Harris County Commissioners Approve Property Tax Exemptions For Seniors And Disabled

HOUSTON, TX — Harris County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a set of property tax exemptions they hope will virtually eliminate county property tax bills for thousands of older or disabled homeowners here and greatly reduce tax bills for nearly everyone else.

Commissioners approved an annual extension of the 20 percent exemption for all Harris County homesteads, as well as the $160,000 exemption for homesteads belonging to disabled owners or those 65 years of age or older. (Want to get daily updates about traffic news and other events going on in your area? Sign up for the free Houston Patch morning newsletter.)

When combined, those exemptions guarantee that disabled and senior homeowners pay no Harris County taxes on homesteads assessed at $200,000 or less and greatly discounted tax bills on more expensive homes.

The court's decision again places Harris County among the state's most generous counties in granting property tax exemptions, especially those for seniors and disabled homeowners.

No other surrounding county offers a senior or disabled exemption higher than $100,000, with most at or around $25,000.

Harris County first approved its $160,000 exemption in 2008, the year after Commissioners Court also approved the county's largest-ever property tax rate cut.

"Increases in property value have us all concerned and talking about property tax bills," said Harris County Judge Ed Emmett. "But Harris County goes much further than other counties in Texas when it comes to protecting homeowners - especially older and disabled homeowners - from ballooning tax bills."

The exemption applies to taxes levied by Harris County, the Harris County Hospital District, Harris County Flood Control District and Port of Houston Authority tax bills.

Image: Shutterstock

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Originally published June 13, 2017.