Some Texas homeowners could get relief on their 2021 property tax bill if their home was damaged during February’s Winter Storm Uri.
The Texas Legislature passed a law that allows property owners to apply for a temporary property tax exemption once the governor declares a disaster. Gov. Greg Abbott made the disaster declaration on Feb. 12, making the exemption (Tax Code Section 11.35) available to qualifying owners in all Texas counties.
The tax code allows a qualified property that is at least 15 percent damaged by a disaster to receive a temporary exemption of a portion of the appraised value of the property.
“The exemption is meant to cover cases where the damage is more than just some ruined carpet and small damages to surfaces,” said Glenn Goodrich with Property Tax.io.
Property owners must apply because the deadline is not automatic. The deadline for application is May 28, which is 105 days after Abbott made the disaster declaration.
Appraisal district offices have the forms, which can be downloaded:
- Dallas County (DCAD)
- Collin Central (CAD)
- Tarrant County (TAD)
- Denton Central (DCAD)
- Rockwall Central (RCAD)
- Ellis County (ESD).
Also, victims of winter storms that began Feb. 11 have until June 15, 2021, to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments, the Internal Revenue Service announced. Individuals and households affected by the storms that reside or have a business in all 254 Texas counties qualify for tax relief.
