New Homestead Requirements
Effective September 1, 2011, House Bill 252 requires for all Texas homeowners who apply for a new property tax homestead exemption to provide proof to the Maverick County Appraisal District that they live in the house they claim as their principle residence.
In order to qualify for a residential homestead exemption the following items must be provided to the Maverick County Appraisal District:
- A Texas driver’s license or state identification card that matches the physical address of the residence for which you are applying.
- The address must also be the same address on you vehicle registration.
- If you do not own a vehicle, then a current utility bill showing the name and address of the owner and residence along with an affidavit indicating non-ownership of a vehicle can be provided.
- Your physical street address must match the address on your vehicle registration or utility bill, and both must match the address on your driver’s license or state issued identification card. All three must have the same address.
The new requirement does not apply to homeowners who already have homestead exemptions. It affects only new applications and renewals sent to the Maverick County Appraisal District.
The new law affects all new applications for general homestead exemptions as well as:
- Over -65 Exemption
- Disability Exemption
- Disabled Veterans Exemption
- Extended Exemption for homeowner’s Surviving Spouse
- Manufactured (mobile) Home Exemption
As of September 1, 2011, all homeowners applying for a homestead on a manufactured (mobile) home must provide proof of purchase of the home and a statement of ownership and location issued by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs in addition to proof of residency.
The homestead exemption application form for property owners is available online at: http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxforms/50-114.
A podcast is also available at: http://www.window.state.tx.us/newsinfo/podcast/.