Texas homeowners paid over $73 billion in property taxes in 2023. That number keeps climbing. But here’s what most people don’t realize — the state offers more than a dozen exemptions that can knock thousands off your bill every single year. The general homestead exemption alone now removes $100,000 from your school district taxable value. If you’re over 65, you get an additional $10,000 off plus a permanent tax freeze. Disabled veterans with a 100% rating pay zero property taxes on their home. These aren’t loopholes. They’re legal rights built into the Texas Tax Code. The problem is nobody hands them to you. You have to know they exist. You have to apply. And you have to meet the May 15, 2026 deadline to get them for this tax year. This guide walks you through every exemption available to Comal and Guadalupe County homeowners, shows you exactly how to apply, and explains why combining exemptions with a protest gives you the best shot at the lowest possible tax bill.
The General Residence Homestead Exemption: $100,000 Off Your School Taxes
The residence homestead exemption is the foundation of property tax relief in Texas. If you own your home and live in it as your primary residence, you qualify. Period. No income limits. No age requirements. You just have to actually live there as of January 1st of the tax year.
What the Homestead Exemption Actually Does
Starting in 2023, Texas voters approved a massive increase to the school district homestead exemption. It jumped from $40,000 to $100,000. That means your home’s taxable value for school district purposes drops by $100,000 before they calculate your bill. On a $350,000 home in Comal County, that’s roughly $1,000 to $1,200 in annual savings just from this one exemption. The exact amount depends on your school district’s tax rate, but the savings are substantial across the board.
Beyond the school district exemption, most counties and cities offer their own homestead exemptions. These typically range from $3,000 to $20,000 off your taxable value for each taxing unit. Comal County offers additional exemptions through various taxing entities. Guadalupe County does the same. You don’t apply separately for each one — a single homestead exemption application covers all local exemptions you qualify for.
The 10% Appraisal Cap Protection
Here’s something most homeowners don’t fully understand. Once you have a homestead exemption in place, your appraised value cannot increase more than 10% per year for tax purposes. This is called the homestead cap or 10% limitation. It doesn’t limit what the appraisal district says your home is worth on paper. It limits how much of that value they can actually tax.
Say your home’s market value jumps from $300,000 to $360,000 in one year — a 20% increase. Without the homestead cap, your taxes would spike accordingly. With the cap, your taxable value can only rise from $300,000 to $330,000. That’s a 10% increase instead of 20%. The difference stays “banked” in what’s called your cap loss. Over time in a hot market like Comal County, this cap saves homeowners tens of thousands in taxes they’d otherwise owe.
Eligibility Requirements You Must Meet
To qualify for the homestead exemption, you need to own the property and occupy it as your principal residence on January 1st of the tax year. You can only have one homestead exemption in Texas at a time. If you own multiple properties, you pick one. Married couples can only claim one homestead between them, even if they own separate properties.
You must be a Texas resident. The property must be residential — not commercial, not agricultural land without a home. And you need to provide proof of residency. This usually means a Texas driver’s license or state ID showing the property address. The appraisal district may also accept utility bills, voter registration cards, or vehicle registration showing that address.
One thing catches people off guard: if you bought your home after January 1st, you don’t get the homestead exemption for that tax year. You’ll apply for it to take effect the following year. But don’t wait until then to file. Submit your application as soon as you move in. The appraisal district will process it for the next eligible year.
Over-65 Exemption: Additional Savings and a Permanent Tax Freeze
If you’re 65 or older and own your home, Texas provides one of the most valuable tax benefits available anywhere in the country. You get an additional exemption amount on top of the regular homestead exemption. More importantly, you get a tax ceiling that freezes your school district taxes at their current level for as long as you own and live in the home.
The Additional $10,000 School District Exemption
Once you turn 65, you qualify for an additional $10,000 exemption from your home’s taxable value for school district purposes. This stacks on top of the $100,000 general homestead exemption. So instead of $100,000 removed from your taxable value, you get $110,000 removed. On a home valued at $400,000, your school district taxable value drops to $290,000.
