Updated Property Tax Information Now Available for Texas Taxpayers

Advertisement

January 8, 2024

New and updated property tax information has just been compiled by (Erath County Appraisal District) and is available now to assist taxpayers. This property tax information is current and covers a wide range of topics, such as taxpayer remedies, exemptions and appraisals, and has information for select groups, such as disabled veterans and persons age 65 or older.

“Whether you are a homeowner, business owner, disabled veteran or taxpayer, it’s important you know your rights concerning the property tax laws.” said Jonathan Pringle, Chief Appraiser of the Erath County Appraisal District. “You can contact us about any property tax issues with full confidence that we will provide you the most complete, accurate and up-to-date available information to assist you.”

This includes information about the following programs.

  • Property Tax Exemptions for Disabled Veterans – The law provides partial exemptions
    for any property owned by disabled veterans or surviving spouses and surviving children of
    deceased disabled veterans. Another partial exemption is for homesteads donated to
    disabled veterans by charitable organizations at no cost or not more than 50 percent of the
    good faith estimate of the homestead’s market value to the disabled veterans and their
    surviving spouses. The exemption amount is determined according to percentage of
    service-connected disability. The law also provides a 100 percent homestead exemption for
    100 percent disabled veterans and their surviving spouses and surviving spouses of U.S.
    armed service members killed in action.
  • Property Tax Exemptions – Non-profit organizations that meet statutory requirements
    may seek property tax exemptions and must apply to their county appraisal district by a
    specific date. Businesses that receive tax abatements granted by taxing units; ship
    inventory out of Texas that may be eligible for the Freeport exemption; store certain goods
    in transit in warehouses that are moved within 175 days; construct, install or acquire
    pollution control property; own and operate energy storage systems; convert landfill generated gas; or store offshore drilling equipment while not in use may also be eligible for
    statutory exemptions.
  • Rendering Taxable Property – If a business owns tangible personal property that is used
    to produce income, the business must file a rendition with its local county appraisal district
    by a specified date. Personal property includes inventory and equipment used by a
    business. Owners do not have to render exempt property such as church property or an
    agriculture producer’s equipment used for farming.
  • Appraisal Notices – Normally, taxpayers receive a notice of appraised value from the
    appropriate local county appraisal district. The city, county, school districts and other local
    taxing units will use the appraisal district’s value to set property taxes for the coming year.
  • Property Taxpayer Remedies – This Comptroller publication explains in detail how to
    protest a property appraisal, what issues the county appraisal review board (ARB) can
    consider and what to expect during a protest hearing. The publication also discusses the
    options of taking a taxpayer’s case to district court, the State Office of Administrative
    Hearings or binding arbitration if the taxpayer is dissatisfied with the outcome of the ARB
    hearing.
  • Homestead Exemptions – A homestead is generally defined as the home and land used
    as the owner’s principal residence on Jan. 1 of the tax year. A homestead exemption
    reduces the appraised value of the home and, as a result, lowers property taxes.
    Applications are submitted to the appropriate local county appraisal district.
  • Productivity Appraisal – Property owners who use land for timberland production,
    agricultural purposes or wildlife management can be granted property tax relief on their
    land. They may apply to their local county appraisal district for an agricultural appraisal
    which may result in a lower appraisal of the land based on production, versus market value.
  • Residence Homestead Tax Deferral – Texas homeowners may postpone paying the
    currently delinquent property taxes due on the appreciating value of their homes by filing a
    tax deferral affidavit at their local county appraisal district. This tax relief allows homeowners
    to pay the property taxes on 105 percent of the preceding year’s appraised value of their
    homestead, plus the taxes on any new improvements to the homestead. The remaining
    taxes are postponed, but not cancelled, with interest accruing at 8 percent per year.
  • Property Tax Deferral for Persons Age 65 or Older or Disabled or Disabled Veteran
    Homeowners –
    Texans who are age 65 or older or disabled, as defined by law, or who
    qualify for a disabled veteran exemption may postpone paying current and delinquent
    property taxes on their homes by signing a tax deferral affidavit. Once the affidavit is on file,
    taxes are deferred, but not canceled, as long as the owner continues to own and live in the
    home. Interest continues to accrue at 5 percent per year on the unpaid taxes. You may
    obtain a deferral affidavit at the appraisal district.
  • Notice of Availability of Electronic Communication – In appraisal districts located in
    counties with a population of more than 200,000 or that have authorized electronic
    communications, and that have implemented a system that allows such communications,
    chief appraisers and ARBs may communicate electronically through email or other media
    with property owners or their designated representatives. Written agreements are required
    for notices and other documents to be delivered electronically instead of mailing.
  • Protesting Property Appraisal Values – Property owners who disagree with the
    appraisal district’s appraisal of their property for local taxes or for any other action that
    adversely affects them may protest their property value to the appraisal district’s ARB.
    For more information about these programs, contact the Erath County Appraisal District, in
    person at 1195 W South Loop, Stephenville, TX 76401, by phone at 254-965-5434, or email
    at [email protected].
    Information is also available on the Comptroller’s Property Tax Assistance Division’s
    website at comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.