How to use this calculator
Enter your home’s market value, your combined property tax rate (it’s printed on your tax bill - for most of East Texas it’s 2.0-2.4%), and whether you qualify for the over-65 or disabled exemption. The calculator shows your annual savings, monthly impact, and 10-year savings projection.
If you’ve never filed a homestead exemption, you’re leaving money on the table - every single year. Filing is free and takes about 10 minutes through your county appraisal district. See the Homestead Exemption guide for step-by-step instructions.
Frequently asked questions
How do I file a homestead exemption?
File once, with your county appraisal district. Smith County homeowners file with Smith CAD; Gregg County with Gregg CAD; and so on. The form is short - proof of identity matching your home address (driver’s license is enough), and confirmation that the home is your primary residence on January 1 of the year you’re filing. Online filing is available in most counties.
When can I file?
Texas allows you to file any time after you take ownership and occupy the home as your primary residence. The deadline for the current year is April 30. As of 2022, late filers can also claim retroactive exemptions for the prior two years - so even if you missed your filing window, you can probably recover some.
Do I have to refile every year?
No. Once filed, your homestead exemption stays in place until you move. If you do move, you need to file again at your new home - and remove it from your old one (the new owner will file fresh).
What if I’m over 65?
You qualify for an additional $10,000 ISD exemption beyond the $100,000 standard exemption. Even better, your school taxes are frozen at the dollar amount you owed in the year you turned 65 (or when you filed). The freeze stays with you and even transfers to a new home through a process called the “tax ceiling transfer.” This is a meaningful retirement-planning benefit.
What about disability?
If you’re disabled (per Social Security or VA standards), you qualify for the same additional $10,000 ISD exemption and the same school tax freeze. You file once with proof of disability status; the exemption then runs alongside your standard homestead.
What about disabled veterans?
Texas offers exemptions on a sliding scale based on VA disability rating - and at 100% disability or unemployable, the home is fully exempt from property tax. Surviving spouses of certain service members (KIA, 100% disabled at death) also qualify for full exemption. This is one of the most powerful real-estate tax benefits in any state. See the Military Relocation page.