Many counties and cities also offer additional over-65 exemptions beyond the mandatory school district amount. In Comal County, check with the appraisal district for current local exemption amounts. Guadalupe County has similar provisions. These local exemptions vary by taxing unit and can change from year to year, so verify the current amounts when you apply.
The School Tax Ceiling: Your Taxes Frozen in Time
The tax ceiling is the real prize here. Once you qualify for the over-65 exemption, your school district taxes freeze. They calculate your school taxes for that year, and that becomes your ceiling. Even if your property value doubles or the school tax rate increases, your school taxes cannot exceed that ceiling amount.
This freeze only applies to school district taxes. Your county, city, and special district taxes can still increase if values or rates go up. But school taxes typically make up the largest portion of your bill — often 40% to 50%. Having that portion locked in provides significant long-term protection.
Here’s an important detail: if you add improvements to your home, like building an addition or converting a garage, the ceiling adjusts upward to account for the new square footage. Normal maintenance and repairs don’t affect it. Only new construction that increases your home’s value.
Transferring Your Tax Ceiling to a New Home
Texas allows over-65 homeowners to transfer their tax ceiling when they move to a different home in the state. The calculation involves a percentage formula based on your old ceiling relative to your old tax amount. It’s not a dollar-for-dollar transfer, but it preserves much of your benefit.
To transfer your ceiling, you must apply for the exemption on your new home and complete Form 50-114-A, which documents the ceiling transfer. The appraisal district calculates your new ceiling based on the formula in the Texas Tax Code. If you’re moving from one county to another — say, from Guadalupe County to Comal County — the new county’s appraisal district handles the transfer calculation.
You qualify for the over-65 exemption starting January 1st of the year you turn 65. If your birthday is December 31st, you still qualify for that entire tax year. File your application anytime during the year you turn 65, and the exemption takes effect for that year.
Disabled Person Exemption: Equal Benefits Without the Age Requirement
Texas provides the same exemption benefits to disabled persons that it gives to those 65 and older. If you meet the disability requirements, you get the additional $10,000 exemption and the tax ceiling freeze — regardless of your age. This can mean substantial savings for homeowners dealing with disabilities at any point in their lives.
What Qualifies as Disabled Under Texas Tax Law
The Texas Tax Code defines “disabled” in a specific way for property tax purposes. You qualify if you cannot engage in substantial gainful employment because of a physical or mental disability, or if you are 55 or older and blind and cannot engage in your previous work because of blindness. You also qualify if you receive disability benefits under the Federal Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program (Social Security disability).
Receiving Social Security disability benefits is the clearest path to qualification. If the Social Security Administration has determined you’re disabled, the appraisal district accepts that determination. You’ll need to provide documentation — typically your Social Security award letter showing you receive disability benefits.
If you don’t receive Social Security disability but believe you qualify under the Tax Code definition, you may need to provide medical documentation. Check with your county appraisal district for their specific documentation requirements. Both Comal County and Guadalupe County appraisal districts can guide you through what they need to process your application.
The Tax Ceiling for Disabled Homeowners
Just like the over-65 exemption, the disabled person exemption includes a school tax ceiling. Your school district taxes freeze at the level calculated in your first year with the exemption. This ceiling remains in place as long as you own the home, live in it, and continue to qualify as disabled.
If your disability status changes — say you recover and no longer meet the disability definition — you must notify the appraisal district. The ceiling would be removed going forward. But as long as you legitimately qualify, the protection remains.
One important note: you cannot receive both the over-65 exemption and the disabled person exemption. If you qualify for both, you choose one. Since the benefits are identical, it doesn’t matter which you claim. Most people who turn 65 while receiving the disabled exemption simply keep the disabled exemption in place. There’s no advantage to switching.
