Money & Debt · Homestead (property tax)
Homestead Property-Tax Exemption in Texas
How much the homestead exemption cuts the property-tax bill on an owner-occupied home in Texas, which taxes it touches, and how to claim it, cited to the statute.
How the benefit works in Texas
The size of the break, which taxes it applies to, and how to claim it.
Unlike the creditor homestead, which is usually automatic, the Texas property-tax homestead has to be claimed. File Form 50-114 with your county appraisal district. You must own and occupy the home as your principal residence as of January 1. Once granted, the homestead now carries forward automatically in most districts.
| Rule | In Texas | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Benefit | $140,000 (school) | School districts must exempt $140,000 of a residence homestead’s value from their maintenance-and-operations property tax (Tax Code §11.13(b)). Homeowners who are 65 or older or disabled receive $150,000. Because school taxes are the biggest piece of a Texas property-tax bill, this is the main homestead break. |
| Applies to | School district taxes | Which property taxes the benefit reduces. Some homestead breaks touch only school taxes, not the full bill. |
| Must apply | Yes | File Form 50-114 with your county appraisal district. You must own and occupy the home as your principal residence as of January 1. Once granted, the homestead now carries forward automatically in most districts. |
| Assessment cap | Yes | A separate homestead cap (Tax Code §23.23) limits the yearly increase in your home’s appraised value for tax purposes to 10%. That cap works alongside the exemption to hold down what you owe. |
| Authority | Tex. Tax Code §11.13(b); Tex. Const. Art. VIII §1-b | The controlling statute or agency rule. Read the full text through the source link below. |
This amount has jumped twice: from $40,000 to $100,000 in 2023 (Proposition 4), then to $140,000 after Proposition 13 passed on November 4, 2025, effective for the 2025 tax year. Sources that still say $40,000 or $100,000 are out of date, so reverify each tax year.
Next steps to claim it
Concrete, neutral steps to get the homestead break in Texas. This is general information, not tax or legal advice.
- File Form 50-114 with your appraisal district
Submit the homestead application to your county appraisal district. You must own and occupy the home as your principal residence as of January 1. In most districts the homestead then carries forward without refiling.
- Use the current $140,000 figure
The school-tax exemption rose to $140,000 for the 2025 tax year. If a form or article still says $40,000 or $100,000, it is out of date. Owners 65 or older or disabled get $150,000.
- Ask about the age-65 and disability add-ons
Older and disabled homeowners qualify for a larger exemption and additional protections, including a school-tax ceiling. If that could be you, ask your appraisal district, since the extra benefit is significant.
To claim or check the homestead exemption on your property tax, start with your state tax agency or county assessor. This resource explains the steps.
→ Texas Comptroller (Property Tax Exemptions)This is general information, not tax or legal advice. These figures change often and vary by locality, so confirm the current amount with your county before you rely on it.
What people get wrong in Texas
Texas has two homesteads worth keeping apart, and this is the tax one that lowers your bill, not the constitutional protection that shields your equity from creditors. On the tax side, Texas is generous and getting more so. School districts must exempt $140,000 of a residence homestead’s value from their property tax under Tax Code §11.13(b), and since school taxes are the largest slice of most Texas bills, that is the exemption that matters most. The figure has climbed fast: from $40,000 to $100,000 in 2023, then to $140,000 after voters approved Proposition 13 on November 4, 2025, effective for the 2025 tax year. Owners who are 65 or older or disabled get $150,000 plus a school-tax ceiling. You claim it by filing Form 50-114 with your county appraisal district, and in most districts it then carries forward automatically. A separate 10% cap on annual appraised-value increases works alongside the exemption. Because these numbers change so often, reverify them each tax year.
Common questions
How much is the Texas homestead property-tax exemption?
School districts must exempt $140,000 of your home’s value from their property tax, and homeowners 65 or older or disabled get $150,000. The amount rose from $100,000 after voters approved Proposition 13 in November 2025, effective for the 2025 tax year.
Do I have to apply for the Texas homestead exemption?
Yes. File Form 50-114 with your county appraisal district, and you must own and occupy the home as your principal residence as of January 1. In most districts the homestead then carries forward automatically without refiling.
Did the Texas homestead exemption go up in 2025?
Yes. Voters approved Proposition 13 on November 4, 2025, raising the school-district homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000, effective for the 2025 tax year. Owners 65 or older or disabled get $150,000. If a source still says $40,000 or $100,000, it is out of date.
What is the difference between the homestead tax and homestead creditor exemption in Texas?
They are separate. This tax exemption, claimed with Form 50-114, lowers your school-district property tax. The creditor homestead, which is automatic and unlimited in value, protects your home equity from a judgment creditor. One is a tax break; the other is asset protection.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.