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Bring documents to the county appraisal district

Step 28 of 29 · Selling the W home in Texas, without an agent

What this is

One trip to your new county appraisal district can handle two things at once: your homestead exemption application and the transfer of your over-65 tax ceiling. Gathering the right papers first makes the visit quick.

Why it matters

The appraisal district can only process your requests if it can see proof of ownership and proof that you live in the home. Showing up with everything means one visit instead of several.

How to do it

  1. Bring the deed or closing documents for your new home. These prove you own it.
  2. Bring updated Texas driver's licenses or ID cards for both spouses, showing the new address.
  3. Bring the property tax account number from your old home. This helps the district look up your old tax ceiling and apply the transfer.
  4. Bring the tax ceiling certificate from your old district, if you have already received it.
  5. At the office, file Form 50-114 for the homestead exemption and ask about the over-65 ceiling transfer in the same visit.

The law, in plain English

The homestead exemption and the over-65 ceiling are both handled by the county appraisal district, not the state. Ownership is shown with your deed; residence is shown with your license. The old account number and the ceiling certificate let the new district match your records to your old district's records.

Good to know: Call the appraisal district before you go and ask exactly what to bring. Each county has small differences in what it wants to see.
Watch out: If you forget the old account number or the ceiling certificate, the district may have to contact your old district on its own, which can slow everything down.

Sources: Texas Comptroller — Property Tax Exemptions · BCAD — Transferring Your Over-65 Tax Ceiling (Freeze)

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