How to Apply for the Disabled Person Exemption
You apply using the same Form 50-114 used for all residence homestead exemptions. There’s a section specifically for claiming disability status. You’ll check the appropriate box and provide supporting documentation.
For Social Security disability recipients, include a copy of your benefit verification letter. This letter should show you’re receiving disability benefits — not just regular retirement benefits. If you’re not sure whether you have this letter, you can request one from the Social Security Administration or download it from your my Social Security account online.
The deadline is the same as other exemptions: May 15, 2026 for the 2026 tax year. File early. If there are questions about your documentation, you want time to resolve them before the deadline passes. Late applications can sometimes be accepted up to two years after the delinquency date, but don’t count on that. Get it done by May 15th.
Disabled Veteran Exemptions: From Partial to 100% Tax Elimination
Texas offers some of the most generous property tax benefits in the nation for disabled veterans. The exemption amount scales with your disability rating. At the top end, veterans with a 100% disability rating or those rated unemployable due to service-connected disabilities pay zero property taxes on their residence homestead. This is real money — thousands of dollars every year for the rest of your life.
Exemption Amounts by Disability Rating
The Texas Tax Code establishes specific exemption amounts based on VA disability percentages. These amounts are set by law and apply statewide. For tax year 2024, the amounts are: 10% to 29% disability rating qualifies for a $5,000 exemption from taxable value. 30% to 49% rating qualifies for a $7,500 exemption. 50% to 69% rating qualifies for a $10,000 exemption. 70% to 100% rating qualifies for a $12,000 exemption.
These exemption amounts are relatively modest compared to the regular homestead exemption. But they stack on top of other exemptions you qualify for. A disabled veteran with a 70% rating who owns their homestead gets the $100,000 school district exemption, any local homestead exemptions, plus the $12,000 disabled veteran exemption. If they’re also over 65, they get that additional $10,000 and the tax ceiling too. The exemptions accumulate.
The 100% Disabled Veteran Total Exemption
Veterans rated 100% disabled by the VA qualify for a total exemption of their residence homestead. Total means total. Your property tax bill goes to zero. This applies to all taxing units — school district, county, city, special districts. Every entity that would normally tax your home exempts it completely.
You also qualify for this total exemption if the VA has rated you as unemployable due to service-connected disabilities, even if your combined rating is less than 100%. The unemployability designation (sometimes called Individual Unemployability or IU) triggers the same total exemption as a 100% rating.
This exemption continues as long as you own the home and it remains your residence. If you move to a different home in Texas, you can transfer the exemption to your new residence. The total exemption travels with you.
Surviving Spouse Benefits
If a veteran who qualified for the 100% disabled or unemployable exemption dies, their surviving spouse may continue to receive the exemption. The spouse must have been married to the veteran at the time of death and must not have remarried. The spouse must also continue to own and occupy the same property as their residence homestead.
There’s also a provision for surviving spouses of veterans who died in action or in the line of duty. If a veteran died while on active duty in the U.S. armed forces, their surviving spouse can receive a total exemption even if the veteran never had a disability rating. This exemption transfers if the spouse moves to a different homestead in Texas.
Surviving spouses who remarry lose these exemptions. But if the subsequent marriage ends — whether through death of the new spouse, divorce, or annulment — the exemption can be reinstated. You’ll need to notify the appraisal district of the change in circumstances.
Documentation Required for Disabled Veteran Exemptions
To claim any disabled veteran exemption, you need documentation from the Department of Veterans Affairs. This typically means your VA disability rating letter showing your combined rating percentage. For the total exemption, you need documentation showing either 100% disability or unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
File Form 50-114 with the disabled veteran section completed. Attach your VA documentation. The Comal County Appraisal District and Guadalupe County Appraisal District both have staff experienced with veteran exemptions. If you have questions about what documentation you need, call them directly. They want to help veterans receive their benefits.
The May 15, 2026 deadline applies to veteran exemptions just like all others. If you’ve recently received a disability rating or had your rating increased, file immediately. Don’t leave money on the table.
