DFW appraisal district

Dallas County homestead exemption

How to file with the Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD), and what to check on your record.

Reviewed · Law checked · Sources

Short answer

Dallas County homeowners file the Texas homestead exemption (Form 50-114) with the Dallas Central Appraisal District, not the tax office. File online from your property’s page on dallascad.org ("File Homestead Exemption Online"), or by mail. Include a Texas driver license or ID showing the home’s address. Filing is free, the regular deadline is April 30, and late applications are accepted up to 2 years after the delinquency date.

Filing with DCAD

Appraisal district
Dallas Central Appraisal District
Website
www.dallascad.org
Online filing
Yes. Search your property on dallascad.org, open the property address, and choose "File Homestead Exemption Online." The same page has a "Print Homestead Exemption Form" link.
Mail / in person
Dallas Central Appraisal District, Attn: PRE, PO Box 560328, Dallas, TX 75356-0328
Phone
214-631-0910 (customer service, Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
Cost
Free

What Dallas County homeowners should know

  • Dallas CAD mails reapply letters to some owners each year, usually in December. Owners with an age 65 or older exemption get them by certified mail.
  • If you get a reapply letter you must send a new homestead application within 30 days, with a copy of a Texas driver license or ID that shows the property address. If you do not respond, the exemption is removed.
  • If you did not get a reapply letter, you do not need to file a new application.
  • An analysis by the Child Poverty Action Lab, reported September 5, 2026, estimated about 57,000 Dallas County properties may qualify for a homestead exemption but are not claiming it. CPAL cautioned the estimate may include false positives.

Contact details were checked against DCAD’s own pages on November 7, 2026. Offices change hours and portals; confirm on the district’s website before you go.

Amounts that apply statewide

Every Texas school district, including those in Dallas County, must exempt $140,000 of a homestead’s value, plus $60,000 for owners 65 or older or disabled (tax year 2025 and later). City, county and special district exemptions vary by taxing unit; your DCAD property record lists each unit and the exemptions applied.

School district homestead exemptions by tax year (Tax Code §11.13(b), (c))
Tax yearGeneral homesteadAdded for 65+ or disabledTotal for 65+ or disabled
2022$40,000$10,000$50,000
2023$100,000$10,000$110,000
2024$100,000$10,000$110,000
2025 and later$140,000$60,000$200,000

Missed a year?

DCAD applies the same state late-filing rule: up to 2 years after the delinquency date for each tax year (§11.431), or 5 years for disabled veteran exemptions (§11.439). See late filing and refunds.

Not sure what your record shows? The free check reads your county record with you, applies the rules on this page, and shows any back-year refunds and yearly savings. If you are already covered, it says so.

Run the free 3-minute check

Common questions

Where do I file my homestead exemption in Dallas County?

With the Dallas Central Appraisal District (www.dallascad.org). Yes. Search your property on dallascad.org, open the property address, and choose "File Homestead Exemption Online." The same page has a "Print Homestead Exemption Form" link.

Is there a fee to file a homestead exemption in Dallas County?

No. Filing with the appraisal district is free.

Related guides

Sources

  1. Dallas CAD — Reapply Letter FAQ (SB 1801 and HB 2730) — Dallas Central Appraisal District
  2. Dallas Central Appraisal District — Dallas Central Appraisal District
  3. Thousands of Dallas County homeowners may be missing a property tax break — NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth
  4. Texas Tax Code, Chapter 11 (Taxable Property and Exemptions) — Texas Legislature
  5. Form 50-114, Application for Residence Homestead Exemption — Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

ExemptBack is private self-help software, not a government service, law firm, or property tax consultant. This guide is general information about Texas law, not legal advice. Your appraisal district decides every application.