For Disabled Veterans, Two Different Tax Breaks and Two Different Forms

Around Waco, this property-tax break matters to many veteran households. The tricky part is that Texas has two paths. A veteran the VA rates 100 percent disabled, or individually unemployable, may get a total exemption on the residence homestead. That uses Form 50-114 under Tax Code 11.131.

A partial service-connected rating works another way. It takes a fixed dollar amount off the value of one property the veteran owns. The amount starts at $5,000 for a 10 to 29 percent rating and rises to $12,000 at 70 percent or more. That uses Form 50-135 under Tax Code 11.22.

Both forms go to McLennan CAD. A surviving spouse may also be able to carry an exemption forward. The important first step is matching the form to the VA rating.