Texas Senior Property Tax Exemption Guide (2026)
Last Updated: April 2026
Texas Proposition 11 Update (November 2025)
Texas voters approved Prop 11, raising the mandatory over-65 additional school tax exemption from $10,000 to $60,000. Combined with the $140,000 standard homestead exemption, Texas seniors now exempt $200,000 from school district taxes — the most generous senior property tax benefit in the United States.
Calculate your estimated savings with the updated 2026 exemption amounts.
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Texas Over-65 Exemption: What You Get
| Benefit | Amount | Income Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Homestead Exemption | $140,000 off school taxes | None |
| Over-65 Additional Exemption | $60,000 additional off school taxes | None |
| Total School Tax Exemption | $200,000 combined | None |
| School Tax Freeze | Locks school bill permanently | None |
| Property Tax Deferral | 100% deferral at 5% interest | None |
How to Apply: Step by Step
- Confirm your eligibility: You must be 65 or older as of January 1 of the tax year, own the home, and use it as your primary residence.
- Download Form 50-114: Get the Application for Residential Homestead Exemption from your County Appraisal District website or from the Texas Comptroller at comptroller.texas.gov.
- Gather your documents: Texas driver's license or ID showing your home address, and your date of birth. If your ID shows a different address, bring additional proof of residency (utility bill, voter registration).
- Submit to your County Appraisal District: File in person, by mail, or online (many counties accept online submissions). The standard deadline is April 30, but late applications are accepted up to 2 years after the deadline.
- Confirmation: You will receive written confirmation of your exemption approval, typically within 30–90 days. Check your county's online portal to verify the exemption appears on your account.
County-Specific Exemption Amounts
The $200,000 combined school-district exemption applies statewide. What varies by county and city is the local-optionexemption that individual taxing units (counties, cities, hospital districts, MUDs) may add on top for non-school taxes. We only publish a local-option figure once we've confirmed it against a primary source — for every other county, we say so plainly instead of guessing.
| County | School Exemption | Local Option (non-school units) | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harris County | $2,00,000 | Non-school taxing units in Harris County offer local-option 65+ exemptions as low as the statutory minimum of $3,000. Amounts vary by unit (county, city, hospital district, MUD, etc.) — confirm the exact figure for your specific taxing units with HCAD. | April 30 |
| Dallas County | $2,00,000 | The City of Dallas offers an additional local-option 65+/disabled exemption of $175,000 (raised from $153,400 in 2025). This is a City of Dallas figure, not a Dallas County figure — confirm which taxing units apply to your address. | April 30 |
| Fort Bend County | $2,00,000 | Fort Bend County offers a local-option 65+ exemption of up to $100,000 off assessed value (2025 Local Exemptions Report). | April 30 |
| Travis County | $2,00,000 | Travis County itself offers a local-option 65+/disabled exemption of $143,220 (2025 tax year), per the county's own Fiscal Year 2026 Taxpayer Impact Statement. The City of Austin's own local option was not independently confirmed — confirm with Travis Central Appraisal District. | April 30 |
| Bexar County | $2,00,000 | Bexar County itself offers a local-option 65+ exemption of $50,000 (2025); the City of San Antonio offers $85,000. Alamo Community College District matches the county at $50,000; the Hospital District offers $30,000. | April 30 |
| Tarrant County | $2,00,000 | Tarrant County itself offers a local-option 65+ exemption of $50,000 on non-school taxes (2025), matched by the Tarrant Regional Water District, JPS Health Network (hospital district), and Tarrant County College. City-level amounts vary widely by municipality — from $0 up to $100,000 in the City of Saginaw — confirm your specific city with TAD. | April 30 |
| Collin County | $2,00,000 | VerifyingLocal-option 65+ exemption amounts for Collin County have not been independently verified. Confirm with the Collin Central Appraisal District. | April 30 |
| Denton County | $2,00,000 | VerifyingLocal-option 65+ exemption amounts for Denton County have not been independently verified. Confirm with the Denton Central Appraisal District. | April 30 |
| Williamson County | $2,00,000 | VerifyingLocal-option 65+ exemption amounts for Williamson County have not been independently verified. Confirm with the Williamson Central Appraisal District. | April 30 |
| Montgomery County | $2,00,000 | VerifyingLocal-option 65+ exemption amounts for Montgomery County have not been independently verified. Confirm with the Montgomery Central Appraisal District. | April 30 |
See the full county-by-county comparison for more detail and sourcing on every figure above.
Missed prior years? Use our Retroactive Refund Calculator to see what you can recover.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Texas Proposition 11 change?
Proposition 11, passed by Texas voters in November 2025, raised the mandatory over-65 additional exemption from $10,000 to $60,000. Combined with the $140,000 standard homestead exemption, seniors now exempt $200,000 from school district taxes. This took effect for the 2026 tax year.
Do I need to reapply to get the new higher exemption amount?
No. If you already have an approved over-65 exemption on file with your County Appraisal District, the higher amount applies automatically starting in 2026. You do not need to reapply. If you have never applied, now is the time — file Form 50-114 with your county.
What is the school tax freeze and how do I get it?
Once you receive the over-65 exemption, your school district tax bill is automatically frozen at that year's level. The freeze is a ceiling — your school taxes can never increase above the amount you paid in the year the exemption was approved. They can decrease if the district lowers its rate.
Is there an income limit for the Texas over-65 exemption?
No. The standard Texas homestead exemption and the over-65 additional exemption have no income limits. Anyone who is 65 or older, owns the home, and lives in it as their primary residence qualifies.
Can I defer my remaining Texas property taxes?
Yes. In addition to the exemption, Texas seniors can defer 100% of their remaining property taxes at 5% annual interest. The deferred amount becomes a lien on the property and is repaid when the home is sold. There is no income limit for the deferral.
What if I missed the April 30 deadline?
Texas allows late filing. You can file a late over-65 exemption application for up to 2 years after the original deadline. You will receive a retroactive exemption and refund for those years. After 2 years, the opportunity is lost, so file as soon as possible.