Apply for the homestead exemption to lower your school tax

If your home is your main residence, you likely qualify for the residence homestead exemption. Texas law requires school districts to remove $140,000 from your home's taxable value. That saves you real money on the school portion of your tax bill, which is usually the largest piece.

You apply once through the Victoria Central Appraisal District at victoriacad.org. The general filing deadline is before May 1 of the tax year. After you file and are approved, the exemption renews automatically. Check with VCAD for their current form and deadline, since deadlines can shift.