Austin Real Estate News

It’s that time of year again – time for those interested in benefiting from the Travis County Homestead Exemption to file an application. The information in this post applies to any homestead exemption request in the State of Texas.

What is a Homestead Exemption?
For those new to this, a Texas homestead exemption reduces the taxes you owe on your home. For example, Texas school districts are required to offer a $15,000 tax exemption for qualified applicants, which means if your home appraises for $200,000 as of January 1st, the amount you pay in school taxes is based on $185,000 ($200,000 home value less the $15,000 school tax exemption). Austin’s school district rate for 2010 was 1.227, so in this example, if you filed for a homestead exemption on a $200,000 home, you would save $184.05 in taxes. Other taxing authorities (e.g. county, city) may offer exemptions of up to 20% of your home’s value, so filing for a homestead exemption is worth your while.

Who is eligible for a Travis County Homestead Exemption?
Homestead Exemptions in the State of Texas are granted to home owners who apply for the exemption on the home they consider their primary residence that they were living in as of January 1st of the year in which the exemption is requested. If you are 65 or older, or disabled, there are exceptions to this rule that are described in the application.

What is the Travis County Homestead Exemption Application process?
To apply for the Texas Homestead Exemption:

1. Fill out the application: Travis County Homestead Exemption Application.
   Helpful Info: For married couples, either person may be listed at the owner (the other owner blank is for 3rd party owners), just be sure the submitted required documents in Step 5 are for the person listed as owner. To obtain the Legal Description and acreage information requested on the form, you may want to look up your home’s tax record on using the Property Search on the Travis County Appraisal District’s Website.
2. Include the required proof of residency documentation (see NOTES below) required by the new law that went into effect in September of 2011.
3. Submit the application to the county appraisal district where your property is located no later than April 30th of the year for which you are requesting the exemption. For Travis County residents, you can mail, fax (512-834-8651), or hand deliver the application and required documents. For questions, or to verify any of this information, call the Travis County Appraisal District at (512) 834-9138. There is no charge to submit the application.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

The new proof of residency requirement is stated on the Texas Comptroller’s website: “House Bill 252 requires a copy of the homeowner’s Texas driver’s license or state identification card and the homeowner’s vehicle registration receipt be sent with the homestead exemption application. If the homeowner does not own a vehicle they can send a current utility bill showing name and address, along with an affidavit provided in the application indicating non-ownership of a vehicle. The address on the documents must match the address for which the homestead exemption is requested.” (Texas Comptroller)

If you do not have a copy of your vehicle registration receipt, you can request one from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. For Travis County residents, call 512-854-9473 to request a copy over the phone and have it sent right away via email. You will need your license plate number when you call. The charge is $5 ($2 plus a $3 convenience fee) for a phone order. To request a copy via the mail, see the TxDMV Vehicle Registration FAQ page or go directly to the request receipt form.

Please also note that additional information is required for those filing for the exemption on a manufactured home.

Do I have to reapply for the Texas Homestead Exemption each year?
Once you are granted the exemption, you do not have to reapply for it annually unless the Appraisal District notifies you that a new application is required.

Disclaimer and Additional Information
The information above is not to be considered tax advice, but is provided as a helpful reminder to our site visitors and clients. For the official rules and details on Texas Homestead Exemptions, see the Texas Homestead Exemption Application and visit the Texas Comptroller’s website for additional information on Texas Homestead Exemptions.