Collin county homestead exemption: everything you need to claim it

Last updated 2026-07-09

What is the Collin County homestead exemption and how much does it save?

The homestead exemption cuts the taxable value of your primary residence. Most Collin County homeowners save $1,500 to $2,500 a year once all the layers stack up. In Texas the exemption works in layers: the state sets a minimum, and each taxing unit (Collin County itself, your school district, your city, any special districts) can pile on more.

The biggest layer is the school district exemption. Senate Bill 2, passed in 2023, raised the mandatory school district homestead exemption from $40,000 to $100,000 ^[1]. The first $100,000 of your home's appraised value is gone for school tax purposes, and school taxes are usually the largest single line on a Texas bill.

Collin County (the county taxing unit itself) offers another $30,000 exemption on the county's portion of your bill ^[2]. Many cities inside the county, Plano, McKinney, Frisco, Allen, and others, add their own, ranging from a flat dollar amount to 20 percent of appraised value. The Collin Central Appraisal District (CCAD) runs the exemption for all these entities through one application.

Here's what that looks like with real numbers. A home appraised at $500,000, with a $100,000 school exemption and a $30,000 county exemption, gets taxed as if it were worth $400,000 for school and $470,000 for county. At Frisco ISD's 2023 tax rate of roughly $1.1462 per $100 ^[3], the $100,000 school exemption alone saves about $1,146 a year. Add the county and city layers and most homeowners clear $1,500 to $2,200 in combined annual savings.

Who qualifies for the Collin County homestead exemption?

You qualify if you owned the property on January 1 of the tax year and used it as your principal residence on that date ^[4]. Texas Tax Code Section 11.13(a) puts it plainly: the property must be "designed or adapted for human residence" and actually used as your home.

A few rules trip people up.

One home only. You can claim a homestead exemption on a single property in Texas. Own two homes? Pick the one you live in. You can't split it.

Ownership structure matters. The property can be owned by an individual, a qualifying trust, or (in limited cases) a legal entity. Most CCAD filers are individuals. If your home sits in a living trust, you're still eligible as long as you're the settlor and a beneficiary ^[4].

Renters don't qualify. The exemption goes to the owner-occupant, never a tenant.

New purchases. Before a 2022 law change, you had to own the home on January 1 to apply for that year. Now you can file mid-year and get a prorated exemption for the part of the year you owned the home ^[1]. That's a big deal for buyers who close after January 1.

Texas residency. You have to be a Texas resident. A non-resident who owns Texas property doesn't qualify.

Got a complicated setup (LLC ownership, life estate, trust)? The CCAD exemptions desk at (469) 742-9200 can confirm eligibility before you file.

What is the deadline to file for the Collin County homestead exemption?

The standard deadline is April 30 of the year you're seeking the exemption ^[4]. Buy in October 2024 and want the 2025 exemption? File by April 30, 2025.

There's a late-filing window. Texas Tax Code Section 11.431 allows a late application up to two years after the delinquency date of the taxes for that year, as long as you pay a 10 percent penalty on the taxes you would have saved ^[4]. The penalty isn't huge, but it's real money. File on time.

Once approved, the exemption renews automatically every year. CCAD mails a notice only if something changes that could affect eligibility (an address change on file, an ownership transfer). You do not refile every year.

Key dates at a glance:

Event	Deadline
Standard application deadline	April 30
Late application with 10% penalty	Up to 2 years after delinquency date
Notice of Appraised Value mailed	Typically late April
Deadline to protest appraised value	May 15 or 30 days after notice, whichever is later
Tax bills mailed	October 1
Tax payment due (no penalty)	January 31 of following year

For neighboring counties, the deadlines match under Texas law. If you're also researching the denton county homestead exemption or the dallas county homestead exemption, the April 30 deadline applies the same way.

How do you apply for the Collin County homestead exemption?

CCAD uses one form: Texas Comptroller Form 50-114, "Application for Residence Homestead Exemption" ^[5]. Download it from the Texas Comptroller's site or from CCAD's portal at collincad.org. The whole thing takes about 15 minutes.

Step 1: Get the form. Download Form 50-114 from the Comptroller's site ^[5] or pick one up at CCAD's office, 250 Eldorado Pkwy, McKinney, TX 75069.

Step 2: Fill it out. You need your property's account number (on your CCAD appraisal notice, or found through the CCAD property search), plus your Texas driver's license or state ID number. The ID address has to match the property address ^[4]. If they don't match, update your ID before you file.

