Property tax

Texas raised the school-district homestead exemption to $140,000

Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment in November 2025 that raised the mandatory school-district homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000, retroactive to January 1, 2025.

Bowie County Money & Taxes

If your home in Bowie County is your main residence, you can get a homestead exemption. The biggest part is the school-district exemption. It lowers the taxable value of your home by $140,000 for school taxes. So if your home is worth $280,000, the school district taxes it as if it were worth $140,000.

Homeowners who are 65 or older, or who are disabled, get an extra $60,000 school-district exemption on top of that. That adds up to a $200,000 total reduction.

To get a homestead exemption, file an application with the Bowie Central Appraisal District. The deadline is before May 1 of the tax year. You only file once — you do not need to refile each year as long as you stay in the same home. Visit bowieappraisal.com for the form, or call 903-793-8936 with questions.

Source to confirm: Texas Comptroller: Property Tax Exemptions

More Bowie County notes

Property tax

You can protest your property appraisal every year in Bowie County

Texas law gives every property owner the right to challenge their appraisal each year by filing a protest with the Appraisal Review Board before the deadline.

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Agricultural valuation

Timber and farm land can be taxed on productivity value, not market value

Under Texas law, land actively used for farming, ranching, or timber production can qualify for special appraisal — meaning it is taxed based on what it produces, not what it would sell for.

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Property tax

Two separate offices handle appraisal and tax collection in Bowie County

The Bowie Central Appraisal District sets property values, while a separate Tax Assessor-Collector handles billing — knowing which office to call saves confusion.

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Septic / Water

Homes outside city limits in Bowie County likely need a septic permit

If your home has no public sewer, Texas law says you need a permitted septic system. Bowie County has a local office that issues those permits.

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