Do you want content like this delivered to your inbox?
Share
Share

It's time to file your homestead exemption

Paul Reddam

Paul leverages his 25 years of experience in the Austin market to provide individuals with an unparalleled level of personal attention and responsive ...

Paul leverages his 25 years of experience in the Austin market to provide individuals with an unparalleled level of personal attention and responsive ...

Jan 19 5 minutes read

In Texas everyone gets one homestead exemption for their primary residence that reduces your property tax bill by removing part of your home's value from taxation.  The homestead exemption does a couple of key things for you:

(1)  It keeps your taxes from increasing more than 10% in any given year, and

(2)  You may get a tax break, often around 15%, depending on what government services you receive at your address.


Only your principal residence qualifies for the exemption.

HOW TO CLAIM YOUR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION

In order to claim your homestead exemption, you will need to complete the paperwork for the county where you live and provide evidence that you live in your home.  The forms for filing your homestead exemption can be found at the links below.  Just fill out the forms as directed and file them, along with the required documentation, with the appraisal district of the appropriate county by the corresponding deadline.  Generally, the forms for this year must be filed no later than April 30th.

For your convenience, here are the links for the Austin-area counties:

Bastrop County

Burnet County

Caldwell County

Hays County

Llano Central

Travis County

Williamson County

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

Be prepared to provide evidence that you live in your home, such as providing copies of your driver's license or vehicle registration.  Remember, the address on the documentation must match the home address you are seeking to exempt.  

Because the amount of the tax exemption can be significant, I recommend you verify that your application was received and processed.  To that end, be sure to keep any electronic or written receipts.

CHANGES IN THE PROCESS

It used to be that you had to wait until the following year to qualify for the homestead exemption (which is why I'm sending this to you in January).  But starting January 1, 2022 you can file your homestead exemption in the year when you actually purchase the property instead of waiting to the following year.  That equates to tax savings sooner, so keep that in mind if you purchase a new homestead this year.

OTHER EXEMPTIONS

Beyond the homestead exemption, there are additional exemptions for our disabled veterans, persons over age 65, those with disabilities, and the surviving spouse of a first responder or member of the armed services killed in the course of duty.  You can learn more about those exemptions here

Please let us know if we can be of any help as you work through the homestead exemption process.  And while I'm on the subject of taxes, let us know if you need a copy of your closing statement to include with your tax return.  

Wishing you all the best for a safe and healthy 2022.

Paul Reddam, Associated Broker

[email protected] 

512-789-0869

You might also like these essential articles for home owners

If you want to see more information about buying or selling a home in Austin, you might like these articles. 



We've got you covered

Getting ready for the big move.  Negotiations.  Inspections.  There are a lot of moving parts to buying or selling a house in Austin, Texas.   

Rest easy.  We're sharing our sage advice and insightful tips so that you have peace of mind from the beginning to end of your real estate transaction. 

Never miss an update

See our real world results

Can you imagine loving your real estate experience?  It's possible!  Just look at our reviews on Yelp and Zillow.

Take the next step

Are you ready to get started?  We're here to guide you through the process.  Contact us to schedule a consult.  

We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience and deliver our services. By continuing to visit this site, you agree to our use of cookies. More info