There is a new property tax exemption approved by the Texas Legislature for military veterans who are totally disabled or cannot work due to service-related injuries. They will pay no property taxes on their homes. This is effective for the 2009 tax year, and eligible disabled veterans must apply for the tax exemption.
House Bill 3613 provides a total appraised value exemption on the homesteads of Texas veterans who have a 100 percent disability rating or are considered unemployable by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Quick action to update local property tax rolls and ensure eligible veterans receive the new tax break is needed. Please spread the word to help our disabled veterans.
To apply for the tax exemption contact your county appraisal district. Here is the application form for veterans and appraisal districts to use. You can also get information on the Comptroller's Web site at http://www.window.state.tx.us/ .
If there is a mortgage outstanding on the home, veterans should contact their mortgage lenders to have their escrow payments adjusted.
SARA GOSS, REALTOR®
HatmakerGroup.com GMAC Real Estate
Search Listings: www.har.com/saragoss
Serving home buyers and home sellers in the Houston Bay Area of Texas.
From what I understand a veteran must have a service related disability and be 100% disabled to receive the full benefit. Or, a veteran must have a service related disabled and have some level of unemployability to qualify for lesser benefits under this new bill. And, you must apply. Print and fill out the form above, or you can find it and fill it out at your appraisal district and be sure to bring your most recent papers (VA Tax Letter) from the Veterans Administration, proving your level of disability.
This article sums up the benefits (read all 3 pages):
Texas Disabled Veteran Tax Benefits 2009
Coincidentally, the Houston Chronicle ran this story 7/21/2009
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6539419.html
Check with your Appraisal District for specific benefits, their contact information is in the links below -
Texas Appraisal Districts by county:
http://appraisaldistrict.net/county.asp
Texas Appraisal Districts by city:
http://appraisaldistrict.net/city.asp
Texas Appraisal Districts by zip code:
http://appraisaldistrict.net/zip.asp
I am trying to spread the word and hope the legislature will further reduce or eliminate property tax for all disabled veterans.
This is a great step in the right direction. Personally I feel that vets, disabled or not should pay greatly reduced taxes if any at all.
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