Owning a home in Texas is exciting, but it also means dealing with property taxes. One of the easiest ways to lower that tax bill is by filing your residence homestead exemption. Right now, the Texas Legislature requires school districts to give homeowners a $100,000 exemption on their principal residence, and some local taxing entities can take off up to 20% of your home’s appraised value. That can be a big savings.

Example: if your home is appraised at $300,000 and you get the $100,000 school exemption, you’re taxed like the house is worth $200,000. That’s real money.

If you own a home in Hidalgo County, you’ve probably heard “don’t forget to file your homestead.” In my video (the one above 👆), I walk through the online process. Here’s the written version so you can follow along step by step.

A Texas home at sunset — don’t forget to claim your homestead exemption.

Why File a Homestead Exemption?

• Lower property taxes. You pay taxes on a smaller amount of your home’s value.
• Appraisal cap. Once your homestead is on file, your taxable value can’t go up more than 10% per year (not counting new improvements). That protects you from big jumps.
• File once. In most cases you only file it one time with the appraisal district.

Who Qualifies?

You can claim the homestead exemption in Hidalgo County if:

• You own and occupy the property as your main residence. You must be living there on January 1 of the tax year.
• Your Texas driver’s license or ID shows the same address as the property. That’s a big one — the address has to match.

Texas also has extra exemptions for:

• Homeowners over 65
• Homeowners with disabilities
• Disabled veterans / surviving spouses

Those can give you extra savings or even a tax ceiling on the school portion.

Documents You’ll Need

• Texas driver’s license or Texas ID with the homestead address
• Any supporting docs if you’re filing for over-65, disability, or veteran exemptions

Most of the time you can upload these directly to the Hidalgo County Appraisal District (HCAD) system — and they delete uploads after processing.

How to File Your Homestead Exemption Online (Hidalgo County)

The county makes this pretty simple now. Do this:

1. Go to the Hidalgo County Appraisal District website. Look for “Homestead Exemption” or “E-File.”
2. Search for your property. Use your address or account number.
3. Select your exemption. Pick “residence homestead,” then add over-65, disability, or veteran if you qualify.
4. Enter your info. Name, mailing address, phone — make sure your DL address matches the property.
5. Upload your ID. And any other supporting docs.
6. Sign and submit. It’s free. You’ll get confirmation from the CAD once they process it.

Pro tip: If you bought your home this year and the seller didn’t have the exemption on it, you can usually file right away and get it put on.

A Texas ranch home — make sure your tax bill reflects your homestead.

After You File: What to Expect

• Processing time. The appraisal district may take a few weeks.
• They’ll verify you don’t have another homestead in Texas.
• Tax bill updates. Once approved, you’ll see the exemption on your property record and tax statement.
• No yearly filing. You don’t have to refile every year unless they ask or your situation changes.

More Homeowner Resources

Want to go deeper? Check these out:

• Understanding Your Homeownership Readiness – Part 1
• Finding the Perfect Home – Part 2
• Navigating the Homebuying Process – Part 3
• Closing the Deal – Part 4
• Life as a New Homeowner – Part 5
• Unlocking the South Texas Real Estate Market

Need Help Filing?

I help a lot of RGV buyers with this — especially first-time homeowners who just closed and don’t want to mess it up. If you want me to walk you through it or you’re not sure your ID matches, reach out.

Contact:
• Cell: 956-862-1556
• martinezrgvhomes.com
• Schedule a consult: Calendly

Agent: Luciano Martinez, REALTOR® – RE/MAX Platinum

Experience the Martinez Difference!