions reflect the January 1 owner.  If you purchased a home after January 1st the exemption in place was for the previous owner.  You must file an exemption application.

I forgot to apply for my exemption, can I receive it retroactively?

You may file a late homestead exemption application if you file it no later than one year after the date the taxes become delinquent.

Is it true that once I become 65 years of age, I will not have to pay any more taxes?

If you are 65 or older your residence homestead qualifies for more exemptions which will result in greater tax savings. The amount of the exemptions that are granted by each taxing unit is subtracted from the market value of your residence and the taxes are calculated on that “lower value”.

In addition, when you turn 65, you may receive a tax ceiling for your total school taxes; that is, the school taxes on you residence cannot increase as long as you own and live in that home. The ceiling is set at the amount you pay in the year that you qualify for the aged 65 or older exemption. The school taxes on your home subsequently may fall below the ceiling.

If you significantly improve your home (other than ordinary repairs and maintenance), tax ceilings can go up. For example, if you add a room or garage to your home, your tax ceiling can rise.  It will also change if you move to a new home.

If I am disabled and over 65 can I claim both exemptions in the same tax year?

You may not claim both an Over 65 and a disabled person’s exemption in the same tax year.

I have a disabled child. Would that qualify me for a disabled exemption?

No, the person applying for the exemption must own the home.

What types of exemptions require an annual application?

• The law requires an annual application by April 30 for some types of exemptions, including:
• Pproperty exempted from Taxation by Agreement (Property Tax Abatement)
• Historical and Archeological Sites
• Eexemption of Freeport Goods
• Exemption of Pollution Control property approved by the Texas Commission on Environment Quality (TCEQ).
• Cemeteries
• Charitable organizations
• Youth development organizations
• Religious organizations

Non-profit private schools do not have to reapply for the exemption each year once the property tax exemption is granted, unless by written notice, the Chief Appraiser requests the property owner to file a new application. However, if their exempt property changes ownership or if their qualifications for exemption change, they must reapply.

Does a non-profit organization automatically receive a property tax exemption?

No. Often organizations mistakenly believe they are entitled to a property tax exemption because they have received a federal income tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or an exemption from State sales taxes. The constitution requirements for property tax exemptions are different than the provisions covering income and sales taxes. A non-profit organization may qualify for a total exemption from property taxes, but they must apply by April 30 to the Travis Central Appraisal District for the exemption. Several exemption applications can be printed from the Forms page on this site.

Must I notify the Appraisal District if my entitlement to an exemption ends?

A person who received an exemption that is not required to be claimed annually must notify the Appraisal District in writing before May 1 after the entitlement to the exemption ends.  If you fail to do so and don’t pay your taxes in full, you will face a 50 percent delinquent tax penalty, plus interest.