--- title: "Homestead exemption: Definition and Sources | Tax Glossary" description: "A homestead exemption lowers the taxable value of a Texas owner's main home, and the owner must apply for it with the county appraisal district." url: https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/glossary/homestead-exemption publisher: Wallace CPA phone: +1-877-682-1171 quote: https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/contact --- Property tax # Homestead exemption A homestead exemption lowers the taxable value of a Texas owner's main home, and the owner must apply for it with the county appraisal district. A homestead exemption removes part of your home's value from taxation. Texas law sets a school district exemption, and other taxing units may add their own. The Comptroller page, read in 2026, lists a $140,000 school district exemption on a residence homestead. Amounts can change, so confirm the figure for your tax year. The exemption is not automatic. You apply to your [appraisal district](https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/glossary/appraisal-district), and a new owner must apply again. Tarrant Appraisal District also says a homestead exemption limits the yearly rise in appraised value to 10 percent. If your value still looks too high, you can start a [property tax protest](https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/glossary/property-tax-protest). The [protest guide for Tarrant and Denton](https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/guides/property-tax-protest-tarrant-denton) shows the dates. [Wallace CPA can helpIndividual tax and financial planning](https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/services/individual-tax-and-planning) ## Related terms - [Appraisal district](https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/glossary/appraisal-district) - [Property tax protest](https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/glossary/property-tax-protest) ## Sources 1. [Texas Comptroller: Property tax exemptions](https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/exemptions/) 2. [Tarrant Appraisal District: Homestead exemption](https://www.tad.org/forms/homestead-exemption) ## Talk to Wallace CPA Call the Southlake office and say what you need: a return, an IRS letter, your books or a new business. Have the notice or last year's return nearby if you have one. [Call (877) 682-1171](tel:+1-877-682-1171)[Send a message](https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/contact) 180 State Street, Suite 225, Southlake, TX 76092