Williamson County, TX: homestead & property-tax exemptions

How to claim property-tax exemptions in Williamson County (Georgetown area): who qualifies, the deadline, where to file, documents, re-filing and appeals.

Last checked 2026-10-31 · 28 official sources

Exemptions available

• WCAD decides who gets the general residence homestead, over-65, disabled person and disabled veteran exemptions. The Williamson County Tax Office (Catherine Totty, Tax Assessor-Collector) collects the taxes but doesn't set values or grant exemptions. You apply to WCAD. There's no fee to file. ^[1][2][3]
• General homestead (state law): school districts must exempt $140,000 of your home's value. Any taxing unit may add a local option exemption of up to 20% of the appraised value (minimum $5,000), and counties that collect farm-to-market or flood control taxes must give $3,000. If you buy and move into a home after January 1, you can get the exemption for the rest of that year, as long as the previous owner didn't have one. ^[4][2][5]
• Age 65 or older, or disabled (state law): school districts must exempt an extra $60,000, and other taxing units may offer their own exemption (minimum $3,000). If you're both 65 or older and disabled, you can get both exemptions in the same year, but not from the same taxing unit. Either one freezes your school taxes (a tax ceiling). WCAD notes that school ceilings transfer anywhere in Texas, but county, county FM/road and city ceilings transfer only within the same jurisdiction. ^[4][2][6]
• Homestead cap: starting the year after you first qualify, the assessed value of your homestead can't rise more than 10% a year, plus the value of any new improvements. Market value can still go up or down by any amount. The cap doesn't transfer to a new owner. ^[7][8]
• Local exemptions for 2026, from the Williamson County Tax Office's '2026 Tax Rates and Exemptions by Jurisdictions' chart (local homestead / over-65 / disability). Williamson County: 5% (at least $5,000) / $125,000 / $125,000, with a tax ceiling. Williamson County FM/Road: $3,000 homestead, with a tax ceiling. Austin: 20% / $204,000 / $204,000. Cedar Park: 1% / $30,000 / $20,000. Georgetown: 5% / $12,000 / $40,000. Leander: 1% / $10,000 / $10,000. Liberty Hill: 1% / $15,000 / $15,000. Round Rock: none / $22,000 / $3,000. Pflugerville: none / $35,000 / $35,000. Taylor: none / $50,000 / $50,000. Granger: none / $25,000 / $25,000. Hutto and Jarrell: no local amounts listed. Austin Community College: 1% / $75,000 / $75,000. The chart marks a local tax ceiling for the County, County FM/Road, Cedar Park, Florence, Georgetown, Granger, Hutto, Jarrell, Leander, Liberty Hill and Austin Community College. MUDs and other districts have their own amounts in the chart. ^[9][10]
• School districts in the same chart: every ISD lists the $140,000 homestead and $60,000 over-65 and disability exemptions. Some add a local amount: Georgetown ISD and Liberty Hill ISD +$3,000 for over-65, Leander ISD +$3,000 for over-65 and +$3,000 for disability, Pflugerville ISD +$9,100 for over-65, and Round Rock ISD +$3,000 for disability. ^[9]
• Disabled veterans (partial, the chart applies it in every unit): $5,000 for a 10-29% rating, $7,500 for 30-49%, $10,000 for 50-69% and $12,000 for 70-100%. A veteran also gets $12,000 if 65 or older with at least a 10% rating, totally blind in one or both eyes, or has lost the use of one or more limbs. The unremarried surviving spouse (and in some cases a child) can get the veteran's amount. Apply on Form 50-135 or WCAD's online disabled veteran application. ^{[9][11][5][3]}
• 100% disabled veterans (100% rating or individual unemployability) get a total exemption on their residence homestead. It's prorated from the date you own and live in the home. Unremarried surviving spouses of these veterans, of armed forces members killed in action and of first responders killed in the line of duty can also get a total homestead exemption. ^[2][5][4]
• Tax deferral: if you're 65 or older, disabled, or a disabled veteran, you can postpone paying taxes on your home by filing a Tax Deferral Affidavit (Form 50-126) with WCAD. A tax lien stays on the home, and deferred taxes build up at 5% interest a year until the home stops being your homestead. ^[3][12]

Statewide exemption details: Texas guide.

Who qualifies

• General homestead: you must own the home and live in it as your principal residence, and you can claim only one homestead. It applies only to owner-occupied residential property. You can also claim a mobile home on land you don't own with a copy of the title or a verified purchase contract. The homestead can include up to 20 acres used for residential purposes. ^[2][5][4]
• Over 65: you qualify starting the year you turn 65, and only one listed owner has to be 65. You can apply at any time during that year. ^[2][5]
• Surviving spouse of an over-65 homeowner: the school tax ceiling transfers to you if you were 55 or older when your spouse died and you have ownership in the home. You must apply to WCAD for the transfer. ^[5][4]
• Disabled person: you qualify if you can't engage in gainful work because of a physical or mental disability, or if you're 55, blind and can't do your previous work because of your blindness. If you get Social Security disability (OASDI) benefits, you should qualify. Benefits from other programs don't automatically qualify you. ^[5][13]
• Disabled veterans: you must be a Texas resident with a VA (or service branch) rating of at least 10%. For the 100% exemption, the home must be your principal residence and you can't claim a homestead elsewhere. ^[5][11]

