February 9, 2026 - Veterans with a service-connected disability are encouraged to file an exemption application form to have their property taxes lowered. Some veterans may even qualify for a 100 percent tax exemption. Texas law provides partial exemptions for any property owned by disabled veterans or surviving spouses and surviving children of deceased disabled veterans. An applicant may claim an exemption on only one piece of property the applicant owned on Jan. 1. The applicant must be a Texas resident to qualify for a homestead exemption.
The other partial exemption is for homesteads donated to disabled veterans by charitable organizations at no cost or not more than 50 percent of the good faith estimate of the homestead’s market value to disabled veterans and their surviving spouses.
The percentage of service-connected disability determines the exemption amount.
A disabled veteran awarded 100 percent disability compensation due to a service- connected disability and a rating of 100 percent disabled or individual unemployability from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs is entitled to an exemption from taxation of the total appraised value of the veteran’s residence homestead. Surviving spouses of veterans who qualified for this exemption or who would have qualified for this exemption if it had been in effect at the time of the veteran’s death are also eligible with certain restrictions.
The surviving spouse of a U.S. armed services member who is killed or fatally injured in the line of duty is allowed a 100 percent property tax exemption on his or her residence homestead if the surviving spouse has not remarried since the armed service member's death.
The surviving spouse of veteran who died as a result of a qualifying condition or disease, regardless of the veteran's disability rating at the time of the veteran's death, is entitled to receive a 100 percent property tax exemption of his or her residence homestead if the surviving spouse has not remarried since the veteran’s death.
Any eligible person who has not previously received an exemption should file an exemption application by April 30.
For more information about property tax exemptions for disabled veterans and their surviving spouses or to file an exemption, contact the Shelby County Appraisal District at (936)-598-6171. Property owners can find more information on the Comptroller’s Property Tax Assistance Division’s website: comptroller.texas.gov/ taxes/property-tax/.
