By Albina Rippy, Realtor and former CPA, with Holly McCormick and Natasha Antonioni of The Council Real Estate Group at Compass. Last updated November 3, 2026.
Quick answer
If you bought a primary residence in Austin, apply for your homestead exemption with Travis Central Appraisal District. It’s free, and you need a Texas driver’s license or ID showing the property’s address. If the prior owner already had the exemption this year, apply on or after January 1 of next year and before May 1. If the prior owner didn’t, you can apply now. In Eanes ISD, the $140,000 school exemption alone is worth about $1,165 a year at the 2025 to 2026 rate. The Council Real Estate Group at Compass (Albina Rippy, Holly McCormick and Natasha Antonioni) can walk buyers in Westlake, Cuernavaca and Eanes ISD through the numbers on a specific address.
What’s the homestead exemption worth?
Texas requires school districts to offer a $140,000 exemption on a residence homestead. Owners who are 65 or older or have a qualifying disability get another $60,000.
Here’s the math for a home in Eanes ISD, using the district’s 2025 to 2026 rate of $0.8322 per $100 of value:
- $140,000 divided by 100 is 1,400
- 1,400 times $0.8322 is $1,165.08 a year
- At $200,000 for an owner who is 65 or older, the figure is $1,664.40 a year
That’s only the school portion, and rates change each year. Other local exemptions apply automatically once you’re approved for the school exemption, if your city or county offers them.
For the full picture on what you’ll pay, read how much property taxes are when buying in Westlake Austin.
When should you apply?
Your closing date and the prior owner’s status decide this.
- You owned and lived in the home on January 1. Apply before May 1 of that year.
- You closed after January 1, and the prior owner had the exemption that year. Wait until January 1 of next year, then apply. A November 2026 closing would usually fall here, with a filing window from January 1 to April 30, 2027.
- You closed after January 1, and the prior owner didn’t have it. Apply as soon as you own and live in the home. Once approved, you can receive the general exemption for the rest of that tax year.
Missed it? Most owners can file late, up to about two years after that year’s tax deadline. Confirm your dates with the appraisal district, because money is on the line.
How do you apply in Travis County?
- Update your Texas driver’s license or ID so the address matches the home.
- Complete the form through Travis Central Appraisal District.
- Check your property record in about 90 days. The district has 90 days to decide, and approval letters usually aren’t sent.
- Look for the exemption on your April appraisal notice and your October tax bill.
Don’t pay anyone for this. Filing is free, and the appraisal district’s chief appraiser says owners “should never pay someone” for help with the forms. Its staff will help you at 512-873-1560.
Homes that sit in Williamson or Hays County file with that county’s appraisal district instead.
The 10 percent cap doesn’t come with the house
This one surprises people. Texas limits how fast a homestead’s appraised value can rise, generally to 10 percent a year. But the prior owner’s limit doesn’t transfer to you, and yours doesn’t begin until the tax year after you first qualify.
So if the seller’s appraised value is well below what you paid, don’t budget from the seller’s tax bill. Ask for the current market value on the appraisal district’s record, and budget from your purchase price until you’ve seen your own notice.
Your first year calendar
- At closing. Look at how the year’s taxes were prorated on your closing statement, and find out if your lender escrows them.
- October. Tax bills go out. Check that yours came to the right address.
- By January 31. Pay the bill if your lender doesn’t. It’s delinquent starting February 1.
- January 1 to April 30. File your exemption if you couldn’t file sooner.
- April. Your notice of appraised value arrives. Read it the day it comes.
- By May 15. File a protest if the value looks wrong. The Travis County deadline is May 15, or 30 days after the notice was mailed, whichever is later. Miss it and you generally lose your protest for the year.
Should you protest your appraisal?
Read the notice before you decide, and compare the value with closed sales of similar homes. A protest is the place to bring evidence: comparable sales, plus photos and repair bids if the home has condition problems.
I’m happy to pull closed sales for you. Protesting costs nothing to file, and it’s worth doing when the numbers support it, since the exemption and the protest work separately.
After you’re approved
You’ll generally only apply once, but it doesn’t last forever without checks. State law requires appraisal districts to verify eligibility every five years. If you get a verification notice from Travis CAD, answer it by its deadline. If you don’t get one, you don’t need to do anything.
If you later turn 65 or qualify as disabled, file again for that exemption. Most school districts then set a ceiling on your school taxes, and that ceiling can move with you to a new Texas home, with some adjustments.
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply for a homestead exemption in Austin?
Apply through your county appraisal district, which is Travis Central Appraisal District for most Austin homes. Filing is free. You must own and live in the home, and you need a Texas driver’s license or ID showing the property’s address.
When can I file a homestead exemption after buying a home in Texas?
If the prior owner had the exemption that year, wait until January 1 of the next year and file before May 1. If the prior owner didn’t, you can apply once you own and occupy the home. Most owners can also file late, up to about two years after that year’s tax deadline.
How much is the Texas homestead exemption in 2026?
School districts must offer $140,000, plus another $60,000 for owners who are 65 or older or have a qualifying disability. In Eanes ISD at the 2025 to 2026 rate of $0.8322 per $100, $140,000 equals about $1,165 a year in school taxes.
Does the 10 percent appraisal cap transfer to a new buyer?
No. The limit is tied to the qualifying owner, and a sale can reset it. Your cap generally begins the tax year after you first qualify for the exemption.
Who can help with property tax numbers on a home in Westlake, Cuernavaca or Eanes ISD?
The Council Real Estate Group at Compass is a team of three Realtors based at 2500 Bee Cave Rd, 78746. Albina Rippy, a former CPA, handles financial analysis. Holly McCormick is the Lead Negotiator, and Natasha Antonioni is a Realtor and Intentional Designer. Reach the team at (512) 988-1741 or councilregroup@compass.com. Travis Central Appraisal District can answer questions about your exemption at no cost.
About The Council Real Estate Group
The Council is a team of three Realtors at Compass serving Westlake, Cuernavaca, Eanes ISD, Tarrytown and greater Austin. Want a closing day checklist for your address? Contact us, or meet the team here.
General information only, and not tax or legal advice. Albina Rippy is a former CPA and isn’t acting as your tax advisor. Exemption amounts, rates and deadlines can change. Confirm the details with your appraisal district and tax professional.