Deadline

• The regular filing period is January 1 through April 30. WCAD says processing can take up to 90 days, so wait at least 90 days before calling about a pending application. You can check its status with the Exemption Status Look Up link on your property in WCAD's Property Search. ^[5][7][14]
• Late filing: WCAD says late homestead applications can be filed up to two years after the date the taxes become delinquent. The state form says late homestead, over-65 and disabled applications are allowed up to two years after the deadline, and disabled veterans can file late for the 100% or donated-residence exemption up to five years. If you think you qualified in past years, fill out one application and enter the first year you qualified. WCAD applies it to all qualifying years. ^{[5][7][14][11]}

Where and how to file

• Online (WCAD recommends it for faster processing): find your property in WCAD's Property Search (search.wcad.org) and click the HS Exemption link. The online form covers the general homestead, over-65, disabled person and 100% disabled veteran exemptions, comes pre-filled from WCAD's records, and gives an instant confirmation. Attachments must have a lower-case file extension (for example .jpg, not .JPG). Partial disabled veterans use WCAD's separate online disabled veteran application. ^[2][3]
• In person or on paper: bring or mail your application to WCAD, 625 FM 1460, Georgetown, TX 78626-8050. The state forms are 50-114 (homestead) and 50-135 (disabled veteran). Don't send them to the Comptroller. ^[5][15][14]
• WCAD office: 625 FM 1460, Georgetown, TX 78626-8050. Phone 512-930-3787. Open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. WCAD is closed Monday, November 2, 2026, for staff training. For general questions, use WCAD's online contact form (support.wcad.org). ^[16][15]

Documents needed

• A Texas driver's license or ID card showing your current physical address (the home you're claiming). WCAD requires this for every homestead exemption. ^[7][2][14]
• Disabled person: a letter showing the effective date of your disability (for example, a Social Security determination). WCAD also has a Physician's Statement form that your doctor completes. Send it with your homestead application. ^[2][13]
• 100% disabled veteran: your current VA letter showing the effective date, the disability rating and 100% disabled veteran entitlement. Partial disabled veteran: VA documentation of your disability percentage. ^[2][5]
• Mobile home on land you don't own: a copy of the title or a verified copy of the purchase contract. Inherited homes (heir property): the affidavits on Form 50-114-A, which WCAD links from its Forms page. ^[5][3][14]

Do you need to re-file?

• You apply once. You don't reapply each year unless the chief appraiser sends you a written request (WCAD must review each homestead at least once every five years), you move to a new home, or you're adding another exemption such as over-65 or disabled person. Sending duplicate applications won't speed up approval. ^[7][5][2]
• If you stop qualifying (for example, you move out), tell WCAD in writing by April 30 of the following year. WCAD has an online Exemption(s) Removal Request form. ^[14][3]

Appeal deadline

• Protest deadline: Friday, May 15 (2026), or 30 days after the mail date of your Notice of Appraised Value, whichever is later. A valid protest names the owner, identifies the property (QuickRefID like R123456, or address) and gives the reason. The ARB and WCAD staff can discuss only the reasons you list. The 2026 deadline has passed: the ARB certified the 2026 appraisal roll on July 8, 2026, and WCAD says no new late protests can be approved. ^[17][18][19]
• How to file: online at WCAD's Online Protests site (onlineappeals.wcad.org) using the Online Protest Passcode on your notice. You may get a settlement offer right away, by email from [email protected]. If you decline it or it expires, your case goes to the ARB. You can also file on paper: use the protest form that came with your notice, the Comptroller's form, or a signed written statement. Mail it postmarked by the deadline or deliver it to the WCAD office. ^[17][20]
• Hearings: the ARB schedules hearings April through July, Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and sends a Notice of Hearing at least 15 days before. On your date, you meet informally with WCAD staff first. If you don't settle, you go straight to a formal hearing, usually with a three-member ARB panel. Each part is limited to 15 minutes and one person per side. You can ask for WCAD's evidence at least 14 days before the hearing. ^[17][21]
• Not attending in person: you can send a notarized affidavit (Form 50-283), ideally to [email protected] at least 5 days before. You can ask for a virtual or telephone hearing in writing at least 5 days before (10 days for agents), but you must also send evidence by affidavit. Your first reschedule request has to arrive before the hearing date. The ARB is independent of WCAD. Write to Williamson County Appraisal Review Board, c/o WCAD, 625 FM 1460, Georgetown, TX 78626-8050. ^{[17][22][23][21][3]}
• After the ARB decides, you can appeal to district court within 60 days of receiving the written order, or use binding arbitration or SOAH if your property qualifies. ^[19]
• Tax bills: 2026 statements were mailed the week of October 19-20, 2026, and are due on receipt. But statements for about 130,000 properties in Coupland, Florence, Georgetown, Leander and Round Rock ISDs will be mailed after the November 3, 2026 tax rate elections are finalized. Pay in full by Sunday, January 31, 2027. Unpaid balances become delinquent Monday, February 1, 2027, with 7% penalty and interest added. If your taxes are escrowed, you can view your bill at tax.wilcotx.gov. ^[1][24][25]
• Payment plans: homeowners with an over-65, disabled person or disabled veteran homestead (or a disabled veteran's surviving spouse) can pay in quarters: January 31, March 31, May 31 and July 31. If you make the first payment by January 31, you aren't charged penalty and interest. Anyone with no past-due balance can sign up for monthly scheduled prepayments, which run through September (re-enroll each year). Card payments cost 2.15% (minimum $2.50). Online e-checks are free. Make checks payable to Catherine Totty. ^[1][26][27]
• Tax Office: 1848 Texas Trail, Georgetown, TX 78626. Phone 512-943-1601. Email [email protected]. Hours: Mondays 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Tuesday-Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m. There are drop boxes at all Tax Office locations and drive-thru service in Cedar Park, Georgetown and Round Rock. ^[27][24][10]

Population: 727,480 (July 1, 2024 estimate) ^[28]

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