What exemptions are available?
There are several partial and absolute exemptions available. Some of these exemptions include General Residential Homestead, Over-65, Over-65 Surviving Spouse, Disability Homestead, Disability Surviving Spouse, Disabled Veterans, Charitable, Religious, Freeport and Pollution Control. Additional information can be found on the Forms page of our website under Exemptions. Detailed information on Disabled Veterans 100% Homestead Exemption can be found on the State Comptrollers Website.

Does my home qualify for an exemption?
Beginning January 1, 2022, you may claim your homestead prorated from the date it became your principal residence. Additional qualifications may apply based on the exemption. Additional information can be found on the Forms page of our website under Exemptions. Prior to January 1, 2022, you could only claim the exemption if you owned and lived in the home on January 1st.

Is there a fee to file for an exemption?
It is not necessary for homeowners to pay anyone to file for a homestead exemption or to obtain a refund for the late filing of a homestead or senior citizen exemption. Homestead exemption forms are available for free. You can download an application from our website on the Forms page under Exemptions or you can request that an application be mailed to you by contacting us. The applications must be filed with appraisal district and may be hand delivered, mailed or faxed. There is no application fee and this service is provided free of charge.

Will this protect me in case of a lawsuit?
Texas has two distinct laws for designating a homestead. The Texas Tax Code offers homeowners a way to apply for homestead exemptions to reduce local property taxes. The Texas Property Code allows homeowners to designate their homesteads to protect them from a forces sale to satisfy creditors. This law does not, however, protect the homeowner from tax foreclosure sales of their homes for delinquent taxes. For more information on homestead designation as provided by the Texas Property Code please contact the Office of Attorney General at www.oag.state.tx.us.

How much will I save?
An exemption removes part of the value of your property from taxation and lowers your tax bill. In addition to the state mandated exemption amounts for school taxes, each taxing unit decides whether to offer the optional exemption and at what percentage.

How do I apply for an exemption?
Exemption applications are available from our offices during normal business hours. You may also request to have an application mailed to you, or you may download the application from the Forms page of our website. You may also file online.

Do I apply for a homestead exemption annually?
Only a one-time application is required, unless by written notice, the Chief Appraiser requests the property owner to file a new application. However, a new application is required when a property owner’s residence homestead is changed.

Do I have to fill out the top box on the Homestead Exemption form (Property ID, Property Type, Geo ID and Legal Description?
If you have the Property ID number that is helpful in processing the application; however, it is not required.

What is situs?
Situs is the physical location address of the property.

I am married, do both owners have to sign the application?
No, the application only requires the signature of one of the residents. That individual must be listed on the deed.

Can I file my exemption electronically?
Yes. Click here for Online Forms. You must upload a copy of your Texas Drivers License or Texas ID.

How long before I can view my exemption on the website?
The website is updated daily, although state law prohibits Appraisal Districts from posting some exemptions online.

I own more than one home, can I get a homestead on both?
A person may not receive a homestead exemption for more than residence homestead in the same year. You can receive a homestead exemption only for your main or principal residence on January 1st.

What if I owned the property before I was married?
You can still only have one exemption which must be claimed on your principal residence on January 1st.

I own my own homestead, but also own a home with my child that they live in. Would they qualify for a homestead?
They must have ownership interest in the property to qualify and would only receive a portion of the exemption based on the percent of ownership.

My exemption fell off from last year, why?
Exemptions reflect the January 1 owner. If you purchased a home after January 1st the exemption in place was for the previous owner. You must file an exemption application.

I forgot to apply for my exemption, can I receive it retroactively?
You may file a late homestead exemption application if you file it no later than two years after the date the taxes become delinquent.

Is it true that once I become 65 years of age, I will not have to pay any more taxes?
No, that is not necessarily true. If you are 65 or older your residence homestead qualifies for more exemptions which will result in greater tax savings. The amount of the exemptions that are granted by each taxing unit is subtracted from the market value of your residence and the taxes are calculated on that “lower value”. In addition, when you turn 65, you may receive a tax ceiling for your total school taxes; that is, the school taxes on you residence cannot increase as long as you own and live in that home. The ceiling is set at the amount you pay in the year that you qualify for the aged 65 or older exemption. The school taxes on your home subsequently may fall below the ceiling.

