# Texas seniors benefit most from homestead exemptions > Texas seniors see biggest property tax cuts as homestead exemptions expand. - Title: Texas seniors benefit most from homestead exemptions - Summary: Texas seniors see biggest property tax cuts as homestead exemptions expand. Texas seniors now pay 33% less school property taxes than before due to expanded… - Keywords: texas, seniors, homestead exemption, property tax, school property tax, tax relief, senior homestead exemption, property tax cuts, texas property tax, school district taxes, tax burden, cost burden - Source: The Texas Tribune — https://feeds.texastribune.org/link/16799/17489735/texas-property-tax-school-homestead-exemption-seniors - Author: Joshua Fechter - Published: 2026-09-30T10:00:00+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: texas, seniors, homestead exemption, property tax, school property tax, tax relief, senior homestead exemption, property tax cuts, texas property tax, school district taxes, tax burden, cost burden ## Jane Lindsley's tax relief 72-year-old Jane Lindsley saw her school property tax bill drop to $0 after years of rising costs. > I was ecstatic, I’m like, ‘this is the only thing in my life that’s going down.’ I can actually afford to pay. ## State Sen. Paul Bettencourt's analysis State Sen. Paul Bettencourt's office reports 60% of Texas homeowners age 65 and up no longer pay school property taxes. > People have paid a lifetime of taxes. When they finally pay zero, and they realize it’s not a mistake, it’s a great day for them. ## Homestead exemption boost Lawmakers boosted homestead exemption to $140,000 for school taxes and $200,000 for seniors with disabilities. > The statewide average school tax bill for general homesteads dropped by 13.6% to $896 last year, according to Bettencourt’s office. ## Senior tax bill reduction Seniors’ school property tax bills fell 33% to $380, with 40% of homeowners no longer paying property taxes. > For seniors, it fell some 33% to $380. ## Political push for more relief Texas Republicans want to extend senior homestead exemption to age 55 and eliminate school property taxes for all homeowners. > Gov. Greg Abbott has proposed eliminating school property taxes for all homeowners. ## Criticism of tax cuts Younger conservatives argue tax cuts favor older homeowners over younger Texans struggling to buy homes. > We don’t begrudge older generations for not wanting to be taxed out of their homes, but it does seem foundationally unfair to grant tax relief to an older generation that’s been voting for bonds and things we still have to pay for. ## Wealth transfer concern Tax policy experts say tax cuts transfer wealth from younger Texans to older Texans. > There are a lot of younger people that maybe would need the relief more than those who are retired and have a lot of savings. ## State budget impact State lawmakers spent $51 billion on school property tax cuts, risking unsustainability. > State lawmakers put $51 billion toward cutting school property taxes last year. ## Population growth Texas seniors population expected to nearly double from 3.9 million in 2020 to 7.5 million in 2050. > The population of older Texans is expected to nearly double in the coming decades, from about 3.9 million in 2020 to 7.5 million in 2050. ## Cost burden on seniors 30% of seniors in Texas spend over 30% of income on housing costs. > Many Texas seniors are ‘cost-burdened,’ meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on keeping a roof over their head. ## Fixed income challenges Seniors rely on fixed incomes and face rising costs for essentials. > Between Social Security and an annuity, Lindsley brings in about $4,400 a month. ## Political influence Seniors wield political influence, driving lawmakers to provide tax breaks. > People who have paid property taxes in the same community for 45 years have contributed quite a bit financially. ## Homeownership impact Tax cuts reduce home sales, making homes more expensive for younger buyers. > The more in tax cuts a homeowner receives, the less likely they’ll sell that home. ## Downsizing options Texas lawmakers aim to allow more housing options for seniors. > There are a lot of people out there that would be happy to downsize, but they still want to stay in their community. ## Potential solutions Texas could implement income-based tax caps for property tax relief. > If you want to really focus on the folks who need tax relief the most, I think using income is a very appropriate way to do that. ## What happens next Texas lawmakers face pressure to balance senior tax relief with affordability for younger Texans. > Nobody likes taxes. Anyone would like to get out of their taxes if they can. And I think seniors have been very successful at that in this case. ## Key takeaway Texas seniors now pay 33% less school property taxes than before due to expanded homestead exemptions, helping them afford rising costs while younger Texans bear the burden of state tax cuts.