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The Travis County Tax Office realizes the importance of
helping citizens save taxes. In an effort to help you understand the
tax breaks available, the tax office has provided explanations, forms
and links. The following should provide the information you need to
effectively determine your eligibility for any benefit.
Should you have any questions please contact the Travis County Tax Office.
Homestead Exemption
As a homeowner, you may apply for a homestead exemption on
your principal residence. Homestead exemptions remove part of your
home's value from taxation, so they lower your taxes. For example, if
your home is appraised at $35,000, and you qualify for a $15,000
exemption, you will pay taxes on the home as if it was worth only
$20,000.
What Homes Qualify
Not all homes qualify for a homestead exemption. Only the homeowner's
principal residence qualifies. The home's owner must be an individual
(for example: not a corporation or other business entity) and use the
home as his or her principal residence on January 1st of the tax year.
A homestead can be a separate structure,
condominium or a mobile home located on owned or leased land, as long
as the individual living in the home owns it. A homestead can include
up to 20 acres, if the land is used as a yard or for another purpose
related to the residential use of the homestead.
Temporary Moves
If you temporarily move away from your home, you may continue to
receive the exemption if you do not establish a principal residence
elsewhere, you intend to return to the home, and you are away less
than two years. You may continue to receive the exemption if you do
not occupy the residence for more than two years only if you are in
military service or live in a facility providing services related to
health, infirmity or aging from the two-year period.
Homestead School Tax Ceiling
The homestead tax ceiling is a limit on the amount of taxes you must
pay on your residence. If you qualify your home for a 65 and older or
disabled person homestead exemption for school taxes, the school taxes
on that home can't increase as long as you own and live in that home.
The tax ceiling is the amount you pay in the year that you qualified
for the 65 - and - older or disabled person exemption.
The school taxes on your home may go below the
ceiling but not above the amount of the ceiling. If you improve the
home (other than normal repairs or maintenance), the tax ceiling may
go higher for the new additions. For example, if you add on a garage
or game room to the house, the tax ceiling will be adjusted to a
higher level for the addition.
If a 65 and older, disabled, or 55 and older
surviving spouse homeowner moves to another home they can transfer the
percentage of the 65 - and - older or disabled person tax ceiling to a
different home in the same or another school district. The ceiling on
the new home would be calculated to give the same percentage of tax
paid as the ceiling on the original home.
To transfer the school tax ceiling, you may
request a certificate from the chief appraiser in the last appraisal
district in which you received the tax ceiling. You present the
transfer certificate to the chief appraiser in the district where the
new home is located, when you apply for homestead exemptions on the
new home.
There are several types of homestead
exemptions you receive . . .
- School Taxes:
All residence homestead owners may receive a $15,000 homestead
exemption from their home's value for school taxes.
- County Taxes:
Travis County has granted an optional 20% homestead exemption for all
homeowners.* For those aged 65 or disabled, Travis County has granted
an optional $65,000 exemption.
*Which is the maximum allowed by Texas law.
- To view all taxing units associated with Travis County, click here.
Who Qualifies for a Disabled Persons
Exemption
To qualify, you must meet the Social Security definition for
disabled. You qualify if you receive disability benefits under the
federal Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance Program
administered by the Social Security Administration. For further
information, contact the Travis Central Appraisal District at (512)
834-9138.
You must file an Application for Residential Homestead Exemption with the Travis
County Appraisal District between January 1st and April 30th of the
tax year—up to one year after you pay your taxes. You may also read
over the Guide for Homestead
Exemption Application. to help in completing the application. The
form covers the most common exemptions, including over 65 and disabled
exemption.
During the year, if you turn 65 or become disabled,
you must apply for the 65 or older or disabled exemption no later than
one year from the qualification date. Once you receive the exemption,
you do not need to reapply unless the chief appraiser sends you a new
application. In that case, you must file the new application. If you should
move or your qualifications end, you must inform the appraisal district
in writing before the next May 1st.
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