Grayson Central Appraisal District

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Grayson

Central Appraisal District News Release

            For additional information contact GCAD, (903) 893-9676                                ________________________________________________________________

 August 22, 2011

For IMMEDIATE Release

New Homestead Exemption Application Rules Become Effective on September 1, 2011

Beginning next month, individuals seeking to apply for a homestead exemption in Texas will need to comply with a new application process.

The recent session of the Texas Legislature imposed rigorous new standards of mandatory disclosure for those property owners who apply for any one of several kinds of homestead exemptions starting September 1.

In order to receive a homestead exemption for property tax purposes, applicants must now provide a copy of their Texas driver’s license or Texas state-issued identification card and a copy of their vehicle registration receipt. Those who do not own a vehicle will be required to submit a notarized affidavit certifying that fact and provide a copy of a current bill received from a utility company. 

Moreover, the addresses shown on each of the documents must be the same as the address for which the homestead exemption is sought.

The new requirement that takes effect on September 1 is required for any one of the several ways property owners can qualify for a residential property homestead.  These include the following:

• General residential exemption
• Over-65 exemption
• Disability exemption
• 100% disabled veterans exemption
• Extension of exemption for a surviving spouse
• Exemption for manufactured (mobile) home

Each of the programs cited above have additional requirements for qualification.  However, the common standard is that all such applicants must provide the additional documentation as noted above, regarding (1) driver’s license or Texas issued identification card, (2) motor vehicle registration, and  (3) utility billing receipt.

For those seeking homestead exemption status on a manufactured home, the applicant must also provide documentation as noted below:

• Statement of ownership and location issued by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
• A copy of the purchase contract or payment receipt that the applicant is the purchaser of the manufactured home, OR, a sworn affidavit that:
  1. The applicant is the owner of the manufactured home
  2. The seller of the manufactured home did not provide the applicant with a purchase contract, and
  3. The applicant could not locate the seller after making a good faith effort

In order to avoid confusion, the modified homestead exemption application form and the referenced affidavits will be posted on the effective date of the new legislation (September 1) on the website of the Grayson Central Appraisal District at www.graysonappraisal.org.  Links as to where to obtain information on driver’s licenses, Texas issued state-identification cards, and vehicle registration information will also be provided on the GCAD website.

Applications dated and submitted to GCAD by August 31, 2011 will be processed under the pre-September 1 guidelines.

•  Homestead Exemptions Form

END OF RELEASE