Tax relief and valuation review

Protect your exemption and appeal rights.

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 Willacy County Appraisal District.

Relief programs

What the local record says

Homestead filing

The filing guidance for this county is: April 30, 2026 for most 2026 residence-homestead, age-65-or-older, and disabled-person applications; qualifying residence-homestead applications may generally be filed late up to two years after the delinquency date under Texas Tax Code §11.431; local CAD instructions control. Use the official form or application channel, provide the residence and ownership documentation requested, and keep a copy of the submission.

Open homestead application

Senior citizen tax relief

Texas owners age 65 or older or disabled may qualify for the additional residence-homestead exemption, the school-tax ceiling/freeze, the four-installment payment option, and tax deferral; eligibility and documentation are administered by the local appraisal district and tax office. Official Texas Comptroller guidance: https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/exemptions/ and https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/pay/options.php

Valuation cap or growth limit

For 2026, Texas Tax Code §23.23 limits a qualifying residence homestead's appraised-value increase to the lesser of market value or prior appraised value plus 10% and new improvements. Tax Code §23.231 may limit qualifying non-residence-homestead real property valued at $5,320,000 or less to a 20% annual increase; that circuit-breaker limitation expires December 31, 2026 and excludes agricultural, timber, recreational/park/scenic, public-access-airport, and restricted-use-timberland property. The 2026 special-valuation cap rates are 10.00% for agricultural/open-space land and 7.77% for timberland. Official Comptroller guidance: https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/valuing-property.php and https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/caprates.php

Appealing an assessment

Build the objection around evidence and the notice date.

Calendar the window

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.

Assemble support

Gather comparable sales, photographs, repair records, appraisal evidence, property characteristics, and any documentation that explains why the assessed value is incorrect.

File and preserve proof

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 mailed/delivered, whichever is later; residence homestead owners generally have an April 30, 2026 early deadline or 30 days after notice, whichever is later; the deadline printed on the notice and statutory exceptions control. Official Texas Comptroller guidance: https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/protests/ If the language is not a specific calendar date, contact the office promptly for the current notice and board-review schedule.