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  You qualify for an over-65 homestead exemption the day you or your spouse turn 65.  Other requirements are you must own the house and it must be your primary residence. Most issues related to Texas property taxes are based on a January 1 date.  The over-65 homestead becomes effective when you or your spouse turn 65.  It is prorated for the first year based on the portion of the year you are 65. Benefits of an over-65 homestead exemption include: School property taxes are frozen forever. If you live to be 100, your school taxes would never rise (unless you remodel or add on to the house). Substantially higher homestead exemptions in many tax entities. You can allow property taxes to accrue with $0 in annual payments. Upon the death of the second spouse, the balance plus interest is due.  However, there are no penalties. If one spouse dies, the surviving spouse can retain the over-65 homestead exemption if they are 55 years of age or older. Homestead exemptions ...

  As you may already know, Texas does not have a state property tax, the property tax rates are locally assessed. Property taxes are the major source of revenue and bring in most of the money to provide services offered by the local government. The Texas government offers special protections for the property owners in Texas and one such protection is the over 65 exemption.  What is the property tax exemption for over 65? Homeowners aged 65 years or older qualify for this exemption. All homeowners aged 65 years or older qualify for a standard $25,000 homestead exemption. Other than this, the Texas school districts offer a $10,000 exemption for qualifying homeowners aged over 65. An additional exemption of $3,000 is offered by many cities and counties as well. Get to know about the additional exemptions by contacting the  appraisal district. When do I qualify? You qualify for this exemption on the day you turn 65. To claim for this exemption all you have to do is submit pro...

  House Bill 988 provides property owners with a means of addressing errors by appraisal districts regarding scheduling hearings and conducting hearings. Specifically, property owners can use binding arbitration to hold appraisal districts and ARBs accountable for violations of the following: rescind procedural rules adopted that are not in compliance with the Comptroller’s model hearing procedures prepared under Tax Code Section 5.103; (2) schedule a hearing on a protest as required by Tax Code Section 41.45; (3) deliver information to the property owner in the manner required by Tax Code Section 41.461; (4) allow the property owner to offer evidence, examine or cross-examine witnesses or other parties and present arguments as required by Tax Code Section 41.66(b); (5) set a hearing for a time and date certain and postpone a hearing that does not begin within two hours of the scheduled time as required by Section Tax Code 41.66(i); (6) schedule hearings on protests concerning mult...

  Property tax assessments for homes were increased by 8.8% for the tax year 2021, based on a review of 232,363 homes valued by Harris Appraisal District. Homes valued between 300K to 500K had the largest increases, average 9.7% higher than 2020. Review of 232,363 homes valued at $300,000 or indicates an increase in assessed value of $127.8 billion, up 8.14% from $138.2 billion in 2021. Total property taxes for 2021 for homes valued over $300,000 would total $3,801.0 million, based on a 2.7% tax rate before considering homestead exemptions. Harris has 26,247 homes valued at $1 million or higher. They are valued at $45.6 billion in 2021, up from $42.5 billion in 2020. Values were increased for 20,831 homes, reduced for 3,024 homes, and remained flat for 2,392 homes. Homes valued at $300,000 to 500,000 increased from $49.9 billion in 2020 to $54.5billion in 2021, an 9.2% increase. Of the 148,286 in this price range, values were increased for 127,494, reduced for 11,663 and remained f...

  Property tax assessments for homes were increased by 22% for the tax year 2021, based on a review of 104,838 homes valued by Williamson Appraisal District. Homes valued between $500K to $1 million had the largest increases, average 22.2% higher than 2020. Review of 104,838 homes valued at $300,000 or indicates an increase in assessed value of $37.2 billion, up 16.5% from $43.35 billion in 2021. Total property taxes for 2021 for homes valued over $300,000 would total $1266.5 million, based on a 2.7% tax rate before considering homestead exemptions. Williamson has 1,224 homes valued at $1 million or higher. They are valued at $1.2 billion in 2021, up from $1 billion in 2020. Values were increased for 1,148 homes, reduced for 76 homes, and remained flat for 0 homes. Homes valued at $300,000 to 500,000 increased from $24.50 billion in 2020 to $28.60 billion in 2021, an 16.7% increase. Of the 79,781 in this price range, values were increased for 78,880, reduced for 901, and remained f...

  Big news!  During the past 40 years, there was no consequence if the appraisal district or the appraisal review board ignored the laws regarding property tax hearings including the following: Sending proper hearing notice, Providing hearing evidence 14 days prior to the hearing if requested, Only providing lawful evidence at the ARB hearing, Ruling in favor of the property owner unless the appraisal district proves their case “by a preponderance of the evidence presented at the hearing”, Ruling in favor of the property owner if the appraisal district does not present lawful evidence, Considering appeals on unequal appraisal, including both the appraisal district’s and owners’ unequal appraisal evidence, Allow the property owner to cross-examine the appraisal district’s appraiser. Two sections of House Bill 988 provide a mechanism for property owners to remedy unlawful behavior by the appraisal district or appraisal review board during appraisal review board hearings. Provide...