If you own a home in Texas and haven't filed for your homestead exemption, you're overpaying on property taxes. The exemption removes $100,000 from your home's taxable value for school district taxes alone. On a $280,000 home in Liberty County at roughly $0.97 per $100, that's about $970 per year in school tax savings — and county and city exemptions stack on top.
At a glance
- File with your county appraisal district — not your mortgage company, not the county clerk.
- The standard deadline is April 30. Late filing is allowed up to two years.
- Once filed, the exemption stays permanently. No annual renewal.
- The 10% annual appraisal cap kicks in the year after you file.
- Additional exemptions exist for homeowners 65+, disabled persons, and disabled veterans.
Who qualifies?
You qualify if you owned and occupied the home as your principal residence on January 1 of the tax year. The address on your Texas driver's license must match the property.
- One homestead exemption at a time, even if you own property in multiple counties.
- Manufactured homes qualify with a TDLR Statement of Ownership.
- Companies and trusts generally don't qualify, with narrow exceptions for qualifying trusts where you hold beneficial interest and occupy the home.
- If you close on a home in March, you wait until next year. You must own and occupy on January 1.
How to file
| County | Office | How to file |
|---|---|---|
| Liberty County | 309 Milam St, Liberty TX 77575 · (936) 336-5722 | Form 50-114 + copy of TX driver's license. Mail or deliver. |
| Chambers County | 204 Washington Ave, Anahuac TX 77514 | Form 50-114 + copy of TX driver's license. Mail or deliver. |
| Harris County (Baytown, Crosby, Highlands) | hcad.org | File online — fastest option for Harris County's high volume. |
Form 50-114 is free at comptroller.texas.gov. Attach a copy of your TX driver's license showing the property address. No fee to file.
The 10% appraisal cap
Once your homestead exemption is active, Texas law caps annual appraisal increases at 10%. The cap doesn't apply in your first year of ownership — it kicks in year two.
In high-growth areas along Highway 146 and I-10 near the Houston Ship Channel corridor, property values have jumped fast. Homeowners near the Baytown refineries who filed early in 2019 saw capped increases while neighbors who missed the filing deadline were exposed to full market-rate jumps through 2022.
File early. The sooner you're on the books, the sooner the cap starts protecting you.
Additional exemptions
| Exemption | Who qualifies | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Age 65+ | Homeowners who turn 65 | Additional $10,000 school exemption + school tax freeze (transferable if you move) |
| Disabled person | SSA disability definition | Same $10,000 exemption + school tax freeze as 65+ |
| Disabled veteran 10-29% | VA-rated disability | $5,000 exemption |
| Disabled veteran 30-49% | VA-rated disability | $7,500 exemption |
| Disabled veteran 50-69% | VA-rated disability | $10,000 exemption |
| Disabled veteran 70-99% | VA-rated disability | $12,000 exemption |
| Disabled veteran 100% P&T | VA 100% Permanent & Total | Full exemption — zero property taxes on homestead |
| Surviving spouse of veteran/first responder | Killed in line of duty | May qualify for full exemption |
The 65+ school tax freeze moves with you if you sell and buy another Texas home. You cannot claim both the 65+ and disabled exemptions on the school portion — pick one.
These are separate applications from the standard homestead. Filing one doesn't automatically get you the others.
Common mistakes
- Assuming your mortgage company filed for you. They didn't. Nobody files it for you.
- Driver's license address doesn't match. This gets applications rejected. Update at dps.texas.gov before you file.
- Filing on a property you don't yet occupy. You must be living there by January 1.
- Not filing the additional exemptions. The standard homestead and the 65+/veteran exemptions are separate applications.
- Not rechecking after a refinance or name change. Ownership changes can knock the exemption off the record.
When to get help
The filing is straightforward for most homeowners — Form 50-114 plus a copy of your license. But if your property is in a trust, if you're navigating a disabled veteran exemption after a recent rating change, or if you think your exemption fell off after a refinance, call your appraisal district directly.
Checklist
- Confirm you owned and occupied the home on January 1
- Update your TX driver's license to match the property address
- Download Form 50-114 from comptroller.texas.gov
- Attach a copy of your driver's license
- File with the correct appraisal district (Liberty CAD, Chambers CAD, or HCAD)
- If 65+ or disabled veteran: file the additional exemption forms (50-114 and 50-135)
- Verify online that your exemption shows active on your account
- Check again every January to make sure it's still applied
How to check if your exemption is on file
Look it up online:
- HCAD (Harris County): hcad.org
- Liberty County Appraisal District: libertycad.org
- Chambers County Appraisal District: chamberscad.org
Search by address or account number. If you see "HS" in the exemptions column, you're good. If that column is blank, file today.