Texas Homestead Exemption 2026
Texas gives homeowners one of the biggest property-tax breaks in the country: a $140,000 school-district homestead exemption plus a 10% cap on annual taxable-value increases. Here's the amount, how to file, the deadline and the rules by county.
📅 Last updated: July 2026 · Source: Texas Comptroller
The Texas homestead exemption removes $140,000 of your home's value from school-district property tax — the largest slice of a Texas tax bill — and caps how fast your taxable value can rise at 10% a year. It's free to file, you apply once with your county appraisal district, and owner-occupants of a primary residence qualify.
See your Texas property tax with the exemption applied:
🏛️ Texas Property Tax Calculator →How much is the Texas homestead exemption?
The mandatory school-district homestead exemption is $140,000 — raised from $100,000 by 2025 legislation that voters approved in November 2025. On a home taxed by schools at, say, 1.1%, that exemption alone is worth roughly $1,540 a year. On top of it:
- Optional local exemptions — counties, cities and special districts may exempt up to 20% of value (minimum $5,000).
- $3,000 county exemption for farm-to-market road and flood-control taxes.
- Age 65+ or disabled — an additional $60,000 school-district exemption, plus a school-tax ceiling that freezes your school taxes.
How to file a Texas homestead exemption
- Get Form 50-114 (Residence Homestead Exemption Application) from your county appraisal district — most offer free online filing.
- Provide a Texas driver's license or state ID with an address matching the property.
- Submit to your appraisal district (HCAD, DCAD, TAD, BCAD, TCAD — see the county list below).
- File before May 1. Missed it? Texas allows late applications up to ~2 years, so you can still claim it.
It's a one-time filing — no annual renewal — though your district may ask you to reverify occasionally.
The 10% homestead cap
Once your exemption is active, Texas Tax Code Sec. 23.23 caps the yearly increase in your taxable value at 10%, beginning January 1 of the year after you first qualify. In a fast-rising market your market value can jump more, but the value used to calculate your bill can't climb more than 10% a year — a valuable protection during hot markets.
Texas homestead exemption by county
The $140,000 school exemption and 10% cap apply statewide, but you file with your local appraisal district, and each county/city/school district can add its own optional local exemption. Here's where to file in the largest counties:
| County | File with | Online |
|---|---|---|
| Harris County (Houston) | Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD) | Apply → |
| Dallas County | Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD) | Apply → |
| Tarrant County (Fort Worth) | Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD) | Apply → |
| Bexar County (San Antonio) | Bexar Appraisal District (BCAD) | Apply → |
| Travis County (Austin) | Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD) | Apply → |
In each of these counties the state $140,000 school exemption and the 10% appraisal cap apply — the appraisal district simply administers your application and any optional local exemptions their taxing units have adopted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related
- Homestead Exemption Guide — how it works in every state.
- Florida Homestead Exemption — the other big homestead state.
- Texas Property Tax Calculator — estimate your bill.
⚠️ General information, not tax or legal advice. Texas homestead rules and amounts are set by the Legislature and administered locally (the school exemption rose to $140,000 in 2025). Confirm current figures and file with your county appraisal district or the Texas Comptroller.
