Property Tax Glossary
Definitions of common property tax terms.
Two exemption tiers
Texas offers two levels of property tax relief for disabled veterans. Which one applies depends on the veteran's Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability rating.
10% or more disability rating
Veterans with a VA disability rating between 10% and 90% qualify for a partial exemption of the appraised value of their primary residence. The exemption amount depends on the rating:
- 10% to 29%: $5,000 off the appraised value
- 30% to 49%: $7,500 off the appraised value
- 50% to 69%: $10,000 off the appraised value
- 70% to 100% (partial): $12,000 off the appraised value
The exemption stacks with the general homestead exemption. Apply for both.
100% disabled or unemployable
Veterans with a 100% VA disability rating, or a rating of individually unemployable due to service-connected disability, qualify for a total exemption of their primary residence from property taxation. This means no property tax is owed on the homestead as long as the exemption remains in effect.
The total exemption also extends to the surviving spouse of a veteran who qualified for it at the time of death, as long as the surviving spouse has not remarried and continues to occupy the property as their primary residence.
How to apply
Both exemptions use the Travis Central Appraisal District Application for Disabled Veteran or Survivor Exemption (TCAD Form 50-135). Apply between January 1 and April 30 for the current tax year. Late applications may be accepted with proration; contact TCAD for details.
Required documentation
- Completed TCAD Form 50-135.
- VA award letter showing your current disability rating and effective date.
- For surviving spouses: a copy of the veteran's death certificate and marriage certificate.
Questions about the exemption or application process go to TCAD directly. The Tax Office cannot approve, deny, or modify exemptions; they only apply what TCAD has certified.
