Homestead Exemption Audit: What You Need to Know

The Texas legislature recently passed a new bill requiring appraisal districts to verify eligibility for homestead exemptions at least once every five years. Travis Central Appraisal District is currently undergoing this audit. If your property is included and you don’t respond by the deadline, you risk losing exemptions that reduce your property tax bill. Here’s what you need to know and how to protect your exemptions.

What’s Happening?

Texas appraisal districts are now required to review homestead exemptions to ensure all recipients are still eligible. Losing your exemption(s) could mean paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars more in taxes. If you receive a letter from your county, it is critical to respond by the deadline to avoid losing your exemptions.

What This Means for You:

For residents of Travis County, where an audit is taking place from early November 2024 through the end of January 2025, here’s what to expect:

If your property is impacted, you will receive a version of this letter to your mailbox.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit your completed verification form, along with your current Texas driver’s license or state-issued ID card to Travis Central Appraisal District by the deadline listed on your notification. The address on your license or ID card must match your property address.
Verification can be submitted through one of the following options:
- - Online: TravisCAD.org/Verify
  - By Mail: PO Box 149012, Austin, TX 78714
  - In Person: 850 E Anderson Ln, Austin, TX 78752

To view exemptions currently in place for your properties, please visit your appraisal district’s website.

Properties Outside of Travis County:

If your property is located in another county, you may be impacted later when your local appraisal district conducts its audit. Stay alert for communication from your county appraisal district to avoid missing deadlines.

If proper verification is not received by the deadline, the appraisal district will remove your exemptions, resulting in increased property taxes. Take action now to avoid any surprises.

Additional Resources:

by Five Stone Tax

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