Tax appeals and homestead exemptions

It can lower your property tax bill, and in most places you have to apply.

• Open Homiy's local link for your county or state.
• Have your deed or closing statement and ID ready.
• Check whether your state needs a renewal. Rule^1,2,3,4

• Texas: File with your appraisal district before May 1. Bought after January 1? You can get it for the rest of the year if the seller didn't have it. The school district exemption is $140,000.
• Florida: File with the county property appraiser by March 1 if you owned the home on January 1.
• California: File form BOE-266 by February 15 for the full $7,000 exemption, or within 30 days of a supplemental assessment notice, whichever comes first. Rule^1,2,3,4

Some states reset the taxable value when a home sells, so the seller's bill isn't yours.

• Florida: Your assessment resets to just value on January 1 after the sale (Fla. Stat. §193.155).
• California: Expect a supplemental tax bill after closing; an appeal of it is due within 60 days of its mailing. Rule^5,6,4

Appeal windows are short each year, and a wrong value means a bigger bill.

• Compare the assessed value with recent nearby sales.
• Check the facts on file: size, rooms, condition.
• File before the deadline on your notice. Rule^7,8,9,6

Appeal windows are short and start when your assessment notice arrives.

• Texas: Protest by May 15 or 30 days after your appraisal notice is delivered, whichever is later (Tax Code §41.44).
• Florida: Petition the value adjustment board within 25 days after the TRIM notice is mailed (§194.011).
• California: Regular appeals run July 2 to September 15 or November 30, depending on the county (2026: Los Angeles November 30, San Francisco September 15). Rule^7,8,9