A variety of homestead exemptions could lower your property taxes!

A homestead exemption lowers the property taxes on your home by lowering its taxable value. If your home is valued at $50,000 and you receive a $15,000 homestead exemption, your home will be taxed as if it were worth $35,000.

Who qualifies for an exemption?

Anyone who owned a home on January 1 and used it as a primary residence on that date is entitled to a $15,000 homestead exemption to lower school taxes this year…and it doesn’t matter if your home is a house, condominium or mobile home. Counties, cities and special taxing districts may also offer homestead exemptions.

Are other exemptions available?

If you’re disabled – or if you’re 65 years old or older – you are entitled to an additional $10,000 school tax exemption on your home. And if you qualify for the over-65 or disability exemption, you’re also entitled to a permanent, locked-in “ceiling” on the school property taxes on your home. The ceiling does not apply to county or city property taxes, and those entities may offer other exemptions. The school tax ceiling transfers to the surviving spouse, if the spouse is 55 years of age or older at the time of death and lives in and owns the home. Disabled and over-65 homeowners or their surviving spouses 55 years of age or older also may transfer the percentage of school tax paid, based on their former home’s school tax ceiling, to a new home.

Do I have to apply each year?

No. If you had a homestead exemption on your home in 2003, you won’t need to reapply for 2004 unless your chief appraiser requires it. However, if you haven’t received an exemption on your present home – or if you’ve moved to a new home – you’ll need to file for an exemption for 2004. If you are 65 this year, you may file for the over-65 exemption up to one year after the date you turned 65. And if you became disabled during 2003, you need to file for the disabled person’s exemption.

When and where should I file?

File applications by April 30 at your appraisal district office. If you need more time, contact us at:

Shelby County Appraisal District

724 Shelbyville Street

Center, Texas 75935

(936) 598-6171

For more information, stop in or call for a free copy of

“Texas Property Taxes: Taxpayers’

Rights, Remedies & Responsibilities”

or contact:

Texas Comptroller’s Property Tax Division

P.O. Box 13528

Austin, Texas 78711-3528

or call:

1-800-252-9121