How do I file my Texas homestead exemption the first year I buy?
Texas has no statewide portal for the homestead exemption — you file with your county appraisal district. Do it after you close on your primary residence and you lock in a lower taxable value and a cap on future increases. Miss it and your escrow runs high.
Where and how to file
Texas runs property tax at the county level, so you file Form 50-114 (Residence Homestead Exemption Application) with the appraisal district for the county where the home sits — Harris CAD, Travis CAD, Bexar CAD, and so on. Most districts let you file online; all accept the paper form. You'll provide a Texas driver's license or ID showing an address that matches the property.
You can file once the home is your principal residence. Texas now allows new owners to file in the same year they buy, rather than waiting for the next January.
The deadline (and the late grace window)
The general filing deadline is April 30 of the tax year. If you miss it, Texas still lets you file a late homestead application for up to two years after the date the taxes became delinquent — so a missed year is usually recoverable. Filing sooner is always better, because it sets your exemption and your cap in place.
Why filing matters for your escrow
Two things happen when your homestead exemption is on file:
- Your taxable value drops by the exemption amount (the school-district portion is $140,000 in 2026), which lowers your tax bill and the escrow collected for it.
- The 10% homestead cap kicks in, limiting how much your assessed value can rise year to year — protection that matters in fast-appreciating Texas markets.
Without the exemption on file, your escrow is calculated on the full taxable value, and your monthly payment is higher than it needs to be.
New construction: a special warning
If you bought new construction, your first-year tax bill may be based on the unimproved lot, then jump once the finished home is assessed. The homestead exemption helps, but it doesn't erase that jump. We explain the year-two payment shock and how to plan for it in Texas property tax escrow in your first year.
Don't leave the 2026 increase on the table
Filing also captures the larger 2026 exemption automatically. If you want the full picture of what that increase is worth, read what the 2026 Texas homestead exemption change saves you.
Common questions
When can I file my Texas homestead exemption after buying?
You can file once the home is your principal residence. Texas allows new owners to file in the same year they purchase. The general deadline is April 30, though late applications are accepted for up to two years after the taxes became delinquent.
Where do I file the homestead exemption in Texas?
With the county appraisal district (CAD) for the county where the home is located — there is no statewide portal. You file Form 50-114 online or on paper and provide a Texas ID matching the property address.
Does it cost anything to file?
No. Filing the homestead exemption is free through your county appraisal district. Disregard any third-party service that charges a fee to file it for you.
What is the 10% homestead cap?
Once your homestead exemption is in place, Texas limits how much your assessed value can increase to 10% per year, even when market values rise faster. It's one of the biggest long-term benefits of filing.
How Mike + Cornerstone help
We remind every Texas buyer to file the homestead exemption the moment they close, and we make sure your escrow is set up to reflect it. If you're buying new construction, we model the year-two tax jump so the homestead exemption and your savings plan line up.
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This article is general information for Texas homebuyers and homeowners, not financial or legal advice, and is not a commitment to lend. Program figures are current as of June 28, 2026 and can change; we confirm the numbers for your specific situation. Equal Housing Lender.