It’s time to start thinking about property taxes and your possible homestead tax exemptions to these property taxes. If you bought a home in the past year or have never filed for your homestead tax exemption, the period to file is 1/1 to 04/30 of the following year. If you bought your home in 2020 or before and live in your home on January 1st, 2021, you can apply for a homestead tax exemption. The home must be your primary residence (ie, you can’t claim multiple homestead tax exemptions for multiple properties) as long as you live in the home on or before 1/1/2021, you can file to receive this break on your property tax.
The homestead tax exemption lowers the taxable value of your home. For example if you have a house that has an appraisal district tax valuation of $100,000 and you get a $15,000 exemption the property tax you pay is based on a value of $85,000 ($100,000 minus $15,000), effectively lowering the tax owed to the country each year. If you purchased in 2019 or before and haven't filed your homestead exemption yet - you can claim 1 year in the past for tax credit that will actually refund so you must file now. All the form really does is confirm your taxing county, your property, who owns it and you check off the exemptions that apply to you.
In order to claim the homestead tax exemption, you must fill out the Application for Residential Homestead Exemption Form attached to your local appraisal district. Example - Fort Bend Appraisal District or Harris County Appraisal District. (Harris County offers an online submission option) Be sure to fill out the form completely and read the instructions carefully – there is 1 item that you are required to furnish per exemption type in addition to the completed form. You must have your state issued ID or DL match the address of the property you are seeking a homestead exemption on. If you need to change your address on your drivers license and you are a U.S Citizen you can do this online via DPS otherwise you must visit the local DPS to do the address change in person.
BE AWARE OF SCAMS.
If you’ve bought a home in the past year, you’ll probably get some mail from companies who will offer to file this paperwork for you and make sure you get your homestead tax exemption. Do not use these companies or send them any money. Filing your homestead tax exemption is free and these companies simply take your forms and drop them off at the appraisal district – something you can do just as easily for the cost that they will charge you. Many of the letters are rather deceiving in the way they’re written, making you think you need to pay their fee in order to receive the exemption. So please, be aware and contact me us if you need help filing the form.
Below you'll find the links to several of Houston and surround area counties that will take you directly to the application form for your convenience!
Harris County Application Form
Send completed form to:
Harris County Appraisal District
PO Box 922012 Houston, TX 77292
Fort Bend County Application Form
Send completed form to:
Fort Bend Central Appraisal District
2801 B. F. Terry Blvd. Rosenberg, TX 77471
Montgomery County Application Form
Send completed form to:
The Montgomery Central Appraisal District
PO Box 2233 Conroe, TX 77305
Montgomery County Online Filing
Brazoria County Application Form
Send completed form to:
Brazoria County Appraisal District
500 N Chenango Angleton, TX 77515
Galveston County Application Form
Send completed form to:
Galveston County Appraisal District
9850 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway, Ste. A, Texas City, Texas 77591
Austin County Application Form
Send completed form to:
Austin County Appraisal District
906 E. Amelia St. Bellville, TX 77418
Waller County Application Form
Send completed form to:
Waller County Appraisal District
PO Box 887 Hempstead, TX 77445