Texas has made its homestead exemption increasingly valuable for homeowners, including raising the mandatory school exemption to $140,000 last year. But new research suggests tens of thousands of Dallas County properties may be missing out on the tax break entirely. The Child Poverty Action Lab e stimates roughly 57,000 properties in Dallas County may be eligible for the homestead exemption but are not currently claiming it. About 40,000, or 71%, are located in lower-income census tracts, according to the nonprofit’s analysis of Dallas Central Appraisal District data and third-party owner-occupancy information. “Step one is really making sure that folks know this exemption exists and they might be eligible for it,” CPAL Chief of Housing Ashley Flores said. CPAL recently surveyed a group of potentially eligible homeowners in Pleasant Grove and found 73% were unaware of the benefit, Flores said. The CPAL study showed that, across Dallas County, potentially eligible non-claimants could be missing about $310 million in total benefits. For properties in low-income census tracts, CPAL estimates an average benefit of roughly $5,000, including savings on the current tax bill and, when applicable, potential refunds from the prior two years. “It’s a significant benefit, particularly in a season like this when the cost of living is increasing,” Flores said. Disparity in Dallas County exemption CPAL found potentially eligible properties throughout Dallas County, but Flores said some of the largest opportunities are concentrated in the southern part of the county. “Particularly areas in and around South Dallas and Fair Park and Pleasant Grove,” Flores said. “That’s where we see a large number of homeowners that we think may be eligible but are not yet claiming.” The organization’s analysis found that estimated homestead exemption take-up rates generally increased alongside neighborhood income. About 81% of potentially eligible properties in very-low-income census tracts claimed the exemption, compared with 95% in the highest-income census tracts analyzed. Explore CPAL’s Dallas Homestead Exemption Map About the map: CPAL’s figures are estimates based on Dallas Central Appraisal District records and third-party owner-occupancy data. Properties shown as potentially eligible are not guaranteed to qualify. Demographic comparisons describe the census tracts where properties are located, not individual homeowners. Can you qualify for more than one property tax exemption? For some homeowners, the general homestead exemption can be combined with certain additional exemptions if they qualify. Texas homeowners who are 65 or older or disabled may qualify for additional property tax relief beyond the general homestead exemption. Flores said those benefits can effectively “stack,” potentially reducing a qualifying homeowner’s tax bill even further. “Homeowners who claim all the exemptions may owe very little or nothing on their property tax bill,” Flores said. CPAL used DCAD’s 2025 certified appraisal roll to identify residential properties without homestead exemptions that showed signs of being owner-occupied, then cross-referenced those records with a third-party owner-occupancy dataset. CPAL cautions that its results are estimates and may include false positives or miss potentially eligible properties. Only an appraisal district can determine whether an individual property qualifies. Think you may be missing your homestead exemption? Flores said Dallas County homeowners can check their property through the Dallas Central Appraisal District’s online portal to see whether an exemption is already listed and learn how to apply. Applications can be submitted online, in person or by mail. Homeowners outside Dallas County can check with the appraisal district where their property is located. Some homeowners may also be able to recover money from previous years. CPAL’s analysis accounts for potential savings on a homeowner’s 2025 tax bill as well as up to two years of potential refunds when a homeowner owned and occupied the property but did not claim an exemption for which they were eligible. Applying for a homestead exemption is free Flores said another barrier CPAL has encountered is skepticism: The potential savings can sound too good to be true. “It almost sounds like a scam,” Flores said. “It’s not. It is a state benefit for homeowners.” Homeowners should also know they do not have to pay a company to file a homestead exemption application. “There are some companies out in the world that may charge to file a homestead exemption on a homeowner’s behalf,” Flores said. “A homeowner does not need to pay anything. It’s free to file.” CPAL said homeowners who need help navigating the process can contact their local appraisal district. Flores said DCAD offers assistance in English and Spanish, while several community organizations in Dallas County also help homeowners navigate the application process. ...read more read less