Homestead Exemption Can Lower Your Tax Bill

To qualify, you must own the home. You must also use it as your main home on January 1 of the tax year. Once approved, the exemption lowers the value used to calculate your taxes.

School districts here offer a state-required $140,000 reduction in taxable value for most homeowners. Waller County itself offers a 20% reduction, with a minimum savings of $5,000. If you are 65 or older, most taxing entities give you an extra reduction on top of that. Disabled veterans get exemptions based on their disability percentage.

File your application with the Waller County Appraisal District (WCAD). That is the office that sets your home's value for tax purposes. Check the WCAD website for current deadlines, since they can change.