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In Texas, the over-65 school tax exemption adds to—not replaces—the general residence homestead exemption. For a qualifying home, the school district exempts $140,000 of appraised value under the general homestead rule, plus another $60,000 if the homeowner is 65 or older or disabled. These are school-district exemptions, not automatic exemptions from every tax on the property. An eligible homeowner may also qualify for a separate school-tax ceiling.
How the two exemptions compare
Both benefits reduce the appraised value used to calculate school-district property taxes. The general homestead exemption is the baseline; the age-65 exemption is an additional amount for homeowners who meet the age, ownership, and principal-residence requirements.
| Benefit | Who may qualify | What it does | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|
| General residence homestead exemption | An owner with an ownership interest who uses the home as their principal residence, subject to the application requirements. | Exempts $140,000 of appraised value from taxation by the school district. | School-district taxes. Other taxing units may offer their own local homestead exemptions. |
| Additional age-65-or-older or disability homestead exemption | A qualifying homestead owner who is at least 65 or disabled. | Adds $60,000 of exempt appraised value to the general school homestead exemption. | School-district taxes. A local taxing unit may separately adopt an age- or disability-based exemption. |
| School-tax ceiling for qualifying older or disabled homeowners | A qualifying homeowner under the applicable statutory rules. | Limits certain future increases in the school-tax amount; it is not a further fixed-dollar reduction in appraised value. | School taxes. Separate limits may be available from certain county, municipal, or junior-college taxing units that adopt them. |
The statewide amounts are set out in Texas Tax Code §11.13. The Comptroller’s Property Tax Exemptions guidance describes the general and local exemption rules.
How much the exemptions can reduce school-taxable value
For a qualifying homeowner age 65 or older, the statewide school-district exemption amounts total $200,000 of appraised value: $140,000 under the general residence homestead exemption and an additional $60,000 under the age-65-or-older exemption. The taxable value cannot be less than zero, and the exemption amounts do not tell you the final tax bill; the school district’s tax rate and the home’s appraised value also matter.
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For illustration, the Comptroller’s example says a home appraised at $300,000, with the $140,000 general school homestead exemption, has $160,000 of value remaining for the school-tax calculation. That is an agency example, not a prediction of a particular homeowner’s taxes. An eligible owner who also qualifies for the additional $60,000 exemption would have that additional amount applied to school-district taxable value.
Neither the $140,000 nor the additional $60,000 is a blanket exemption from all property taxes. City, county, and other taxing units have separate rules, and local units may adopt additional exemptions. The Comptroller describes a $3,000 minimum for a local-option homestead exemption for qualifying homeowners who are 65 or older or disabled; the adopted local amount can be higher. Confirm which local options apply with the appraisal district and taxing units for the property.
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What the over-65 school-tax ceiling does—and does not do
The age-based exemption and the school-tax ceiling are separate benefits. The exemption removes a set amount of appraised value from the school-district tax calculation. The ceiling instead limits the school-tax amount for a qualifying home under the rules in Texas Tax Code §11.26. It is not a promise that the bill can never change: statutory rules address qualifying improvements beyond repairs, and the precise result depends on the property and applicable law.
The Tax Code also provides for limits involving certain county, municipal, and junior-college taxing units that adopt them. Do not assume that a school-tax ceiling automatically freezes every line on a property-tax bill; ask the local appraisal district which limitations apply to the property.
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General residence homestead
The applicant must have an ownership interest in the home and use it as their principal residence. The application requires the applicant to state that they are not claiming another residence homestead exemption in or outside Texas. The county appraisal district determines eligibility.
Additional age-65-or-older exemption
The homeowner must qualify for the residence homestead exemption and be at least 65. The additional school-district exemption also applies to a qualifying disabled homeowner. The age-65 exemption is not available merely because someone is 65; the ownership and principal-residence requirements still apply.
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Surviving spouse
A surviving spouse who is at least 55 may be eligible to retain the deceased spouse’s age-based exemption if the deceased spouse qualified in the year of death and the survivor continues to occupy the home as their principal residence. Contact the county appraisal district to confirm eligibility and required documentation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where and when to apply
- Contact the appraisal district for the county where the home is located. It handles homestead applications and determines eligibility. Confirm the district’s submission method and supporting-document requirements.
- Complete Form 50-114, Residence Homestead Exemption Application. The Comptroller lists this form on its Property Tax Forms page.
- For the age-65-or-older or disability school-tax ceiling, ask about Form 50-272. The Comptroller lists it as the School Tax Ceiling Certificate for an age-65-or-older or disabled homeowner or qualifying surviving spouse.
- File by the applicable deadline. The Comptroller’s general guidance says applications are due before May 1. Check with the local district for instructions and any details relevant to your filing.
Use the Comptroller’s exemption guidance and forms index to find current state forms, then verify local filing details with the appraisal district.
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How to estimate which part of your bill changes
- Check the appraisal district’s records for the home’s appraised value and whether its residence homestead status is on file.
- Look at each taxing unit on the property-tax statement separately. The statewide $140,000 and $60,000 amounts described here apply to school-district taxation.
- Ask the appraisal district whether the property qualifies for the age-65 school-tax ceiling and any locally adopted exemptions or tax limitations.
- Use the exemptions and tax rates applicable to the property to estimate its tax bill; the exemption figures alone do not establish the amount due.
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