Agricultural Exemption: Lower Taxes Through Land Use Valuation
If you own rural land in Comal or Guadalupe County, you may qualify for agricultural valuation. This isn’t technically an exemption — it’s a special appraisal method. But the effect is similar: dramatically lower property taxes. Land valued for agriculture can be assessed at a fraction of its market value, sometimes saving landowners thousands of dollars annually.
How Agricultural Valuation Works
Under normal appraisal rules, land is valued at market value — what it would sell for to a willing buyer. In a growing area like Comal County, vacant land might be worth $50,000 or $100,000 per acre based on development potential. Under agricultural valuation, that same land is valued based on its capacity to produce agricultural products. The ag value might be $500 or $1,000 per acre — a massive reduction.
This isn’t a loophole. The Texas Constitution specifically authorizes this special valuation for land used primarily for agricultural purposes. The policy recognizes that taxing agricultural land at development values would force farmers and ranchers to sell, destroying the state’s agricultural industry. Agricultural valuation keeps working land in production.
To qualify, you must use the land for a genuine agricultural purpose. The most common qualifying uses in Comal and Guadalupe Counties include cattle ranching, hay production, goat or sheep raising, beekeeping, and wildlife management. Each use has specific requirements you must meet to qualify and maintain the special valuation.
Requirements and Intensity Standards
The appraisal district evaluates whether your agricultural use meets “degree of intensity” standards. This means you’re actually farming or ranching the land, not just keeping a few animals as pets. The comptroller provides guidelines, and each appraisal district applies them to local conditions.
For cattle in Comal County, you typically need at least five acres and enough head of cattle to demonstrate a real ranching operation. The exact requirements depend on land quality and carrying capacity. One cow per every 15 to 25 acres is a common range, but check with the Comal County Appraisal District for current standards.
Wildlife management is a popular option for landowners who don’t want traditional livestock. Under wildlife management valuation, you manage the land to sustain indigenous wildlife populations. This requires an approved wildlife management plan and active implementation of specific practices: habitat control, erosion control, predator management, providing supplemental water or food, providing shelter, and census counts.
You must engage in at least three of these practices annually and document your activities. The first year you want wildlife management, you typically need to have qualified under traditional agricultural use the year before. You can’t convert raw land directly to wildlife management.
Rollback Taxes: The Cost of Changing Use
Here’s the catch with agricultural valuation: if you stop using the land for agriculture, you owe rollback taxes. This means the difference between what you paid under agricultural valuation and what you would have paid at market value, for the current year plus the previous five years, plus interest.
Rollback taxes can be substantial. On a 50-acre tract in Comal County, the rollback could easily exceed $50,000 depending on market values and tax rates. If you’re considering purchasing ag-exempt land and converting it to residential or commercial use, factor rollback taxes into your calculations.
Certain changes don’t trigger rollback. If you sell the land and the new owner continues agricultural use, no rollback. If you add a homestead on the property while continuing to use the remainder for agriculture, usually no rollback. But subdividing the land or building commercial structures typically does trigger the rollback penalty.
How to Apply for Exemptions: Form 50-114 and the Application Process
Every exemption discussed in this guide requires an application. The Texas Comptroller’s Form 50-114 is the standard application for residence homestead exemptions. For agricultural valuation, you’ll use Form 50-129. Understanding the application process helps ensure your exemption gets approved without delays or complications.
Where to Get and Submit Form 50-114
You can download Form 50-114 from the Texas Comptroller’s website at comptroller.texas.gov. Search for “Form 50-114” and you’ll find the current version in PDF format. You can fill it out electronically and print it, or print a blank form and complete it by hand.
Submit your completed application to your county appraisal district — not to individual taxing units or the comptroller. In Comal County, that’s the Comal Appraisal District, which you can learn more about at comalad.org. In Guadalupe County, it’s the Guadalupe Appraisal District. Each appraisal district has its own submission procedures. Most accept applications by mail, in person, or electronically through their websites.
