Senior (65+) Exemption

Texas Senior (65+) Exemption

Verified Jul 2026 · Tex. Tax Code §11.13(c)

Texas offers property tax relief for homeowners age 65 and older. Age 65 or Older Residence Homestead Exemption (additional school exemption) a $60,000 reduction and reduces your home's taxable value. It is available to homeowners age 65 or older.

Age 65 or Older Residence Homestead Exemption (additional school exemption)

Who qualifies

Age: 65 or older
Ownership: Ownership interest plus principal-residence occupancy; qualifies in addition to the general homestead exemption.
Residency: Must own and occupy the property as a principal residence and be age 65 or older (effective for the year the owner turns 65).

How much it saves

Worked example — a $300,000 home at Texas's median effective rate (~1.25%):

up to ~$750/year

Upper-bound estimate — this is an estimate, not a quoted bill.

• Applies to school district taxes only. Shown as an upper bound — your school taxes are a portion of your total bill.

Your county's rate differs — use the calculator for a figure tuned to where you live.

How to apply

Application required: Yes
Deadline: Before May 1 (April 30); may be filed up to two years after the delinquency date.
Renewal: automatic — Continues automatically once granted; appraisal district may request reverification.
Official application form

Combining with other exemptions

Stacks with the general homestead exemption (11.13(b)) and triggers the school tax ceiling (11.26). A homeowner who is BOTH age 65+ and disabled may receive only ONE of the two additional 11.13(c) exemptions.

Verified Jul 2026 · Tex. Tax Code §11.13(c)

Official sources:

Amount cross-checked against a second official artifact: comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/exemptions/index.php.

By Sharon Ben-MosheHow we verify & estimate

Informational only — not legal or tax advice. Exemption rules and amounts are summarized from official statutes and state tax-agency sources as of each program's verified date and can change by legislative session. Dollar figures are estimates derived from Census ACS county tax data, not actual bills. Confirm your eligibility and current amounts with your county assessor before relying on anything here.

School District Tax Limitation (Tax Ceiling) for Age 65 or Older / Disabled Homeowners

Who qualifies

Age: 65 or older
Ownership: Same ownership/occupancy as the underlying age-65+/disabled homestead exemption.
Residency: Homeowner must qualify for the age-65+ or disabled homestead exemption and occupy the property as a principal residence.

How much it saves

No dollar estimate. This caps (freezes) the tax bill at the year-you-qualify amount rather than reducing it by a set dollar figure.

How to apply

Application required: Yes
Deadline: Takes effect when the qualifying age-65+/disabled exemption is granted; Form 50-311 documents the ceiling amount when transferring.
Renewal: automatic — Ceiling continues automatically; a percentage can transfer to a new Texas homestead using Form 50-311 (Tax Ceiling Certificate).
Official application form

Combining with other exemptions

Applies on top of the age-65+/disabled homestead exemptions. Not dollar-computable — freezes the school M&O tax bill at the first-qualifying-year amount. A surviving spouse age 55+ may retain the ceiling.

Verified Jul 2026 · Tex. Tax Code §11.26 (school); §11.261 (optional county/city)

Official sources:

Amount cross-checked against a second official artifact: comptroller.texas.gov/forms/50-311.pdf.

