Age 65 Brings a School-Tax Ceiling, Not a Frozen Whole Bill

For 2026, a qualifying owner age 65 or older receives an extra $60,000 school-district exemption on top of the $140,000 general school exemption. The school-tax ceiling then limits that part of the bill to the amount paid in the first qualifying year. It can rise for new improvements, and city, county, MUD, and other lines are not automatically frozen.

File Form 11.13 with HCAD. The regular window is January 1 through April 30. If you turn 65 or move into the home during the year, you have until the first anniversary of the qualifying date to claim that year's age-65 exemption. Local tax breaks vary. Open Jurisdictions on the HCAD account to see each tax unit.