Texas Travis County TX Homestead Exemption: Rules & Savings

Texas driver license or Texas DPS ID: the address should match the property address where homestead is claimed.

Owner ID and PIN: use the numbers on the Notice of Appraised Value for the online TCAD portal.

Account number or property ID: find it from TCAD property search before starting the application.

Mailing address: make sure TCAD and the Tax Office have a correct mailing address for notices and tax bills.

Trust document: required or useful when the property is held in a trust.

Heir property affidavit documents: may include ownership affidavit, death certificate, recent utility bill and court-record citation if available.

Manufactured or mobile home title: include the title or verified purchase contract if the mobile home is claimed without land ownership.

Age proof: use Texas driver license or ID for an age 65 or older exemption.

Disability proof: use Social Security disability determination or other required documentation.

Veteran proof: include current VA documentation showing service-connected disability rating or 100% disabled/unemployable status.

Surviving-spouse proof: death certificate, marriage license, casualty report or other category-specific documentation may be needed.

Prior homestead details: be ready to identify any prior property where you claimed homestead.

What it limits: the increase in assessed value used for taxation, not necessarily the market value shown on the property record.

Common cap: the homestead limitation generally caps annual assessed-value increases at 10% plus new improvements.

First-year buyer issue: a new owner may see a large change when the prior owner’s homestead limitation is removed.

New improvements: additions, pools, garages or major improvements can increase the capped value.

Not a tax freeze: tax rates, budgets, bonds and special districts can still change the final tax bill.

Separate circuit breaker: Texas also authorized a temporary 20% circuit-breaker limitation for certain non-homestead real property valued at $5.16 million or less for 2024, 2025 and 2026.

Age 65 timing: the over-65 exemption is available in the year the homeowner becomes 65.

School exemption: Texas school districts provide an additional exemption for age 65 or older and disabled homeowners.

School tax ceiling: school taxes are generally frozen at the amount paid in the year the homeowner first qualifies, unless new improvements adjust the ceiling.

Surviving spouse: a surviving spouse age 55 or older may continue the over-65 exemption and ceiling when eligibility requirements are met.

Ceiling transfer: an over-65 or disabled homeowner may transfer the same percentage of school tax paid to a new Texas homestead.

Deferral: qualified over-65 or disabled homeowners may defer property taxes, but deferred taxes accrue 5% interest and become due after the deferral ends.

Installments: over-65, disabled, disabled veteran and certain surviving-spouse homesteads may qualify for four-payment installment plans.

Trust-owned home: include a trust document if the property is held in a trust and TCAD needs to verify beneficial ownership.

Heir property: an heir not listed as an owner on a deed or recorded instrument may need an ownership affidavit, death certificate, utility bill and available court-record citation.

Mobile home without land ownership: TCAD says a copy of the mobile-home title or verified purchase contract should be included with the exemption form.

New buyer after January 1: Texas prorated homestead rules may allow the exemption beginning as early as move-in date when the previous owner did not claim the same exemption that year and the new owner is not already claiming another homestead for that year.

Destroyed by fire: starting January 1, 2026, a residence homestead completely destroyed by fire may qualify for a prorated improvement-value exemption if statutory conditions are met.

Fire deadline: TCAD says the fire-destroyed improvement application and supporting documentation must be filed no later than the 180th day after the fire.

Verification audit: TCAD audits exemption records every five years and may request a new application or updated documents.

Account search: use the Tax Office account search for paid status, balance, original tax bill, current tax bill, receipts, eBill and payment plans.

Billing start: the collection period begins October 1, but actual bills may wait for all tax rates and election results.

Final payment date: the standard deadline is January 31 unless weekend or holiday rules move it.

Online fee warning: Travis County states credit card payments include a 3% vendor fee and eCheck has a $1 fee.

Automatic refunds: if TCAD sends a value or exemption change that lowers taxes after payment, the Tax Office says it automatically sends a refund within 60 days.

Deferral warning: over-65 or disabled tax deferral postpones taxes; it does not cancel them, and 5% annual interest accrues.

School district row: the statewide $140,000 school homestead exemption applies to school district taxes.

Local-option row: city, county, college, health or special districts may adopt percentage or fixed optional exemptions.

Tax ceiling row: over-65 or disabled tax ceilings affect school taxes and may affect other entities only if adopted.

Special district row: MUDs, WCIDs, PIDs and other districts may have their own rates and exemption choices.

Truth-in-taxation review: use TravisTaxes.com to see how proposed rates affect your specific property.

TCAD property search: use for appraisal value, exemptions, account number, owner record, property profile and protest access.

County Clerk real property records: use for deeds, liens, military discharges, notices of trustee sale and recorded public records.

New deed issue: if TCAD has not updated ownership yet, keep the closing statement and recorded deed details available.

Address change issue: TCAD handles ownership and address corrections, then sends updates to the Tax Office.

Copy issue: online unofficial copies may be free, while certified copies have clerk fees.

Privacy note: public property records can include ownership and tax data, but they are not consumer reports.

TCAD is not the Tax Office: TCAD grants exemptions and handles protests; the Tax Office bills and collects taxes.

The school exemption changed: current Texas school residence homestead guidance lists a $140,000 exemption for 2026.

Portal credentials matter: the Owner ID and PIN on the appraisal notice help connect the property to the online filing portal.

License address matters: TCAD requires a Texas driver license or DPS ID with the homestead address.

Processing is not instant: TCAD says action occurs within 90 days, and online status usually appears in 4–6 weeks.

Verification is real: TCAD audits homestead exemptions every five years and may request updated proof.

Value and exemption are different: a homeowner may need both a homestead application and a value protest.

Taxable values differ: each taxing unit can have a different exemption, ceiling or taxable value.

New buyers can be shocked: prior-owner exemptions and caps can disappear, creating a higher first-year tax base.

Private paid filing is unnecessary: standard homestead filing is free through TCAD.

Using the wrong “Austin” county: this guide is for Travis County property, not Austin County near Bellville.

Paying a private filing company: TCAD says homestead filing is free.

Not updating Texas ID: passport or concealed handgun license is not a substitute for the required Texas driver license or DPS ID address match.

Forgetting another homestead: you generally cannot claim two residence homestead exemptions for the same year.

Missing Owner ID and PIN: these are needed for smooth online filing and protest management.

Confusing market value with taxable value: the homestead benefit lowers taxable value, and the cap affects assessed value after qualification.

Ignoring the appraisal notice: the protest deadline depends on May 15 or 30 days after the notice date.

Assuming over-65 freezes the entire bill: the mandatory ceiling is for school taxes; other entities must adopt their own ceiling.

Calling the Tax Office first for a missing exemption: TCAD must correct exemption approval or exemption coding.

Using property data for screening: appraisal and tax records are not consumer reports.

You just bought a Travis County home: update Texas ID, search the TCAD account, then file the homestead application online or by mail.

You live in the home now but bought after January 1: check prorated homestead rules and file as soon as you qualify.

Your application is pending: wait for processing, then check the TCAD property record after 4–6 weeks.

Your exemption is missing: call TCAD at 512-834-9317 or the homestead helpline at 512-873-1560 with your account number.

Your value is too high: file a protest by May 15 or 30 days after the notice mailing date, whichever is later.

You are 65 or disabled: apply for the additional exemption, review the school tax ceiling, and consider deferral or installment options carefully.

You are a disabled veteran: prepare VA documentation and choose the correct partial or 100% disabled-veteran category.

Your deed is wrong or missing: search Travis County Clerk real property records and keep the recorded deed information ready.