Homestead and Ag Exemptions Can Cut Your Tax Bill

If you own and live in your home on January 1 of the tax year, you may qualify for a homestead exemption. Once approved, state law caps how much your appraised value can rise each year. You apply through the Fisher County Appraisal District.

If you use land for farming, ranching, or livestock, you may qualify for agricultural special appraisal. This means the land is taxed based on what it produces — not what it would sell for on the open market. That can be a big difference in West Texas ranch country. To qualify, the land generally must have been in ag use for at least five of the past seven years. If you later sell or develop the land, you may owe rollback taxes covering the previous three years. Apply at the appraisal district and check the Texas Comptroller's page for the official rules.