From State Sen John Carona's Email Update:
 
There are a number of property tax exemptions available to Texas residents. This month, I am highlighting some of the exemptions for which you or your family may qualify.
 
General Residence Exemption
You may qualify for this exemption if:

1. you owned this property on January 1, and
2. you occupied the property as your principal residence on January 1, and
3. you or your spouse have not claimed a residence homestead exemption on any other property.

65 or Older Exemption
If you are 65 years of age or older you qualify for this exemption. You cannot claim the disability exemption if you choose to claim this exemption.
 
Disability Exemption
You qualify for this exemption if you are eligible for payment of disability benefits under the federal Old Age, Survivor's and Disability Insurance Act or if you are considered disabled as defined by this Act. Documentation must be provided to receive this exemption.
 
100% Disabled Veteran Exemption
Under a measure I sponsored, you qualify for a 100% Disabled Veteran homestead exemption if you receive from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA):

1. 100% disability compensation due to a service-connected disability or
2. a rating of 100% percent disabled or a determination of individual unemployability from the VA.

Documentation from the VA must be submitted to prove that a veteran qualifies under these guidelines.
 
55 or Older Surviving Spouse of a Person Who Received the 65 or Older Exemption
You qualify for this exemption if you are 55 years of age or older on the date your spouse died and your deceased spouse was receiving the age 65 or older tax exemption on this residence homestead or would have applied and qualified for the exemption in the year of
the spouse's death.
 
In addition to the above listed exemptions, you may qualify for other exemptions and/or credits. You may wish to contact your local appraisal district to determine your eligibility for such exemptions. The Comptroller's Property Tax division may provide other helpful information. In Dallas County, the Dallas Central Appraisal District provides copies of forms online and other important calendar information.
 
Applications for a residence homestead exemption are due between January 1 and April 30 annually. You may file a late homestead exemption if you file it no later than one year after the tax delinquency date. If the chief appraiser grants your application exemption, you do not need to reapply annually, unless the chief appraiser sends you a new application asking you to reapply.
 
Finally, Dallas County property owners will begin receiving "Real Property Notices of Appraised Value" around April 30. This is the notice of the valuation of your property value for taxation purposes. If you wish to protest the value of your property (not the taxes) with the appraisal district, the deadline is June 1, 2010. If you wish to protest the tax rates (the taxes) you should visit your city council, school board and county commissioners during the summer months as they prepare their budgets and set the tax rates by September.
 

 
Sen Carona sends a regular email newsletter to constituents to share information on the Texas Senate and legislature. He also includes information that helps navigate some of the corridors and peculiarities of government. Anyone interested in the newsletter (and curious about all the other areas of information that I didn't include) can subscribe here.
 
Sen Carona represents the west half of our district (west of Lavon Ave/SH 78). I most recently posted on him here, an article in D Magazine.