Step 3: Attach proof. CCAD requires a copy of your Texas driver's license or state ID showing the property address. Some people also attach a copy of the deed, though that's not usually required unless ownership is unclear.

Step 4: Submit. Your options:

• File online through CCAD's e-file portal at collincad.org
• Mail to: Collin Central Appraisal District, 250 Eldorado Pkwy, McKinney, TX 75069
• Drop off in person at the same address

Processing runs 2 to 4 weeks. Check status online with your CCAD account number. If CCAD denies the application, you have the right to protest. For the statewide version of this process, see our guide on how to file for homestead exemption in Texas.

One mistake I see constantly: people assume their mortgage company filed for them. Lenders collect escrow. They don't file exemption applications. That job is always yours.

What extra exemptions are available for seniors and disabled homeowners in Collin County?

Texas has two special exemptions that go well past the standard homestead, and both apply in Collin County. The real prize isn't the extra dollar amount. It's the tax ceiling.

Age 65 or Older Exemption. Turn 65 and you get another $10,000 school district exemption on top of the $100,000 general exemption, for $110,000 off your school taxable value ^[4]. Then comes the ceiling: once you file the over-65 exemption, your school taxes cannot rise as long as you own and live in the home, even if the appraised value climbs. People call it the senior freeze. The county also caps its own taxes for over-65 homeowners.

Disabled Person Exemption. Homeowners who qualify as disabled under the Social Security Administration's definition get the same $10,000 additional school exemption and the same tax ceiling ^[4]. You can't claim both the over-65 and the disabled exemption at once, but you can take whichever helps more.

Surviving Spouse. If a spouse who held an over-65 or disabled exemption dies, the surviving spouse (at least 55 years old) can keep the tax ceiling. That takes a separate filing with CCAD.

100% Disabled Veterans. A veteran rated 100% disabled by the VA pays no property tax on their primary residence, with no cap ^[4]. This is one of the most valuable property tax benefits in the state. Surviving spouses of veterans who died in the line of duty can qualify too. For a wider look at senior relief across Texas, see does Texas offer property tax relief for seniors.

All these use the same Form 50-114 and the same April 30 deadline. Attach your Social Security award letter or VA disability rating letter as documentation.

How much does each taxing unit in Collin County add to the exemption?

Your total exemption depends on which taxing entities cover your specific address. Every homeowner in the county gets the state-mandated school exemption. The county, city, and special district layers vary house to house.

Here's a reference table for the major taxing units as of the most recently published rates. City amounts can change each year, so verify at collincad.org before you file.

Taxing Unit	General Homestead Exemption	Over-65 Additional	Notes
School Districts (all in Collin Co.)	$100,000	$10,000 more	State-mandated minimum [1]
Collin County	$30,000	Tax ceiling	County-set
City of Plano	20% of appraised value	Tax ceiling	City-set
City of McKinney	20% of appraised value	Tax ceiling	City-set
City of Frisco (Collin Co. portion)	12.5% of appraised value	Tax ceiling	City-set
City of Allen	20% of appraised value	Tax ceiling	City-set
City of Wylie	Varies	Tax ceiling	Verify at CCAD

Frisco straddles two counties. If your Frisco home sits in Collin County, CCAD handles your appraisal. If it's in Denton County, DCAD does. Check your county on your appraisal notice if you're not sure.

The percentage-based exemptions (like Plano's 20%) apply to appraised value before other reductions. On a $600,000 home, Plano's 20% removes $120,000 from the taxable value for city purposes. That's about $600 to $700 in city tax savings at Plano's current rate, stacked on top of the school savings.

What if your Collin County appraised value is too high even after the exemption?

The homestead exemption reduces taxable value. It does nothing about an inflated appraisal. If CCAD pegged your home at $650,000 and comparable sales say it's worth $550,000, you're still overpaying even with the full exemption stack applied.

Texas law lets you protest your appraised value every year. The deadline is May 15, or 30 days from the date your Notice of Appraised Value was mailed, whichever is later ^[4]. The CCAD process opens with an informal hearing with an appraiser. If that doesn't settle it, you go to the Appraisal Review Board (ARB).

Comparable sales are your strongest evidence. You're arguing that CCAD's estimate of market value beats what the home would actually sell for. Pull 3 to 6 sales of similar homes in your neighborhood that closed in the 12 months before January 1 of the tax year. Size, age, condition, and location all count.

The exemption also hands you one indirect shield against appraisal jumps. Texas Tax Code Section 23.23 caps the annual increase in a homesteaded home's appraised value at 10 percent over the prior year, no matter what the market did ^[4]. So if CCAD appraised your home at $500,000 last year and the market went wild, they still can't push your appraised value past $550,000 this year. The cap only kicks in once you have an active homestead exemption on file.

