File a Homestead Exemption to Lower Your Property Tax Bill

The biggest benefit is a mandatory $140,000 exemption off the school-district portion of your property value. School taxes are usually the largest piece of a Texas property tax bill. Homeowners who are 65 or older, or who are disabled, get an additional $60,000 off school taxes plus a ceiling that freezes their school tax amount.

You file the application once with the Mason County Appraisal District (MCAD) at 110 Moody St., Mason. There is no fee. The general deadline is before May 1 of the tax year. Once approved, a 10-percent appraisal cap also kicks in: MCAD cannot raise your taxable value by more than 10 percent per year over the prior year's capped value. Get the current form (Form 50-114) and deadline at masoncad.org or call (325) 347-5989.