Emerald Forest UD Adopts Homestead Exemption Policy for Residents

April 10, 2023 3:28 pm

We are excited to announce the adoption of the general homestead exemption for residents of the Emerald Forest Utility District. We believe that this policy change will have a significant positive impact on our community and will provide much-needed relief to those who need it most. In addition, the Board has increased the exemption for residents who are over 65 or disabled.

The homestead exemption is a legal provision that allows homeowners to receive a reduction in property taxes for their primary residence. Under the Emerald Forest Utility District’s policy, eligible residents can receive an exemption on a portion of their property's assessed value, which will result in savings on their annual tax bills. The available exemptions fall under two following sections:

Section 1: The Board of Directors of the District hereby exempts from ad valorem taxation by the District $25,000 of the appraised value of residence homesteads of individuals who are disabled or are sixty-five years of age or older, as authorized by Article VIII, Section 1-b(b), Texas Constitution and Section 11.13, Texas Property Tax Code, as amended. No person may claim both exemptions, but a person qualifying for both may choose the exemption that he or she wishes to have applied to his or her property.

Section 2: The Board of Directors of the District hereby exempts from ad valorem taxation by the District 10% of the appraised value (but not less than $5,000) of the residence homesteads of married or unmarried adults, including one living alone, pursuant to Article VIII, Section 1-b(e), Texas Constitution.

Please note that not all homeowners are eligible for the homestead exemptions. To qualify, residents must use their property as their primary residence and must have owned the property on or before January 1 of the tax year. Homeowners must submit an application to the Harris Central Appraisal District to have their property designated as a "homestead" and/or to receive the "over 65/disabled" exemption.

We also want to emphasize that the adoption of the homestead exemption is just one of the many ways that the Emerald Forest Utility District is working to support our community. We remain committed to providing high-quality services and support to all of our residents, and we will continue to explore new policies and initiatives that can help us achieve this goal. We encourage all eligible residents to take advantage of this opportunity.

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