Want to handle a protest yourself instead of paying a contingency firm 30 to 40 percent of your savings? A structured DIY approach works for most residential cases. TaxFightBack's appeal kit walks you through pulling comps, filling out the protest form, and presenting at the ARB without an agent.

Homeowners in other hot markets face the same math. The georgia homestead exemption and florida homestead exemption both cap annual appraisal increases (Florida caps at 3% for homesteaded properties under Save Our Homes). Texas's 10% cap beats Florida's in a flat market and loses to it in a hot one.

Can you transfer a homestead exemption if you move within Collin County?

Yes, with caveats. Sell your home and buy another in the same county, and you have to file a new exemption application on the new property. The exemption doesn't ride along to a new address. File Form 50-114 again by April 30 for the year you want it to apply.

The 10% appraisal cap matters here. The cap resets on your new home the year after you establish a homestead exemption on it. Move in November and file by April 30 of the following year, and the new home's appraisal stays uncapped for the year you bought it (it was a "new" property to the appraisal roll) but gets capped starting the year after your exemption takes effect.

For over-65 or disabled homeowners, Texas lets you port the tax ceiling in a limited way. Move to a new homestead and the school tax ceiling gets recalculated. It doesn't carry the same dollar figure, but a new ceiling is set right away instead of after a wait. Texas Tax Code Section 11.26 spells this out ^[4].

Move out of Collin County entirely and you file with your new county's appraisal district. The process is the same statewide, since every Texas county uses Form 50-114 and the April 30 deadline.

What happens if you miss the April 30 deadline?

Missing the deadline doesn't burn the exemption forever. Texas Tax Code Section 11.431 allows a late homestead exemption application up to two years after the delinquency date for the tax year in question ^[4]. The delinquency date for most Texas property taxes is February 1 of the year after the tax year, so the two-year late window runs roughly two years from that date.

The catch: you pay a 10 percent penalty on the taxes you would have saved. It's figured on the exemption savings, not on your whole bill. For most Collin County homeowners, that penalty runs a few hundred dollars, not thousands. Still worth filing late if you've missed the exemption for a year or two.

Owned your Collin County home for several years and never filed? You may be able to recover two years of back savings minus the penalty. Pull your CCAD account history to see whether an exemption was ever on file.

Here's the practical move. Set a calendar reminder for April 1 every year. Bought a home in the last 12 months and haven't filed? Do it now. The application takes about 15 minutes.

How does the Collin County homestead exemption compare to other states?

Texas ranks among the most generous states for homestead exemptions in dollar terms, partly because property taxes here run high and the legislature keeps trying to offset that. The $100,000 school district exemption is flat-dollar, which helps lower-value homes proportionally more than expensive ones.

For comparison:

State	Primary Homestead Benefit	Annual Savings (est.)
Texas (Collin County)	$100,000+ off taxable value, 10% appraisal cap	$1,500 to $2,500
Florida	$50,000 off taxable value, 3% appraisal cap (Save Our Homes)	$500 to $1,500
Georgia	$2,000 to $4,000 off taxable value (county-level, varies widely)	$40 to $200
Ohio	2.5% rollback + homestead credit for income-qualified seniors	Varies; typically $400 to $800 for seniors
Pennsylvania	Reduces assessed value; school district sets the amount	Widely varies

Florida's florida homestead exemption is famous for the Save Our Homes cap, which locks in a 3% max annual increase. That beats Texas's 10% cap in a booming market. Georgia's system, laid out in our georgia homestead exemption guide, is much smaller in dollar terms, though its tax rates are lower too. Ohio's homestead exemption ohio is mostly income-tested.

The honest version: Collin County's total property tax burden stays high by national standards even after the exemptions, because the underlying rates are high. The exemption softens the blow meaningfully. It's no substitute for protesting an inflated appraisal when your value is wrong.

For Gwinnett County homeowners in Georgia reading this for comparison: the Gwinnett homestead exemption runs under Georgia law, which grants a basic $2,000 exemption off assessed value plus county-specific additions. That's a much smaller absolute number than Texas offers, but Georgia's base tax rates are lower. See our georgia homestead exemption guide for specifics.

What are common mistakes that get Collin County homestead applications rejected?

CCAD rejects or holds a meaningful number of applications every year. The single most common reason is a mismatched driver's license address. Here are the ones to watch.

