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. Find out more about
the property tax system in Texas by accessing Property
Taxpayer Remedies a publication provided by teh State Comptroller.
Tax Facts December 2011 - How to Save on Property Tax
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. Homestead Exemption
Applications filed with the Travis Central Appraisal District on or after
September 1st, 2011 require supporting documentation to prove occupancy/residency.
The following documents are now required by state law: 1) a copy of the
applicant's driver's license OR state issued personal identification card/certificate
AND 2) a copy of the applicant's vehicle registration receipt OR,
if the applicant does not own a vehicle, an affidavit to that effect signed
by the applicant AND a copy of a utility bill in the applicant's name
for the property for which the exemption is sought. If you have questions
about these new requirements, please contact the Travis Central Appraisal
District directly at (512) 834-9138. The Travis County Tax Office can
provide a duplicate registration receipt to any owner of a vehicle who
needs one for $2.00. This receipt can be purchased in person, by mail
or over the phone. Credit card transactions are subject to a $3.00 vendor
fee.
Click here to download a copy of the Homestead Exemption Application.
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 school taxes you
must pay on your residence. If you qualify your home for a 65
and Over or Disabled Person Homestead Exemption, the school taxes
on that home can't increase as long as you own and occupy that home. The
tax ceiling freezes your school taxes at the amount you pay in the year
that you qualify for the 65 and Over or Disabled Person Homestead 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
value of 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 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 will need to
contact the appraisal district office of your previous and current county
to request the necessary certificate and processing of your request between
offices. You can contact the Travis Central Appraisal District at (512)
834-9138.
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 (this is the maximum allowed
by law). For those aged 65 or disabled, Travis County has granted an optional
$65,000 exemption.
To view all taxing units and exemptions in Travis County,
click here.
Who Qualifies for a Disabled Person's 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
Central Appraisal District between January 1st and April 30th of the
tax year - up to one year after you pay your taxes. The application form
covers all of the available Homestead Exemptions available (ie: General
Homestead, Over 65, Disability, 100% Disabled Veteran and Suriviving Spouse
Exemptions) and comes with detailed instructions to help making filling
it out as easy as possible. If you have questions about applying for any
sort of exemption, please contact that Travis Central Appraisal District
directly at (512) 834-9138.
You may apply for the 65 or older or disabled exemption
during any part of the year you turn 65 or become disabled. Once you receive
the exemption, you do not need to reapply unless the chief appraiser sends
you a new application. If you should move or your qualifications end,
you must inform the appraisal district in writing before the next May
1st.