If you significantly improve your home (other than ordinary repairs and maintenance), tax ceilings can go up. For example, if you add a room or garage to your home, your tax ceiling can rise. It will also change if you move to a new home.

When do you apply if you are turning 65?
You may apply at anytime during the year of that birth date. You would receive the exemption for the full year.

Do I need to file an application when I turn 65 or is it automatically added?
The appraisal district can only automatically process the over-65 exemption if it has the appropriate documentation on hand. Coryell CAD requires proof of age to grant an over-65 exemption. Acceptable proof of age includes either a copy of the front side of your driver’s license or a copy of your birth certificate or any official document reflecting your date of birth. It is always best to file an exemption application with the appropriate documents to ensure that the Over-65 exemption is processed.

If I am disabled and over-65 can I claim both exemptions in the same tax year?
You may not claim both an Over 65 and a disabled person’s exemption in the same tax year.

I have a disabled child. Would that qualify me for a disabled exemption?
No, the person applying for the exemption must own the home.

How do I transfer my senior citizen or disabled person tax ceiling?
You may transfer the same percentage of school taxes paid to another qualified homestead in the state. If the county, city or special district grants the limitation, you may transfer the same percentage of taxes paid to another qualified homestead within that same taxing unit within Coryell County.  Only the school tax percentage can transfer outside Coryell County.

To transfer the tax ceiling, you must qualify for an Over-65 or Disabled Person exemption at your previous residence and submit a tax ceiling transfer certificate from your previous residence. The transfer certificate must be obtained from your prior Appraisal District. A current Homestead Exemption application must also be completed for the new residence. Attach current proof of age or the date your disability began. Acceptable proof of age includes either a copy of the front side of your driver’s license or a copy of your birth certificate or any official document reflecting your date of birth. Acceptable proof of disability includes a current statement from the Social Security Administration (1-800-772-1213) showing that you are disabled and the date on which your disability began, or a current letter of verification from your physician stating that you qualify for Social Security Disability, the date your disability began, and you are unable to engage in any substantial gainful work for a period which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of one year or more.

If you are moving outside Coryell County, please contact our office and request a Tax Ceiling Certificate to submit with your homestead form to your new appraisal district.

If my spouse dies do I still receive the exemption?
You qualify for an extension of the Over-65 exemption if (1) you are 55 years of age or older on the date your spouse died and (2) your deceased spouse was receiving the age 65 or older exemptions on this residence homestead or would have applied and qualified for the exemption in the year of the spouse’s death. You will not receive the school tax limitation for the age 65 or older exemption unless you spouse died on or after December 1, 1987. Disabled: beginning January 1, 2020 you are entitled to continue the school tax limitation and you will be entitled to continue the local option county, city or junior college limitation.

What types of exemptions require an annual application?
The law requires an annual application by April 30 for some types of exemptions, including property exempted from Taxation by Agreement (Property Tax Abatement), Historical and Archaeological Sites, exemption of Freeport Goods, and exemption of Pollution Control property approved by the Texas Commission on Environment Quality (TCEQ). Cemeteries, charitable organizations, youth development organizations, religious organizations, and non-profit private schools do not have to reapply for the exemption each year once the property tax exemption is granted, unless by written notice, the Chief Appraiser requests the property owner to file a new application. However, if their exempt property changes ownership or if their qualifications for exemption change, they must reapply.

Does a non-profit organization automatically receive a property tax exemption?
No. Often organizations mistakenly believe they are entitled to a property tax exemption because they have received a federal income tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or an exemption from State sales taxes. The constitution requirements for property tax exemptions are different than the provisions covering income and sales taxes. A non-profit organization may qualify for a total exemption from property taxes, but they must apply by April 30 to the Coryell Central Appraisal District for the exemption. Several exemption applications can be printed from the Forms page on this site.

Must I notify the Appraisal District if my entitlement to an exemption ends?
A person who received an exemption that is not required to be claimed annually must notify the Appraisal District in writing before May 1 after the entitlement to the exemption ends. If you fail to do so and don’t pay your taxes in full, you will face a 50 percent delinquent tax penalty, plus interest.