Homestead Exemption in Travis County: Complete Guide
March 30, 2026 · 6 min read
A homestead exemption is one of the most valuable tax benefits available to Texas homeowners — and it's completely free. If you own and occupy your home as your primary residence in Travis County, you should have this exemption. If you don't, you're leaving money on the table.
What You Save
The homestead exemption provides two major benefits:
- $100,000 off your school district taxable value. Austin ISD's rate is ~0.98%. That's about $980/year in savings for every homeowner, regardless of home value.
- 10% annual cap on assessed value increases. Without the homestead exemption, TCAD can increase your assessed value by any amount year-over-year. With it, the maximum increase is 10% per year. In a hot market like Austin, this cap can save thousands.
Who Qualifies
- You own the property (your name is on the deed)
- It's your primary residence (you live there)
- You don't claim a homestead exemption on another property
- You had the property as of January 1 of the tax year
That's it. No income requirements. No age requirements (though additional exemptions exist for over-65 and disabled homeowners).
How to Apply
If you haven't already filed, you can apply with TCAD:
- Online:Visit TCAD's website and file Form 50-114 electronically. You'll need your property ID and a copy of your Texas driver's license showing the property address.
- By mail: Download Form 50-114, fill it out, and mail to TCAD at P.O. Box 149012, Austin, TX 78714.
The filing deadline is April 30 for the current tax year, but you can file up to one year late and still receive the exemption retroactively.
Additional Exemptions
If you qualify for any of these, you get even more savings on top of the general homestead exemption:
| Exemption | Benefit | Who Qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| Over-65 | Additional $10,000 off school district value + tax freeze | Homeowners age 65+ |
| Disabled | Additional $10,000 off school district value | With disability determination |
| Disabled Veteran | $12,000-$100% exemption based on disability rating | Veterans with VA disability rating |
| 100% DV | Complete exemption from all property taxes | 100% disabled veterans + surviving spouses |
Why You Should Protest AND Have a Homestead Exemption
These are two completely separate actions that work together:
- Homestead exemption reduces your taxable value and caps annual increases
- Property tax protest reduces your assessed market value
When you protest and win a reduction, your new lower assessed value becomes the baseline for the 10% cap. This means the savings from a successful protest compound year after year. Doing both is the most effective way to minimize your Travis County property tax bill.
How We Handle Exemptions
When we calculate your potential savings and our fee, we adjust for all active exemptions. You will never be charged for a reduction in assessed value that doesn't actually lower your tax bill. Our fee is based on your actual tax bill reduction, not just the paper value change.
Already have your homestead exemption? Great — now protest.
See how much more you could save with a property tax protest.