By Sharon Ben-MosheHow we verify & estimate

Frequently asked questions

Who qualifies for the senior (65+) exemption in Texas?: Under Tex. Tax Code §11.13(c), Age 65 or Older Residence Homestead Exemption (additional school exemption) is available to homeowners age 65 or older. Ownership interest plus principal-residence occupancy; qualifies in addition to the general homestead exemption. Must own and occupy the property as a principal residence and be age 65 or older (effective for the year the owner turns 65).
How much does the senior (65+) exemption save in Texas?: It provides a $60,000 reduction. As an estimate, on a $300,000 home taxed at Texas's median effective rate (1.25%), that is roughly $750 per year. This is an estimate from Census ACS data, not an actual bill.
Do I have to apply for the senior (65+) exemption?: Yes — an application is required, and the deadline is: Before May 1 (April 30); may be filed up to two years after the delinquency date.. The official form is linked in the sources below.
Does the senior (65+) exemption renew automatically?: Once granted, it generally renews automatically. Continues automatically once granted; appraisal district may request reverification.
Can the senior (65+) exemption be combined with other exemptions?: Stacks with the general homestead exemption (11.13(b)) and triggers the school tax ceiling (11.26). A homeowner who is BOTH age 65+ and disabled may receive only ONE of the two additional 11.13(c) exemptions.

Age 65 or Older Residence Homestead Exemption (additional school exemption)

Who qualifies

Age: 65 or older
Ownership: Ownership interest plus principal-residence occupancy; qualifies in addition to the general homestead exemption.
Residency: Must own and occupy the property as a principal residence and be age 65 or older (effective for the year the owner turns 65).

How much it saves

Worked example — a $300,000 home at Texas's median effective rate (~1.25%):

up to ~$750/year

Upper-bound estimate — this is an estimate, not a quoted bill.

• Applies to school district taxes only. Shown as an upper bound — your school taxes are a portion of your total bill.

Your county's rate differs — use the calculator for a figure tuned to where you live.

How to apply

Application required: Yes
Deadline: Before May 1 (April 30); may be filed up to two years after the delinquency date.
Renewal: automatic — Continues automatically once granted; appraisal district may request reverification.
Official application form

Combining with other exemptions

Verified Jul 2026 · Tex. Tax Code §11.13(c)

Official sources:

Amount cross-checked against a second official artifact: comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/exemptions/index.php.

By Sharon Ben-MosheHow we verify & estimate

School District Tax Limitation (Tax Ceiling) for Age 65 or Older / Disabled Homeowners

Who qualifies

Age: 65 or older
Ownership: Same ownership/occupancy as the underlying age-65+/disabled homestead exemption.
Residency: Homeowner must qualify for the age-65+ or disabled homestead exemption and occupy the property as a principal residence.

How much it saves

No dollar estimate. This caps (freezes) the tax bill at the year-you-qualify amount rather than reducing it by a set dollar figure.

How to apply

Application required: Yes
Deadline: Takes effect when the qualifying age-65+/disabled exemption is granted; Form 50-311 documents the ceiling amount when transferring.
Renewal: automatic — Ceiling continues automatically; a percentage can transfer to a new Texas homestead using Form 50-311 (Tax Ceiling Certificate).
Official application form

Combining with other exemptions

Verified Jul 2026 · Tex. Tax Code §11.26 (school); §11.261 (optional county/city)

Official sources:

Amount cross-checked against a second official artifact: comptroller.texas.gov/forms/50-311.pdf.

By Sharon Ben-MosheHow we verify & estimate

Frequently asked questions

Who qualifies for the senior (65+) exemption in Texas?

Under Tex. Tax Code §11.13(c), Age 65 or Older Residence Homestead Exemption (additional school exemption) is available to homeowners age 65 or older. Ownership interest plus principal-residence occupancy; qualifies in addition to the general homestead exemption. Must own and occupy the property as a principal residence and be age 65 or older (effective for the year the owner turns 65).

How much does the senior (65+) exemption save in Texas?

It provides a $60,000 reduction. As an estimate, on a $300,000 home taxed at Texas's median effective rate (1.25%), that is roughly $750 per year. This is an estimate from Census ACS data, not an actual bill.

Do I have to apply for the senior (65+) exemption?

Yes — an application is required, and the deadline is: Before May 1 (April 30); may be filed up to two years after the delinquency date.. The official form is linked in the sources below.

Does the senior (65+) exemption renew automatically?

Once granted, it generally renews automatically. Continues automatically once granted; appraisal district may request reverification.

Can the senior (65+) exemption be combined with other exemptions?