Tax relief and valuation review
A homestead exemption, senior-relief program, or valuation protest can change the amount a homeowner owes—but only if the filing reaches the right local office in the correct window. Use the verified county guidance below as your working checklist, then confirm the current form and deadline with Lavaca County Central Appraisal District.
Relief programs
The filing guidance for this county is: April 30, 2026 for 2026 residence-homestead and 1-d-1 open-space agricultural applications, as published by Lavaca CAD. Use the official form or application channel, provide the residence and ownership documentation requested, and keep a copy of the submission.
Open homestead applicationFor 2026, a qualifying owner age 65 or older (or disabled) receives the mandatory additional $60,000 school-district residence-homestead exemption; a taxing unit may also adopt a local-option residence-homestead exemption of at least $3,000. The owner may qualify for a school-tax ceiling/freeze and tax deferral; eligibility and documentation are administered by the local CAD. Qualifying owners may also use the statutory four-installment payment option when applicable.
Texas Tax Code §23.23 limits a qualifying residence homestead's 2026 appraised-value increase to the lesser of market value or prior appraised value plus 10% and new improvements. Section 23.231 provides a temporary 20% circuit-breaker cap for qualifying non-residence-homestead real property valued at $5,320,000 or less for tax years 2024–2026; the limit expires December 31, 2026. Special agricultural, timber, wildlife and other productivity appraisals are governed separately.
Appealing an assessment
Use the valuation notice and the county’s published protest guidance to determine the last day to file. Do not assume the payment deadline controls the appeal.
Gather comparable sales, photographs, repair records, appraisal evidence, property characteristics, and any documentation that explains why the assessed value is incorrect.
Submit through the official channel, save the confirmation, and attend the board or review hearing if one is scheduled. An appraiser or attorney can help evaluate evidence when the value or stakes are substantial.
The verified protest guidance for this county is: May 15, 2026, or within 30 days after the 2026 Notice of Appraised Value was delivered, whichever is later; special statutory exceptions and the deadline printed on the notice control. If the language is not a specific calendar date, contact the office promptly for the current notice and board-review schedule.