Driver's license address doesn't match the property. This causes more denials than anything else. CCAD has to verify that the ID address matches the property address ^[4]. If you moved and didn't update your license, fix it at the DPS office first, then file the exemption.

Wrong account number. CCAD carries multiple account numbers for some properties (land and improvement accounts are sometimes split). Use the account number from your appraisal notice, or look it up on the CCAD property search by address.

Filing too early. You can only file for the current year's exemption. Close on a home in December 2024 and you file in early 2025 for the 2025 tax year. Some buyers try to file right at closing and get confused when the form bounces back.

Claiming on a second home or rental. CCAD cross-checks for duplicate exemptions. Hold a homestead exemption on another Texas property and try to add one on a Collin County property, and both get flagged.

Missing documentation. Veteran exemptions need your VA disability rating letter. Disability exemptions need the Social Security award letter. Trust-owned properties need the trust document pages showing you're the settlor and beneficiary.

If CCAD denies your application, it sends a written notice. You have the right to protest the denial through the ARB. The protest deadline for an exemption denial is the later of May 15 or 30 days from the denial notice ^[4].

Does the homestead exemption affect your ability to protest your appraised value?

No. The exemption and the appraisal protest are two separate processes. You can hold a homestead exemption and still protest your appraised value. You should do both.

The exemption cuts taxable value by a fixed amount. The protest argues the appraised value itself is wrong. Both lower your tax bill, and they stack. A protest that trims your appraised value by $50,000, combined with a $100,000 school exemption, means the school district taxes you on $350,000 instead of $500,000.

The 10% appraisal cap tied to the exemption matters here too. CCAD can't raise your appraised value by more than 10% per year while the exemption is active ^[4]. Buy a home at a high price and the first year after your exemption kicks in sets the baseline, with increases capped after that. A protest win in year one is worth extra, because it sets a lower baseline for the cap to work from.

Protest deadlines sit at May 15 or 30 days from your notice, whichever is later. Miss it and the year is closed. If your notice lands in late April, don't sit on it.

For a full walk through the Texas protest process, TaxFightBack's article on how to file for homestead exemption in Texas covers the exemption filing and the protest filing in order.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Collin County homestead exemption deadline for 2025?

April 30, 2025, is the standard filing deadline for the 2025 tax year. If you bought your home after January 1, 2025, you can still file and get a prorated exemption for the part of 2025 you owned it. Miss April 30 and you can still file late (with a 10% penalty on saved taxes) up to two years after the delinquency date under Texas Tax Code Section 11.431.

How do I file a homestead exemption with CCAD online?

Go to collincad.org and use the e-file portal. You'll need your CCAD property account number (from your appraisal notice), a scan or photo of your Texas driver's license or state ID showing the property address, and a completed Form 50-114. The portal accepts PDF uploads. Processing takes 2 to 4 weeks, and you can check status with your account number.

How much does the Collin County homestead exemption save per year?

Most Collin County homeowners save $1,500 to $2,500 per year from the combined school district, county, and city exemptions. The $100,000 school exemption alone saves roughly $1,100 to $1,400 annually, depending on your ISD's tax rate. Percentage-based city exemptions (like Plano's 20%) add more for higher-value homes. Actual savings depend on your specific taxing units and appraised value.

Can seniors get a property tax freeze in Collin County?

Yes. Homeowners 65 or older who file the age-65 exemption get a school district tax ceiling: their school taxes can't rise above the level set when the exemption first took effect, even if appraised value climbs. Collin County and most cities also cap their own taxes for over-65 homeowners. The freeze locks in when you file and stays active as long as you own and occupy the home.

Do I need to refile the Collin County homestead exemption every year?

No. Once CCAD approves your application, the exemption renews automatically each year. You only refile if you move (the exemption doesn't transfer to a new address), your ownership changes (sale, divorce, death), or CCAD sends a notice asking you to reconfirm eligibility. CCAD mails you if something triggers a review.

What if I bought my Collin County home after January 1?

A 2022 law change lets mid-year filers get a prorated exemption for the part of the year they owned the home. File Form 50-114 as soon as your Texas driver's license shows the new address. You don't wait until the following January 1. The prorated savings show up as a credit or refund, depending on when in the year your taxes are paid.

What is the 10% appraisal cap and how does it work with the homestead exemption?

Texas Tax Code Section 23.23 limits the annual increase in a homesteaded property's appraised value to 10% over the prior year, no matter what the market did. The cap only applies while a homestead exemption is active, and it resets when ownership changes. A homeowner who bought at $400,000 in a rising market won't see their appraised value jump to $520,000 in year two; CCAD can only go to $440,000.

