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To claim the Texas age-65-or-older residence-homestead exemption, submit the Comptroller’s Form 50-114 to the county appraisal district that handles your home—not to the Texas Comptroller. You generally must be at least 65, own an interest in the home, and use it as your principal residence. The usual deadline is April 30 for the tax year requested, but eligible homeowners can generally file late within two years after that deadline.
What the over-65 exemption covers
For 2026, Texas school districts must provide an additional $60,000 residence-homestead exemption for an eligible homeowner who is at least 65 or disabled. It reduces the home’s taxable value for school-district taxes; it is not a $60,000 credit against the tax bill. The exemption is additional to the separate $140,000 general school-district residence-homestead exemption. These amounts apply to school-district taxation and do not, by themselves, erase property taxes owed to other taxing units. See the Texas Comptroller’s exemption guidance.
For example, the Comptroller explains that the general $140,000 exemption means a $300,000 home would be taxed by the school district as if valued at $160,000 before other adjustments. The tax savings depend on taxable value and the applicable tax rates; the exemption amount is not the amount saved on the bill.
Check whether you qualify
Age alone does not qualify a homeowner. The applicant must be at least 65, have an ownership interest in the home, and occupy it as their principal residence. The Comptroller’s statewide eligibility rules are summarized in its property tax exemption guidance.
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If you already have a homestead exemption
If you already receive the general residence-homestead exemption, first ask your appraisal district whether the age-65 exemption is already recorded. A separate application may not be required when the district has accurate birthdate information, including information supplied by the Department of Public Safety. Confirm the exemption appears on the account rather than assuming it was added automatically. The Comptroller discusses this birthdate-record exception in its 2025 residential homestead exemption publication.
If the homeowner’s ownership is not recorded
Ask the appraisal district what proof it needs. In applicable cases, Form 50-114-A provides an affidavit for an applicant age 65 or older whose ownership interest is not of record; the affidavit must be notarized when applicable.
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How to apply
- Get the current Form 50-114. Use the Comptroller’s Application for Residence Homestead Exemption and follow its instructions.
- Contact the county appraisal district. Find the district responsible for the county where the property is located. It handles the application and can tell you which supporting documents and submission methods it accepts.
- Complete the application and gather requested proof. Include the information and supporting documents required for your circumstances. Local districts administer the process, so requirements and accepted filing methods may differ.
- Send the application to the appraisal district. File with the district in each county where the property is located. Do not mail Form 50-114 to the Comptroller. The local chief appraiser determines whether the property qualifies; as the Comptroller puts it, “Appraisal district chief appraisers are solely responsible for determining whether property qualifies for an exemption.” See the Comptroller’s exemption guidance.
- Check that the exemption was applied. Follow up with the appraisal district to confirm the age-65 exemption is recorded for the correct property and tax year. If it is missing or the account information is wrong, ask the district what action is needed.
When to file—and what if you missed April 30?
The usual filing period is January 1 through April 30 for the tax year requested, with April 30 the general deadline. The Comptroller’s Form 50-114 instructions allow a late residence-homestead application, including an age-65-or-older claim, generally up to two years after the filing deadline. If you are late, contact the district promptly and ask which tax year or years can still be addressed on your account.
Special case: a surviving spouse
A surviving spouse who is at least 55 may be eligible to continue the deceased spouse’s age-65-or-older exemption if the deceased spouse qualified for it in the year of death and the surviving spouse continues to occupy the home as a principal residence. Eligibility depends on the facts, so contact the appraisal district handling the property. The Comptroller describes this conditional rule in its property tax exemption guidance.
Who makes the decision?
The county appraisal district—not the Comptroller—processes the application and determines whether the home qualifies. Statewide rules establish the basic eligibility and filing framework, while local districts handle submissions and may specify what evidence they need. For procedural help, contact the district responsible for the property.
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