If you bought a home in 2011, it is time to file for your Homestead Exemption. This will lower your property tax bill for as long as you own the home and occupy it as your principal residence.
After buying a home, you become eligible for a Homestead Exemption on Jan 1 of the following year. So, for homes purchased in 2011, the time to file is between Jan. 1 and April 30, 2012.
The county appraisal district will send you a form to mail in to them. If you don’t receive the form, I have included some links to get the form online. There is no charge, and you only need to do it once.
When you send in your form, you will need to include the following two items as proof that you live in the house where the exemption is claimed. The address on both of these forms must match the address of your home.
1. Copy of Texas driver’s license (or ID card)
2. Copy of vehicle’s registration receipt
(If you do not own a vehicle, you may send a utility bill and sign an affidavit for non ownership of a vehicle.)
There are additional exemptions that you may qualify for, such as the Over 65, the Disabled Homestead, or the Disabled Veteran’s exemption. Here is a link to general info about property tax exemptions.
Feel free to call if you have a question about this or anything else we can help with.
Hays County Application
Roselind Hejl, CRS
Coldwell Banker United
512-327-0385 office
512-789-4563 cell
P. S. Don’t respond to this scam: An official looking letter is usually sent to new homeowners with a bill for filing your house as a homestead in the deed records. This is not necessary, and will not lower your taxes.
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