Does a 100% disabled veteran get a full property tax exemption in Collin County?

Yes. Under Texas Tax Code Section 11.131, a veteran with a 100% VA disability rating pays zero property taxes on their primary residence, with no dollar cap on home value. This exemption applies statewide, including Collin County. File Form 50-114 with your VA disability rating letter attached. Surviving spouses of veterans who died in the line of duty can also qualify.

Can I get the homestead exemption if my home is in a trust or LLC?

A home held in a qualifying trust can get the homestead exemption if the homeowner (settlor) is also a beneficiary who occupies the property as their principal residence. LLCs generally can't qualify, because an LLC is a business entity, not a natural person. If your home is in an LLC and you want the exemption, consult a Texas property tax attorney; restructuring ownership may be necessary.

How do I check if my Collin County homestead exemption is currently on file?

Go to collincad.org and search for your property by address or account number. The property detail page lists all active exemptions. You'll see codes like HS (homestead), OA (over-65), DP (disabled person), or DV (disabled veteran) next to your account when exemptions are active. If no HS code shows and you own and occupy the home, file Form 50-114 right away.

What documents do I need to file the Collin County homestead exemption?

At minimum: a completed Form 50-114 and a Texas driver's license or state-issued ID with the property address. For over-65 exemptions, include your birth certificate or passport. For disability exemptions, include your Social Security disability award letter. For 100% disabled veterans, include your VA disability rating certificate. Trust-owned properties need the trust document pages showing settlor-beneficiary status.

What is the difference between a homestead exemption and a homestead designation for Collin County?

In Texas, they're the same thing. The homestead exemption filed with CCAD on Form 50-114 both designates your home as your legal homestead (which provides creditor protections under Texas law) and triggers the tax exemptions and the 10% appraisal cap. There's no separate filing for the legal homestead designation; the tax exemption application covers both.

Can I protest my Collin County appraisal and still keep my homestead exemption?

Yes, absolutely. The protest and the exemption are independent. Filing a protest doesn't affect your exemption status. You can protest every year if you want to challenge CCAD's appraised value. Winning a protest in the first year after buying a home is worth extra, because it sets a lower baseline for the 10% annual cap to work from in later years.

How does Collin County's homestead exemption compare to Denton or Dallas counties?

All three counties operate under the same Texas law, so the school district exemption ($100,000) and the 10% appraisal cap are identical. The difference is in county-level and city-level additions. Collin County offers a $30,000 county exemption. Dallas and Denton counties set their own amounts. See our guides on the dallas county homestead exemption and denton county homestead exemption for specifics.

Sources

1. Texas Legislature, Senate Bill 2 (88th Legislature, 2023) — raised school homestead exemption to $100,000: SB 2 (2023) raised the mandatory school district homestead exemption from $40,000 to $100,000 and allowed prorated mid-year exemptions for new purchasers
2. Collin Central Appraisal District — exemptions information page: Collin County (the county taxing unit) offers a $30,000 general homestead exemption in addition to the state-mandated school exemption
3. Frisco ISD — 2023 adopted tax rate: Frisco ISD's 2023 adopted tax rate was approximately $1.1462 per $100 of taxable value
4. Texas Tax Code, Chapter 11 — Taxable Property and Exemptions: Sections 11.13, 11.131, 11.26, 11.431, and 23.23 govern residence homestead exemptions, veteran exemptions, senior tax ceilings, late applications, and the 10% appraisal cap
5. Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts — Form 50-114, Application for Residence Homestead Exemption: Form 50-114 is the official statewide application used by all Texas appraisal districts, including CCAD, for residence homestead exemptions
6. Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts — Property Tax overview: Overview of all Texas property tax exemptions including homestead, over-65, disabled person, and disabled veteran categories
7. Collin Central Appraisal District — annual report and taxing unit rate data: CCAD publishes annual exemption counts and taxing unit rates; multiple Collin County cities offer 20% general homestead exemptions
8. Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs — homestead protections summary: Texas homestead designation provides both property tax benefits and creditor protection under state law; both arise from the same Form 50-114 filing
9. Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts — property tax appraisal limitations: Texas Tax Code Section 23.23 limits annual appraised value increases for homesteaded properties to 10% over the prior year's appraised value
10. Texas Veterans Commission — Property Tax Exemptions for Veterans: Veterans with a 100% VA disability rating are fully exempt from Texas property taxes on their primary residence under Tax Code Section 11.131