For Immediate Release

1/4/2021

Updated Property Tax Information Now Available for Texas Taxpayers

New and updated property tax information has just been compiled by Fisher

County Appraisal District and is available now to assist taxpayers. This property tax

information is current and covers a wide range of topics, such as taxpayer remedies,

exemptions and appraisals, and has information for select groups, such as disabled

veterans and persons age 65 or older.

“Whether you are a homeowner, business owner, disabled veteran or taxpayer, it’s important you know your rights concerning the

property tax laws.” said Kellen Walker, Chief Appraiser of the Fisher County Appraisal District.

“You can contact us about any property tax issues with full confidence that we will

provide you the most complete, accurate and up-to-date available information to assist

you.”

This includes information about the following programs.

• Property Tax Exemptions for Disabled Veterans – The law provides partial

exemptions for any property owned by disabled veterans or surviving spouses

and surviving children of deceased disabled veterans. Another 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 the disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. The

exemption amount is determined according to percentage of service-connected

disability. The law also provides a 100 percent homestead exemption for 100

percent disabled veterans and their surviving spouses and surviving spouses of

U.S. armed service members killed in action.

• Property Tax Exemptions – Non-profit organizations that meet statutory

requirements may seek property tax exemptions and must apply to their county

appraisal district by a specific date. Businesses that receive tax abatements

granted by taxing units; ship inventory out of Texas that may be eligible for the

freeport exemption; store certain goods in transit in warehouses that are moved

within 175 days; construct, install or acquire pollution control property; own and

operate energy storage systems; convert landfill-generated gas; or store offshore

drilling equipment while not in use may also be eligible for statutory exemptions.

• Rendering Taxable Property – If a business owns tangible personal property

that is used to produce income, the business must file a rendition with its local

county appraisal district by a specified date. Personal property includes inventory

and equipment used by a business. Owners do not have to render exempt

property such as church property or an agriculture producer’s equipment used for

farming.

• Appraisal Notices – Normally, taxpayers receive a notice of appraised value

from the appropriate local county appraisal district. The city, county, school

districts and other local taxing units will use the appraisal district’s value to set

property taxes for the coming year.

• Property Taxpayer Remedies – This Comptroller publication explains in detail

how to protest a property appraisal, what issues the county appraisal review

board (ARB) can consider and what to expect during a protest hearing. The

publication also discusses the options of taking a taxpayer’s case to district court,

the State Office of Administrative Hearings or binding arbitration if the taxpayer is

dissatisfied with the outcome of the ARB hearing.

• Homestead Exemptions – A homestead is generally defined as the home and

land used as the owner’s principal residence on Jan. 1 of the tax year. A

homestead exemption reduces the appraised value of the home and, as a result,

lowers property taxes. Applications are submitted to the appropriate local county

appraisal district.

• Productivity Appraisal – Property owners who use land for timberland

production, agricultural purposes or wildlife management can be granted property

tax relief on their land. They may apply to their local county appraisal district for

an agricultural appraisal which may result in a lower appraisal of the land based

on production, versus market value.

• Residence Homestead Tax Deferral – Texas homeowners may postpone

paying the currently delinquent property taxes due on the appreciating value of

their homes by filing a tax deferral affidavit at their local county appraisal district.

This tax relief allows homeowners to pay the property taxes on 105 percent of

the preceding year’s appraised value of their homestead, plus the taxes on any

new improvements to the homestead. The remaining taxes are postponed, but

not cancelled, with interest accruing at 8 percent per year.

• Property Tax Deferral for Persons Age 65 or Older or Disabled or Disabled

Veteran Homeowners – Texans who are age 65 or older or disabled, as defined

by law, or who qualify for a disabled veteran exemption may postpone paying

current and delinquent property taxes on their homes by signing a tax deferral

affidavit. Once the affidavit is on file, taxes are deferred, but not cancelled, as

long as the owner continues to own and live in the home. Interest continues to

accrue at 5 percent per year on the unpaid taxes. You may obtain a deferral

affidavit at the appraisal district.

• Notice of Availability of Electronic Communication – In appraisal districts

located in counties with a population of more than 200,000 or that have

authorized electronic communications, and that have implemented a system that

allows such communications, chief appraisers and ARBs may communicate

electronically through email or other media with property owners or their

designated representatives. Written agreements are required for notices and

other documents to be delivered electronically instead of mailing.

• Protesting Property Appraisal Values – Property owners who disagree with

the appraisal district’s appraisal of their property for local taxes or for any other

action that adversely affects them may protest their property value to the

appraisal district’s ARB.

For more information about these programs, contact Fisher County Appraisal District

at 107 E. North 1^st St Roby, TX 79543, Phone # 325-776-2733, Website: www.fishercad.org . Information is also available on theComptroller’s Property Tax Assistance Division’s website atcomptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/.