If you’re filing for multiple exemptions — say homestead plus over-65 plus disabled veteran — you typically use a single Form 50-114. The form has sections for each exemption type. Complete all sections that apply to your situation.
Required Documentation and Common Mistakes
The documentation you need depends on which exemptions you’re claiming. For a basic homestead exemption, you need your Texas driver’s license or state ID showing the property address. If your ID shows a different address, you’ll need to update it before filing or provide alternative proof of residency.
For over-65, include a copy of your driver’s license or ID showing your birth date. For disability, include your Social Security disability award letter or other qualifying documentation. For disabled veterans, include your VA disability rating letter. Always make copies of everything you submit.
Common mistakes that delay applications: forgetting to sign the form, not including required documentation, using an old form version, applying to the wrong appraisal district, or listing incorrect property information. Double-check your property’s legal description and account number. You can find these on your previous tax statement or on the appraisal district’s website.
The May 15 Deadline and Late Applications
The deadline to file exemption applications for the 2026 tax year is May 15, 2026. If you file by this deadline, your exemption applies to your 2026 tax bill. Miss the deadline and you miss the exemption for that year — even if you clearly qualify.
Texas law does allow late homestead exemption applications up to two years after the delinquency date for taxes on the property. But this isn’t a free pass. You must prove you owned and occupied the property as your homestead on January 1st of the year you’re claiming. Late applications require extra documentation and sometimes result in partial denial.
Don’t play games with the deadline. File early. If you’re reading this in early 2026, file now. If you bought your home recently and haven’t applied, file tomorrow. The May 15, 2026 deadline approaches faster than you think, and there’s no reason to risk losing a year’s worth of exemptions.
Exemption vs. Protest: Why You Should Do Both
Many homeowners think exemptions and protests are either/or choices. They’re not. They’re completely different tools that work together to minimize your property tax bill. Exemptions reduce your taxable value through legally defined deductions. Protests challenge the appraisal district’s assessment of your home’s market value. Do both every single year.
How Exemptions and Assessed Value Interact
Your property tax bill is calculated by taking your taxable value and multiplying it by the tax rate. Exemptions reduce your taxable value by specific amounts — $100,000 for the school district homestead exemption, for example. But what’s left still gets taxed. If your home is valued at $500,000 and you have a $100,000 exemption, you’re taxed on $400,000.
A protest targets that $500,000 market value assessment. If you successfully protest and get the value reduced to $450,000, you’re taxed on $350,000 instead of $400,000. The exemption remains the same; the underlying value changed. Lower market value plus exemptions equals the lowest possible taxable value.
This matters even more for homeowners without the tax ceiling. If you’re under 65 and not disabled, your school taxes can increase every year as values rise. Keeping your assessed value as low as possible through protests limits how much your bill can grow — even with the 10% cap in place.
The Annual Nature of Property Valuation
Here’s something many homeowners don’t realize: the appraisal district values your property fresh every year. Last year’s protest win doesn’t carry forward automatically. They might agree your home was worth $450,000 last year, then turn around and value it at $480,000 this year. You have the right to protest again.
Exemptions, by contrast, stay in place once approved. You don’t reapply for your homestead exemption every year. It remains on your account until you sell the property or no longer qualify. But the market value underneath that exemption gets reassessed annually. Protect your exemptions by filing once; protect your value by protesting regularly.
This creates a winning strategy: file all exemptions you qualify for to establish your baseline protections, then protest your value every year to keep the underlying assessment honest. It’s two layers of defense against an ever-increasing tax bill.
What Happens If You Only Do One
If you only file for exemptions and never protest, you accept whatever value the appraisal district assigns. In fast-growing counties like Comal and Guadalupe, values have increased dramatically. The appraisal district’s mass appraisal methods often overshoot actual market conditions. Your neighbors might be protesting and getting reductions while you pay based on inflated numbers.
