There is a new provision that now makes a Trust & Will Trust a qualifying Trust for Texas homestead purposes. This allows estate planners to preserve this important exemption that can save them thousands of dollars on property taxes and remove their primary residence from the probate process.
“A homestead exemption saved the average Travis County property owner $1,876 on their taxes in 2023,” added Mann. “Exemptions continue to be the easiest and fastest way to lower your property tax bill.”
What if I miss the filing deadline? A late application for a residence homestead exemption, including for a person age 65 or older or disabled, may be filed up to two years after the filing deadline has passed.
Note: Applications will be processed in the order they are received. We strive to process exemptions as quickly as possible, but at times processing could take up to 90 days to process, per Texas Property Tax Code Section 11.45.
This law increased the annual Texas homestead tax exemption from $40,000 to $100,000, starting with January 2023 taxes. While tax savings relief stole the headlines, another law was enacted that may require homeowners to renew their application for their homestead exemptions every five years.
The property must be your principal residence and you cannot claim a homestead exemption on any other property. You must provide a valid Texas driver's license or Texas identification card and the address listed must match the address for which the exemption is requested.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION Attach a copy of each property owner's driver's license or state-issued personal identification certificate. The address listed on the driver's license or state-issued personal identification certificate must correspond to the property address for which the exemption is requested.
To qualify for the general residence homestead exemption, a home must meet the definition of a residence homestead and an individual must have an ownership interest in the property and use the property as the individual's principal residence.