Texas Seniors Can Still Claim Missed Over-65 Property Tax Exemptions
Texas homeowners who missed the over-65 homestead exemption deadline can file late and recover up to about two years of overpaid property taxes. County tax collectors are required to send the refund automatically, without a separate request. A November 2025 ballot measure raised the senior school homestead exemption to $200,000, but each tax year has its own two-year deadline, so older windows are closing.
Texas law makes the over-65 exemption effective from January 1 of the year the owner qualifies, covering that entire tax year. A late homestead application may be accepted until two years after the tax delinquency date, which generally falls after February 1 of the following year.
After approval, the chief appraiser must notify tax collectors within 30 days. If taxes were paid, the collector must refund the exempted amount within 60 days; no separate refund request is required. Rentals and second homes do not qualify.
This may help older Texas homeowners recover overpaid taxes, especially those with fixed incomes facing rising housing costs. Counties could see administrative work and refund outlays, while eligible seniors who miss each year's separate deadline may lose relief. Awareness campaigns and tax preparers may become more important. The measure's larger exemption could increase refunds for late filers, though renters and second-home owners remain outside this benefit.