A February Closing May Still Get This Year's Homestead Exemption

January 1 is not the whole story. Say you buy an Orange County home in February and make it your main home. Texas may allow the general homestead exemption for part of that tax year. Two details decide whether that path is open. The former owner cannot have used the same exemption that year. You also cannot claim another home as your homestead. Orange CAD's chief appraiser makes the final call.

The exemption lowers the home value used to figure the tax bill. It does not erase the whole bill. Extra exemptions for people age 65 or older, disabled people, and disabled veterans each have their own rules. None is automatic. A disabled-veteran exemption may depend on a service-connected disability rating. The disabled-person exemption uses a different test.

File with Orange CAD, not the county tax office. Orange CAD links Form 50-114. It says to include a matching driver's license or other proof required by Texas law. Some cases also need an affidavit. The usual deadline is April 30. A qualifying late application may be accepted for up to two years after the tax bill becomes delinquent. Orange CAD is at 9157 IH-10 East in Orange and answers at (409) 745-4777.