If you only protest and never file for exemptions, you’re leaving guaranteed money on the table. The homestead exemption alone saves typical homeowners $1,000 or more annually. Over-65 and disability exemptions with the tax ceiling provide permanent protection worth tens of thousands over time. No protest result can replicate what exemptions provide automatically.
The people with the lowest property tax bills do both. They maximize their exemptions and protest their values. This isn’t aggressive tax avoidance — it’s using the rights Texas law explicitly provides. The system assumes you’ll use these tools. Build your property tax strategy around both.
Comal County and Guadalupe County Specific Information
While exemption types and amounts are largely set by state law, the application process goes through your local appraisal district. Comal and Guadalupe Counties each have their own appraisal districts with specific procedures, contact information, and local resources. Knowing how to work with your specific appraisal district makes the process smoother.
Comal County Appraisal District Procedures
The Comal Appraisal District handles all exemption applications for properties in Comal County. Their website at comalad.org provides downloadable forms, property search tools, and contact information. You can submit exemption applications through their online portal, by mail, or in person at their office in New Braunfels.
Comal County has experienced significant growth in recent years. Property values have increased substantially, making exemptions and protests more valuable than ever. The appraisal district processes a high volume of exemption applications, so filing early helps ensure yours receives timely attention.
When calling the Comal Appraisal District with questions, have your property account number ready. This helps staff pull up your record quickly. They can tell you which exemptions you currently have, which you might qualify for, and what documentation you need to apply.
Guadalupe County Appraisal District Procedures
The Guadalupe Appraisal District serves properties in Guadalupe County. Their procedures mirror Comal County’s in most respects — same state forms, same exemption amounts set by law, same deadlines. Where they differ is in local optional exemptions offered by various taxing units within the county.
Guadalupe County includes portions of fast-growing areas along the I-35 corridor. Property values have tracked upward alongside Comal County. The same advice applies: file for exemptions early, gather documentation in advance, and don’t wait until May to start the process.
Both appraisal districts maintain online property search databases. You can look up your property, see its current assessed value, and check which exemptions are on file. This is a good starting point before filing any new applications — verify what you have before applying for what you don’t.
Local Exemption Variations
Texas law mandates certain exemptions statewide — the $100,000 school district homestead exemption, for example. But it also allows local taxing units to offer additional optional exemptions. Cities, counties, and special districts can adopt their own homestead exemptions, over-65 exemptions, and disabled exemptions.
These optional exemptions vary by taxing unit. Your city might offer a $15,000 homestead exemption while the county offers $3,000. Special districts like emergency services districts or water districts have their own policies. When you file for a homestead exemption, you automatically receive any local exemptions you qualify for — you don’t file separate applications.
The taxing units review their exemption policies periodically. Amounts can change from year to year. What doesn’t change is the benefit of having a homestead exemption on file. Whatever local exemptions exist, you’ll receive them automatically if your homestead exemption is active. Another reason to file once and keep your exemption current.
Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Property Tax Exemptions
Can I file for a homestead exemption if I bought my house in March 2026?
No, you cannot receive the homestead exemption for 2026 if you purchased after January 1, 2026. Texas law requires you to own and occupy the property as your primary residence on January 1st of the tax year. However, you should still file your application now. The appraisal district will process it to take effect January 1, 2027, and you’ll be protected for future years. Don’t wait until next year to file — do it as soon as you move in.
What’s the deadline to file for exemptions for the 2026 tax year?
The deadline is May 15, 2026. This applies to all exemption types: homestead, over-65, disability, disabled veteran, and agricultural applications. If you miss this deadline, you may still be able to file a late application for homestead exemptions within certain time limits, but you risk losing the exemption for 2026. File early to avoid any risk.
I’m 64 and turn 65 in October 2026. Do I qualify for the over-65 exemption this year?
