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    General residence homestead

    Tex. Tax Code § 11.13

    What it is

    The residence homestead exemption is the single most valuable exemption most Texas homeowners can claim, and it is not automatic — you must apply. It removes a slice of your home's value from taxation by each taxing unit, and once it has been in place for a full calendar year it caps annual increases in your appraised value at 10%.

    You qualify on the home you own and occupy as your principal residence. Only individuals qualify (not companies), you can claim only one homestead in or out of Texas, and ownership through a qualifying trust counts. Since 2022, a buyer who acquires a home mid-year can receive the exemption prorated from the date of purchase rather than waiting for January 1 (§ 11.42(f)).

    The application is Comptroller Form 50-114 filed with your county appraisal district. State law (§ 11.43(n)) requires your Texas driver's licence or DPS ID to show the property's address — a mismatched ID is the most common reason applications are denied. Active-duty military and address-confidentiality participants can have that requirement waived (§ 11.43(p)); inherited homes have their own affidavit path (Form 50-114-A).

    There is never a fee to apply, and once granted the exemption renews automatically (the district may periodically ask you to reverify). Beware of third-party letters offering to file it for a charge.

    What it's worth

    $140,000 off your value for school-district taxes (§ 11.13(b), as raised by Proposition 13 in 2025), $3,000 off for county farm-to-market/flood-control taxes (§ 11.13(a)), and any city, county, or special district may add a local-option exemption of up to 20% of value (§ 11.13(n)). It also turns on the 10% annual appraisal cap (§ 23.23).

    You qualify if

    • You own the home (individually, with others, or through a qualifying trust) and it is your principal residence.
    • You do not claim a homestead exemption on any other property, in Texas or elsewhere.
    • For a full-year exemption you owned and occupied it on January 1 — or, for homes bought mid-year, from your date of acquisition (prorated, § 11.42(f)).

    The regular deadline is April 30, but a late application can be granted up to two years after the taxes became delinquent (§ 11.431), and mid-year buyers can file within a year of acquiring the home. In practice: file as soon as you can.

    Documents the district requires

    • Texas driver's licence or DPS ID — address must match this property

      Required by Tax Code § 11.43(n). If you've moved, update your address with DPS first — the district will deny the application if the addresses differ. A passport or handgun licence cannot substitute.

    Only in some situations

    • Military ID card (yours or your spouse's)

      When: Active-duty military whose ID address doesn't match — § 11.43(p) waives the address-match rule with a military ID plus a current utility bill.

    • Current utility bill for this property in your name

      When: Required alongside the military ID for the § 11.43(p) waiver.

    • Heirship affidavit (Comptroller Form 50-114-A)

      When: The home was inherited and the deed still names the prior owner. Each other heir living in the home signs an authorization affidavit too.

    • Prior owner's death certificate

      When: Inherited (heir) property.

    • Most recent utility bill for this property

      When: Inherited (heir) property — the district uses it to confirm occupancy.

    • Trust instrument (or the pages naming trustor and occupancy rights)

      When: The home is held in a living trust — the district confirms you're the trustor or beneficiary entitled to occupy.

    • TDHCA Statement of Ownership (or purchase contract / financing docs)

      When: The home is a manufactured home — Tax Code § 11.432.

    Filed on Form 50-114. You upload these in the application — we prepare the district's form and file it with them.

    County specifics

    Travis County (TCAD)

    • TCAD accepts online filing, but strictly enforces the ID-address match — a passport or handgun licence is not accepted, and a mismatched address is an automatic denial.
    • If you moved recently, change your address with Texas DPS before applying; TCAD may also ask for supplemental proof of residence such as a current utility bill in your name or your vehicle registration.

    Williamson County (WCAD)

    • WCAD supports online filing from your property record. Your Texas DL or DPS ID must show this property's address.
    • If you previously claimed a homestead in another county, WCAD may ask for confirmation from the prior appraisal district that the old exemption was removed.

    Hays County (Hays CAD)

    • Files on the standard Form 50-114 with a matching Texas DL or DPS ID. Online submission is available through the Hays CAD site.

    Bell County (Bell CAD)

    • Standard Form 50-114 filing with matching Texas DL or DPS ID. Bell CAD may request a current utility bill when the occupancy date is recent.

    Bastrop County (Bastrop CAD)

    • Standard Form 50-114 filing with matching Texas DL or DPS ID.

    Burnet County (Burnet CAD)

    • Standard Form 50-114 filing with matching Texas DL or DPS ID.

    Llano County (Llano CAD)

    • Standard Form 50-114 filing with matching Texas DL or DPS ID.

    Lampasas County (Lampasas CAD)

    • Standard Form 50-114 filing with matching Texas DL or DPS ID.

    Kimble County (Kimble CAD)

    • Standard Form 50-114 filing with matching Texas DL or DPS ID.

    Apply

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