How To File Your Homestead Exemption

If you purchased a home in 2012 and occupied the property on January 1st, 2013, then you should file for your Homestead Exemption. This exemption will save you approximately 20% on your property taxes for 2013. Below is information on this exemption that I copied from the Dallas Central Appraisal District website and applies to the entire state of Texas. 

"A property tax exemption excludes all or part of a property's value from property taxation, ultimately resulting in lower property taxes. To qualify, the property must be designed or adapted for human residence and the homeowner must own the property on January 1 of the year application is made. The person claiming the exemption must reside at the property on January 1 and cannot claim a homestead exemption on any other property. If more than one individual (not a married couple) owns the property, each separate individual must make application if they reside at the property. Exemptions are allocated according to percent of ownership interest the applicant has in the property. The exemption application must be completed, notarized and include a driver’s license or social security number and date of birth."

If you have not already done so, please go to the relevant appraisal district website below where your property is located. For most of the websites you can search for your property and then click a link to print out a homestead exemption form. I have also included the phone numbers for each of the appraisal districts should need to contact them directly. If you have received a letter in the mail telling you to pay a fee in order to claim the Homestead Exemption, promptly discard it in the trash. Claiming this exemption is free. 

Dallas Central Appraisal District - 214-631-0910

www.dallascad.org

Collin County Appraisal District - 469-742-9200

www.collincad.org  

Tarrant County Appraisal District - 817-284-0024

www.tad.org

Denton Central Appraisal District - 940-349-3800

www.dentoncad.com

(The Homestead Exemption application link is at the bottom right of the Home page)

Step 1. Go to www.dallascad.org and click "Search Appraisals"

Step 2. Type in your name and click on your property address

(You can also search by property address)

Step 3. To file online the address on your driver's license must match your property address. 

Otherwise, click on the link to print out your Homestead Exemption form. 

Step 4. Mail your completed Homestead Exemption form to: 

Dallas Central Appraisal District

PO Box 560328

Dallas, TX 75356-0328

Giving the middle finger to Uncle Sam?

I've discussed the glaring discrepancy between a property's true market value versus the Dallas County Tax appraisal before. Why I am bringing it up again? Because of this.

4800 Preston Rd. - House of John and Lyn Muse. Valued on DCAD for just over $30 million. (Land is worth $21,175,000)
Description: 8 year old house with 25,000 sf, with all sorts of cabanas, guest quarters and greenhouses sitting on 7.7 acres and backs to Exall Lake.

4101 Beverly Dr. - Home of Edwin Cox Trust. Valued on DCAD for almost $22 million. (Land is worth $21,832,500)
Description: 97 year old home with 20,000 sf, pool, tennis court, etc. all on 6.6 acres and backs to Exall Lake.

And then I click on 4100 Beverly Dr. and 4101 Mockingbird. Home of Dallas Country Club. Total value on DCAD is just under $10 million. Wait. What? Am I reading this right?
Description: One of the most prestigious country clubs in the country with roughly 10 buildings that total around 150,000 sf of air conditioned space sitting on 113 acres in one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the country.

In summary, according to DCAD, Ed Cox and John Muse's combined 14 acres of dirt is worth approximately $43 million. Dallas Country Club's 113 acres and 10 buildings is not even worth $10 mil. Do country clubs fall under the church and school categories when it comes to property taxes? Am I missing something here?

Bueller...Bueller....Anyone?