Yes, you qualify for the 2026 tax year. Texas law states you qualify beginning January 1st of the year you turn 65. Even though your birthday isn’t until October, you can file for and receive the over-65 exemption for all of 2026. File your application before May 15, 2026, noting your birth date. The appraisal district will apply the exemption and tax ceiling for the full year.
Can I have a homestead exemption in Texas if I own another home in a different state?
Yes, as long as the Texas property is your primary residence. Texas doesn’t prohibit you from owning property elsewhere. What matters is where you actually live most of the time. If you live in your Texas home more than any other location and it’s your principal residence, you qualify. However, you must have a Texas driver’s license or state ID showing the property address. You cannot claim homestead exemptions on properties in multiple states simultaneously for tax benefits.
If I’m a disabled veteran with a 100% rating, do I still need to file a homestead exemption?
Yes, you still need to file. The 100% disabled veteran exemption provides a total exemption from property taxes, but it requires an application. File Form 50-114 with your VA documentation showing your 100% rating or unemployability designation. The exemption isn’t automatic just because you have the VA rating — you must claim it through the appraisal district. Once approved, the exemption remains in place as long as you own and occupy the home.
My spouse died and had the over-65 exemption. Can I keep it?
You may be able to retain the over-65 exemption and tax ceiling depending on your age. If you’re 55 or older when your spouse dies, you can retain the over-65 exemption and the tax ceiling that was in place. You must have been living in the home and qualified for the homestead exemption at the time of your spouse’s death. Notify the appraisal district of the change in ownership status and file any required documentation to continue the exemption in your name.
Does agricultural exemption eliminate my property taxes completely?
No, agricultural valuation reduces your taxes but doesn’t eliminate them. Your land is still taxed — just at the lower agricultural value instead of market value. For example, land worth $100,000 at market value might have an ag value of $1,000. You pay taxes on the $1,000, not the $100,000. This results in substantial savings but not zero taxes. Additionally, any home on the property is still taxed at market value regardless of the land’s agricultural status.
Can I protest my property value and have exemptions at the same time?
Yes, absolutely. Exemptions reduce your taxable value automatically; protesting challenges whether the appraised value is accurate. Both can be active simultaneously and they stack — a lower appraised value combined with your homestead exemption maximizes your savings. File Form 50-114 for exemptions, then protest by May 15.
How much will the $140,000 homestead exemption lower my property taxes in Comal County?
The $140,000 homestead exemption removes $140,000 from your home’s taxable value for school district taxes only, which typically saves homeowners between $1,200 and $1,400 annually on the school portion of their bill. For example, if your Comal ISD home is appraised at $450,000, you’ll only pay school taxes on $310,000. You must file Form 50-114 with the Comal or Guadalupe County Appraisal District, and the deadline is April 30th, though late applications are accepted for up to two years of back exemptions under Texas Tax Code Section 11.431.
What does the over-65 property tax freeze mean and will my taxes ever go up?
Once you turn 65 and apply for the over-65 exemption under Texas Tax Code Section 11.13(c), your school district taxes are frozen at that year’s amount and cannot increase as long as you own and live in the home. However, your county, city, and special district taxes are not frozen and can still rise with property values. You also receive an additional $10,000 school tax exemption on top of the $140,000 homestead exemption, and if you move to a new homestead in Texas, you can transfer a proportional tax ceiling to your new home.
How do I qualify for the disabled veteran property tax exemption in Guadalupe County?
Texas offers partial exemptions ranging from $5,000 to $12,000 based on VA disability ratings of 10% to 70%, while veterans with 100% disability ratings receive a complete property tax exemption on their homestead under Texas Tax Code Section 11.131. Surviving spouses of 100% disabled veterans may also qualify to retain the full exemption if they haven’t remarried. You’ll need to submit Form 50-114 along with your VA disability determination letter to the Guadalupe County Appraisal District, and there’s no deadline for disabled veteran exemptions—they can be filed any time during the year.