Got a letter asking you to reapply?
Appraisal districts now review every homestead regularly. A real reapply letter needs an answer, and it is free to answer.
Texas appraisal districts must review every residence homestead exemption at least once every five tax years (Tax Code §11.43(h-1), from SB 1801). Since September 1, 2025 (HB 2730), a district may require you to reapply only if it has reason to believe you no longer qualify, and its notice must say why. Answer by the deadline in the letter (Dallas CAD gives 30 days) with a new application and a matching ID, or the exemption can be removed.
Why you got it
- Five-year review: SB 1801 (effective September 1, 2023) requires each appraisal district to review every homestead at least once every five tax years (§11.43(h-1)).
- Reason to believe: HB 2730 (effective September 1, 2025) allows a district to require a new application only if it has reason to believe you no longer qualify, and the written notice must state the reason.
Dallas CAD says it mails these letters to some owners each year, usually in December, and sends them by certified mail to owners with the over-65 exemption. If you did not get a letter, you do not need to reapply.
What to do
- Confirm the letter is from your appraisal district: check the district name and phone number against its official website.
- Complete a new Form 50-114 by the date in the letter.
- Include a copy of your Texas driver license or ID showing the home’s address.
- Keep proof you sent it, then confirm the exemption still shows on your record.
Answering is free. A real appraisal district letter never asks for a fee.
If you ignore it
The exemption can be removed and your taxes go up. Dallas CAD says it removes the exemption when there is no response within 30 days. For owners 65 or older, the district must first send a notice with a response form and prepaid envelope and wait 60 days (§11.43(q)). If an exemption was removed, you can reapply, including late for prior years you still qualified for.
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.
Check my record freeCommon questions
Do I have to reapply for my homestead exemption in Texas every year?
No. You reapply only if your appraisal district sends you a written request, or when you move to a new home.
Why did I get a letter to reapply for my homestead exemption?
Appraisal districts must review every homestead at least once every five years, and may require a new application when they have reason to believe you no longer qualify. The notice must state the reason.
What happens if I ignore the homestead reapply letter?
The district can remove the exemption, which raises your taxes. Dallas CAD removes it if there is no response within 30 days.
Related guides
- Paid homestead letters: what they are and what to doOfficial-looking letters charge fees for a "designation of homestead." Filing a Texas homestead exemption is free. How to tell real appraisal district mail apart.
- How to file a homestead exemption in TexasStep-by-step: how to file a Texas homestead exemption on Form 50-114, what ID and documents to include, online filing, how to check approval. Filing is free.
- Texas property tax exemptions at 65 and olderTexas owners 65+ get $60,000 more off school taxes ($200,000 total) and a school tax ceiling. When to apply, automatic approval, and surviving spouses.
Sources
- Texas Tax Code, Chapter 11 (Taxable Property and Exemptions) — Texas Legislature
- New Law May Require Texas Homeowners to Renew Homestead Exemptions (SB 1801) — Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP
- Bill Analysis, H.B. 2730 (89th Legislature) — Texas Legislature
- Dallas CAD — Reapply Letter FAQ (SB 1801 and HB 2730) — Dallas Central Appraisal District
- Texas homeowners must now verify homestead exemptions every 5 years — or risk losing it — FOX 26 Houston
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.