Senior homeowner relief

Texas Over-65 Property Tax Guide

Texas over-65 property-tax guide covering exemptions, school tax ceilings, installments, deferrals, surviving spouses and moving rules.

Based on official Texas sourcesReviewed August 6, 2026

Additional age-65 exemption

For tax year 2025 and later, a qualifying owner age 65 or older may receive an additional $60,000 school-district residence-homestead exemption. That is in addition to the general $140,000 school-district residence-homestead exemption. Counties, cities and special districts may also provide optional local age-based exemptions.

School tax ceiling

The school tax ceiling generally limits future school taxes on the qualifying homestead. It is not a universal freeze on every line of the bill, and new improvements can affect the calculation.

Four-payment installment option

Qualifying homeowners may divide residence-homestead taxes into four installments by giving notice and making the first payment before delinquency. Later installments follow statutory deadlines.

Tax deferral

A deferral postpones collection while eligibility continues. It does not erase the tax, remove the lien or prevent interest from accruing. Consider estate, refinance and sale implications before choosing it.

Moving and transferring the ceiling

Texas law may permit a proportional school tax ceiling transfer to another qualifying residence homestead. Apply with the new appraisal district and retain documentation from the prior district.

Surviving spouse protections

A qualifying surviving spouse may continue certain age-65 benefits if statutory age, residence and remarriage conditions are met. Verify the rules promptly after an ownership change.

Questions & answers

What readers usually ask

What happens when a Texas homeowner turns 65?

A qualifying owner may receive the additional $60,000 school-district exemption for a residence homestead, on top of the general $140,000 school-district homestead exemption, plus a school tax ceiling and possible local benefits.

Is the tax bill frozen forever?

The school tax ceiling limits qualifying school taxes, but other taxing units, new improvements and statutory adjustments can still change the total bill.

Can over-65 homeowners pay in installments?

Qualifying homeowners may pay residence-homestead taxes in four installments when statutory notice and payment requirements are met.

Can collection be deferred?

A qualifying homeowner may defer collection on the residence homestead, but the tax is not forgiven and generally accrues interest while remaining secured by a lien.

Official Texas source

Texas Comptroller age-65 and disabled homeowner guidance

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