Beating Back Property Taxes in Houston: Homestead, 65+ Exemptions, and How to Fight Your Appraisal

Adriana Perez
4 days ago
4 min read

Every spring in Houston, a familiar letter arrives in the mail: the appraisal notice. For many homeowners, it’s the envelope they dread opening. Property values across Harris, Fort Bend, Brazoria, Galveston, and Montgomery counties continue to climb, and with them, property taxes.

But here’s the thing, you don’t just have to accept it. Texas law provides you with tools to reduce your bill and keep your home affordable. If you know how to use exemptions and protest effectively, you can take real control over your tax burden.

Let’s walk through the two most powerful exemptions: Homestead and 65+, and then dig into what it actually looks like to protest your taxes and win.

The Power of the Homestead Exemption

Think of the homestead exemption as your first line of defense. It only applies to your primary residence; you can’t claim it on rental properties or vacation homes.

Here’s what it does in the Houston area:

Lowers your taxable value. Since voters passed Proposition 4 in 2023, you get $100,000 off the value taxed by school districts.
Caps annual increases. Even if your Midtown townhome or Pearland ranch jumps 20% in value this year, your taxable value can only rise by 10% per year.
Provides stability. In neighborhoods like EaDo, Friendswood, or The Woodlands, where demand pushes values up fast, this exemption keeps you from being priced out of your own home.

How to claim it: File Form 50-114 with your local county appraisal district (HCAD for Harris, Brazoria CAD, Galveston CAD, etc.). Apply by April 30 to lock in savings for that year. Once approved, it sticks unless you move.

Turning 65? Here’s Your Bonus Shield

If you’re 65 or older, Texas adds a second layer of protection:

Extra $10,000 exemption on school taxes, stacked on top of the $100,000 homestead exemption.
School tax freeze. Once you qualify, Houston ISD, Alvin ISD, Pearland ISD, and other local school districts can’t raise the dollar amount you owe even if property values skyrocket.
Transferable benefits. If a homeowner passes away, the surviving spouse (55 or older) keeps the freeze.
Deferral option. Seniors can defer paying property taxes entirely. The taxes accrue at 5% interest but don’t have to be paid until the home is sold or the owner passes away.

For seniors in booming markets like Sugar Land or League City, this can mean the difference between staying put and being forced to sell.

You can use this form for both!

This Year Matters!

Lawmakers in Austin are pushing for even bigger cuts. In 2025, the Legislature passed a measure to raise the exemption again:

$140,000 homestead exemption for all homeowners.
An additional $60,000 for seniors and disabled homeowners.
That’s $200,000 in total school tax exemptions if you’re 65+.

If approved by voters this November, many seniors in Houston will see their school taxes nearly wiped out.

Learn about what's on the ballot here!

Don’t Stop at Exemptions: Protest Your Appraisal

Here’s the part most homeowners overlook: your appraisal notice isn’t the final word. It’s just HCAD’s opinion of your home’s value, and you have the legal right to challenge it.

Why Protest?

Harris County’s values are generated with mass appraisal software, they don’t know your home’s quirks.
Errors are common: wrong square footage, missed condition issues, inflated comps.
And the payoff is real: in Harris County, nearly 75% of protests win reductions.

Deadlines

For homestead properties: April 30 or 30 days after your notice arrives, whichever is later.
For others: typically May 15.

How to File

Online: Use HCAD’s iFile system.
iSettle: Review their proposed reduction and accept or reject it.
In person or by mail: Even a simple letter saying you “disagree with the value” is valid.

Build Your Case

Pull comps of similar homes that sold recently in your neighborhood.
Photograph condition issues: an old roof, foundation cracks, outdated interiors.
Bring paperwork: repair estimates, appraisals, or a Realtor CMA.

What Happens Next

Informal hearing: You meet with an appraiser. Many cases settle here.
Appraisal Review Board (ARB): If not, a three-member panel hears your case. Present your evidence, short, clear, factual.
Appeals: If you still disagree, you can appeal in arbitration or court (usually for higher-value properties).

Quick Reference Table

Tool/Strategy	What It Does	Deadline	Why It Matters
Homestead	$100K off school value + 10% cap	April 30	Reduces and stabilizes your taxes
65+ Exemption	Extra $10K + school tax freeze	April 30	Seniors get lasting protection
Protest Appraisal	Challenge county’s value of your home	April 30/May 15	Can lower taxable value
Deferral (65+)	Delay paying property taxes (5% interest accrues)	Anytime	Keeps seniors in their homes