TEXAS HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS – A Tax Discount for Texas Homeowners

(updated 03242016)

CONSUMER ALERT!

If you have recently closed on a home, you will receive solicitation in the mail offering to file your Homestead Exemption for you, for a nominal fee. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS SERVICE. Filing is easy and FREE! If you closed on a home with Val Aranda, Metro Realty, you will receive a letter directly from Val with a copy of your pre-filled application in  JANUARY of the following year. You’ll have between January and April to submit your application.

 NEW CONSUMER ALERT!

The Bexar Appraisal District is starting to send out official-looking letters asking you to disclose your home’s sales price. YOU DO NOT NEED TO DISCLOSE IT! Texas is a non-disclosure state, meaning your purchase price is 100% private and confidential; no one has public access to your sales price, not even the Bexar County Appraisal District! If you choose to disclose your purchase price, there’s a greater risk of higher taxes. (Very sneaky, Bexar County!)

WHAT’S A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION? In TEXAS you have the right to claim your primary residence as your “Homestead.” Doing so, will give you a nice tax break (up to $25,000)!

For official details regarding Homestead Exemptions in Bexar County: Bexar County Appraisal District (BCAD.org)

HERE’S AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE TAX BREAK WORKS:
Let’s say your homestead (your primary residence) is valued at $100,000 and you qualify for a $25,000 HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.  Instead of paying School Taxes on $100,000, you’ll pay school taxes as if your home was only worth $75,000.

As long as the property meets certain criteria AND you have lived in the home as of January 1st of your filing year, you should qualify easily!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

Complete Homestead Exemption Application

A copy of your Driver License (or state-issued I.D.)

The I.D. MUST show the property address you’re filing for.

HELPFUL NOTE:  A Homestead Exemption also protects your home from a “Forced Sale” by a creditor.  See “Homestead Exemption” for more information and exclusions.

CONSUMER ALERT!  YOU MIGHT RECEIVE SOLICITATION IN THE MAIL OFFERING TO FILE THE APPLICATION FOR YOU (FOR A NOMINAL FEE).   **DON’T DO IT**  This is a FREE service!

SCROLL DOWN FOR HELPFUL LINKS AND APPLICATION FORMS…

FOR BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS: Homestead Exemption Applications can be found online at www.bcad.org (Bexar County Appraisal District).  

*** YOU ONLY HAVE TO FILE ONCE *** 

For other Texas Counties, visit www.texascad.com

Once you have the correct application for your county, fill it out, print it, and sign it. For the “Legal Description”, “County Account Number,” and any other information needed for your application, visit your county appraisal district web site and search for your property by address or name.

ON YOUR TAX RECORD: The “Geographic ID” number on your Tax Record is the “County Account Number” you will need for your Homestead Application.

V.I.P. SERVICE OFFERED BY Val J Aranda, REALTOR® – Metro Realty:
Clients who purchase a home through Val, will receive their Homestead Exemption Applications in the mail in January of the following year.

If you are NOT a client of Metro Realty, but would like additional assistance with your Homestead Exemption application, we welcome your questions.  We are here to guide you, too.

State Government answers to in-depth Homestead Exemption questions.

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Texas law requires all real estate license holders to provide the Information About Brokerage Services to all prospective clients. TREC’s Consumer Protection Notice.