Tax Exemptions (2023)

Filing for homestead and other exemptions can greatly reduce your property taxes and provide other benefits. I wanted to confirm that these important steps have been taken to ensure that you are taking full advantage of all available savings.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?  An exemption removes part of the value of your property from taxation and lowers your tax bill. A new state law effective January 1, 2022 allows for property owners to claim a homestead exemption as of the date they own and live on a property instead of waiting until the new year to be eligible. Prior to 2022, new homeowners were required to wait until the following year to file for the exemption. This is good news for new homeowners, who will now be provided with a way to lower their property’s taxable value while saving their property tax dollars.

WHO QUALIFIES

These requirements must be met to receive the exemption:
• You must reside at the home as your principal residence and not claim any other property as homestead.
• Only individual homeowners (not corporations or other entities) may receive a homestead exemption.
• A homestead can be a house, condominium or a manufactured home. It can include up to 20 acres, if the land is also 
owned by the homeowner and used as a yard, or for another purpose related to the residential use of the home.

TIMING
We suggest that new homeowners apply after closing as soon as you have obtained your updated driver’s license. 
Most counties will require that be updated. As of January 2022, homeowners can apply at any time throughout the year. 
The exemption will only apply to that tax year if filed prior to the annual deadline: April 30th. Once your county’s chief 
appraiser approves your application for a homestead exemption, you do not need to reapply for the exemption unless 
the chief appraiser sends a new application and requests that you reapply

HOW TO APPLY FOR A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION
Your Homestead Exemption will be denied unless all of the required documents show the same homestead address. 
First, fill out the application specific to your County Appraisal District, then mail all of the documents to the Appraisal 
District for your County.

1. File online or Download Residential Homestead 
Exemption Application for your County of residence:

TRAVIS COUNTY | https://traviscad.org/homesteadexemptions
Mailing Address: P.O. BOX 149012, Austin, TX 78714

WILLIAMSON COUNTY | https://www.wcad.org/online-exemption-information/
Mailing Address: 625 FM 1460, Georgetown, TX 78626

HAYS COUNTY | https://forms.hayscad.com/#/a/form/HomesteadExemption /new
Mailing Address: 21001 IH 35 North, Kyle, TX 78640 

BASTROP COUNTY | https://bastropcad.org/exemptions/
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 578, Bastrop, Texas 78602

2. Include a Copy of your Driver’s License 
or Identification Card. Your driver’s license 
needs to be from the Texas Department 
of Public Safety (TX DPS) and the address 
must match the homestead address.

*If you are in a different county, you can find your appraisal district by searching your county’s name followed by “County Appraisal District” – once in the site, search “Exemption Forms”

We have a copy of your final closing HUD.  If you need it, just let us know.

Also, remember that Texas is a non-disclosure state so you do NOT need to disclose what you paid for the property to ANYONE!

OTHER EXEMPTIONS

During the year, if you turn 65 or become disabled, you must apply for the 65 or older or disabled exemption no later than one year from the qualification date.  Once you receive the exemption, you DO NOT need to reapply each year unless, in the rare case, the chief appraiser sends you a new application.  In that case, you must file the new application.
 

If you have ANY questions whatsoever, please email us at [email protected]