Deferral for Elderly, Disabled Person, or Disabled Veteran

Texas

2020

No Variation in Receipt of Benefits

Deferral

An individual is entitled to defer taxes on property that the individual owns and occupies as a residence homestead. The deferral remains in place until the 181st day after the individual no longer owns and occupies the property as a residence homestead. A tax lien remains on the property and interest continues to accrue during the period taxes are deferred. The annual interest rate during the deferral period is 5%. No penalty is assessed during a deferral period. An additional penalty may be imposed and collected only if the taxes for which collection is deferred remain delinquent on or after the 181st day after the date the deferral period expires. A plea of limitation, laches, or want of prosecution does not apply against the taxing unit because of this deferral.

Other

Residential

Property must be owned and occupied as a residence homestead by the applicant. In order to qualify as a residence homestead, the property must not exceed 20 acres and must be the principal residence of the owner, a surviving spouse, heir or a qualified trustor.

Age

Disability

Homeowner

Principal Residence

Veteran

Surviving Spouse

The owner must either be 65 years of age or older, disabled, or qualified to receive an exemption for disabled military veterans or killed on active duty, and must occupy the property as a residence homestead. If an individual who qualifies for a deferral dies, the deferral or abatement continues in effect until the 181st day after the date the surviving spouse of the individual no longer owns and occupies the property as a residence homestead if: the property was the residence homestead of the deceased spouse when the deceased spouse died, the unremarried surviving spouse was 55 years of age or older when the deceased spouse died; and the property was the residence homestead of the surviving spouse when the deceased spouse died. An heir property owner who qualifies their heir property as the owner of the residence is considered the sole owner of the property. The surviving spouse of qualified disabled veteran or US armed service member killed in action is eligible for the deferral, regardless of age, as long as homestead is residence and does not remarried.

The statute is silent on whether the state reimburses local governments.

TX106_RR20