Texas · free tool · checked 14 October 2026
Missed your Texas homestead or over-65 exemption? Check your refund
Texas lets you apply for a missed homestead exemption up to two years late. If you already paid the tax, the county refunds the exempt part. No separate refund request is needed. Each 1 February another year drops off, so each month of delay can cost a full year.
Your late-application letter
Fill in your details and we'll write the cover letter to your appraisal district, plus a checklist of what to send.
The full letter and checklist are part of the appeal kit. One payment covers this letter and the full appeal packet on the home page. Copy, print and edit as often as you like.
What to send, and how
How the late window works
Texas property taxes for a year are normally delinquent on 1 February of the next year. Texas Tax Code §11.431 lets the appraisal district accept a late homestead application, including the 65+ and disabled exemptions, up to two years after that date.
| Tax year | Delinquent from | Late application window closes |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 Feb 2024 | 1 Feb 2026 (closed) |
| 2024 | 1 Feb 2025 | 1 Feb 2027 |
| 2025 | 1 Feb 2026 | 1 Feb 2028 |
| 2026 | 1 Feb 2027 | 1 Feb 2029 |
Disabled veterans get longer: exemptions for disabled veterans can be claimed up to five years late (Tax Code §11.439).
How much the exemptions are worth
| Tax year | School homestead exemption | Extra for 65+ or disabled |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 on | $140,000 | $60,000 (total $200,000), plus a school tax ceiling |
| 2023 and 2024 | $100,000 | $10,000, plus a school tax ceiling |
| 2022 | $40,000 | $10,000, plus a school tax ceiling |
The 2025 amounts come from Propositions 13 and 11, approved in November 2025. Counties, cities and some special districts can add their own: up to 20% of value for any homestead (at least $5,000), and a set amount for 65+ or disabled owners. You qualify for the 65+ exemption for the whole year you turn 65.
What to send
- Form 50-114, Residence Homestead Exemption Application, from the Texas Comptroller or your appraisal district. Tick the late-application box and list the years.
- A copy of your Texas driver's license or ID showing the home's address.
- A short cover letter asking for the late exemption under §11.431 for each year, and asking that the tax collector be told to refund the exempt part. The tool above writes it for you.
Send it to your county appraisal district, not the tax office. If approved, the tax collector refunds the overpaid tax, generally within 60 days of the appraisal district's notice.
Also check if your home is over-assessed
Sources: Texas Comptroller, property tax exemptions; Texas Tax Code §11.13, §11.431 and §11.439; 24/7 Wall St., 27 Sep 2026. Checked 14 Oct 2026. Estimates use today's value for every year and don't include the tax ceiling. Information, not legal or tax advice.