PSA for Harris County homeowners aged 65 and over.
I discovered a couple of months ago that Harris County gives a $275,000 homestead exemption to homeowners aged 65 and above. That is in addition to your normal 20% homestead exemption.
So, doing the math, any house valued at $344,000 and below would owe roughly zero dollars in county taxes, instead of a $344,000 house owing roughly $2,400 in county taxes next year without the exemption. A house worth more than $344,000 will still get the benefits of the $275,000 over 65 and the 20% homestead exemptions.
The exemption also freezes the school district taxes as of the year the homeowner turns 65. The ISD taxes can never go up going forward.
It all is effective the year that the oldest on the title turns 65.
Unless HCAD somehow has the oldest of the homeowners’ date of birth on file, you must apply for the exemption. I would apply anyway at the beginning of the year the oldest turns 65 just to make sure. Very simple form you can do online on their website, you must upload your Texas driver’s license to prove the age 65.
The reason I bring this up is because two of my close neighbors and best friends had no idea about the over 65 exemption when I told them that I had filed. Now, after filing for the exemption, they and their spouses are supposed to get a couple of years of refunds from the county and ISD from their overpayments. Which will be several thousands of dollars.
The county certainly doesn’t publicize the exemptions, I can’t imagine how many people don’t know to take advantage of them. If you aren’t that old, make sure your parents are getting the exemptions.