Texas · Cooke County · Local exemptions · Updated Oct 2026

Cooke County, TX property tax exemptions (2026)

The property tax breaks that are set or run locally in Cooke County, on top of Texas’s statewide rules: what each is worth here, who qualifies, where to apply and the deadline.

What is different in Cooke County

Cooke County itself grants $8,000 off for age 65+ and a tax ceiling (freeze) for 65+/disabled (2023-2024). Gainesville ISD, the largest school district, gives only the state school exemptions ($140,000; +$60,000 for 65+/disabled). 2 of the 26 taxing units listed offer a local homestead exemption; details for every unit are in the table.

Apply at
Cooke Appraisal District
Phone
940-665-7651
Local breaks
Local age 65 or older exemption (Cooke County), County tax ceiling (freeze) for 65+ or disabled (Cooke County)
Tax year
2023-2024 (sheet shows the $100,000 school homestead amount)

Where to apply in Cooke County

Cooke Appraisal District

Phone
940-665-7651
Address
201 N. Dixon St., Gainesville, TX 76240-3974
Official exemptions page

Other offices

Local exemptions in Cooke County

Seniors

Local age 65 or older exemption (Cooke County)

$8,000 off the home's value for Cooke County taxes

Set by
county
Tax year
2023-2024 (sheet shows the $100,000 school homestead amount)
Who qualifies
Homeowner age 65 or older (a surviving spouse 55 or older may keep it)
How to apply
File Form 50-114 with the county appraisal district (no fee); one application covers every taxing unit that taxes your home. Attach a copy of your Texas driver's license or ID showing the home's address.
Deadline
No later than one year after you turn 65 or become disabled (Tax Code §11.43(k)); late applications up to two years after the delinquency date (§11.431).
Renewal
One-time; you do not reapply each year unless the appraisal district asks you to.

Source: official page

Senior freeze or deferral

County tax ceiling (freeze) for 65+ or disabled (Cooke County)

County taxes on the home are capped at the amount in the year you first qualify (rises only for new improvements)

Set by
county
Tax year
2023-2024 (sheet shows the $100,000 school homestead amount)
Who qualifies
Homeowners with the age 65 or older or disabled exemption
How to apply
Automatic once the appraisal district grants your age 65 or disabled exemption.
Deadline
No later than one year after you turn 65 or become disabled (Tax Code §11.43(k)); late applications up to two years after the delinquency date (§11.431).
Renewal
One-time; you do not reapply each year unless the appraisal district asks you to.

Source: official page

Amounts by taxing unit in Cooke County

Each school district, city or other taxing unit can set its own amount. Find the ones on your tax bill.

Sort:
Taxing unitTypeDisabilityFreezeHomestead pctOver65Source
Callisburg ISDschool districtno local amount (state $60,000 applies)yes (required by state law for school districts)noneno local amount (state $60,000 applies)official
City of Callisburgcity$10,000yes$10,000 flat$10,000official
City of Gainesvillecity$3,000yesnone$8,000official
City of Lindsaycitynoneno$5,000 flat$10,000official
City of Muenstercitynonenononenoneofficial
City of Oak Ridgecitynonenononenoneofficial
City of Valley Viewcity$3,000nonone$8,000official
Clear Creek Watershed Authorityspecialnonenonone$5,000official
Cooke Countycountynoneyesnone$8,000official
Cooke County Farm-to-Market Roadcounty$3,000yes0% (state $3,000 road homestead)$5,000official
Cooke County Road & Bridgecountynoneyesnone$8,000official
Era ISDschool districtno local amount (state $60,000 applies)yes (required by state law for school districts)noneno local amount (state $60,000 applies)official
Gainesville Hospital Districtspecialnonenonone$6,000official
Gainesville ISDschool districtno local amount (state $60,000 applies)yes (required by state law for school districts)noneno local amount (state $60,000 applies)official
Lindsay ISDschool districtno local amount (state $60,000 applies)yes (required by state law for school districts)noneno local amount (state $60,000 applies)official
Muenster Hospital Districtspecialnonenononenoneofficial
Muenster ISDschool districtno local amount (state $60,000 applies)yes (required by state law for school districts)noneno local amount (state $60,000 applies)official
Muenster Water Districtspecialnonenononenoneofficial
North Central Texas Collegespecialnoneyesnone$6,000official
Pilot Point ISDschool districtno local amount (state $60,000 applies)yes (required by state law for school districts)none$6,000 local (on top of the state $60,000)official
Saint Jo ISDschool districtno local amount (state $60,000 applies)yes (required by state law for school districts)noneno local amount (state $60,000 applies)official
Sivells Bend ISDschool districtno local amount (state $60,000 applies)yes (required by state law for school districts)noneno local amount (state $60,000 applies)official
Slidell ISDschool districtno local amount (state $60,000 applies)yes (required by state law for school districts)noneno local amount (state $60,000 applies)official
Town of Road Runnercitynonenononenoneofficial
Walnut Bend ISDschool districtno local amount (state $60,000 applies)yes (required by state law for school districts)noneno local amount (state $60,000 applies)official
Whitesboro ISDschool districtno local amount (state $60,000 applies)yes (required by state law for school districts)none$4,600 local (on top of the state $60,000)official

State exemptions that also apply here

These breaks come from Texas law. Their full rules, forms and deadlines are on the Texas page.

All Texas property tax exemptions

By group in Texas: Seniors · Veterans · Disability · Surviving spouses

Savings estimate for Cooke County

Roughly what an exemption could save you a year: the value it takes off, times your tax rate.

Filled in when the exemption is a fixed dollar amount. You can change it.

Cooke County median effective rate: 1.06% (taxes paid as a share of home value). Use your own rate if you know it.

Enter a value and a tax rateChoose an exemption or type the value it takes off.

Median effective rate in Cooke County: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024 5-year estimates, county figures as published by Tax Foundation. It is a county-wide middle value; rates differ by town and school district.

An estimate, not a bill. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.

Eligibility finder for Cooke County

Answer a few questions to see which property tax breaks may fit you. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.

Leave empty if you'd rather not say.

Everyone in the home, before taxes. Optional: used only to compare with income limits.

Do you own and live in the home?Answer the first question to see results.

A first check, not a decision: only your county, city or town assessor decides. We read ages, ratings and income limits only where the official rule states them plainly; otherwise we show the rule for you to check.

Document checklist for Cooke County

Pick the breaks you plan to apply for. You get a checklist of forms, documents, steps and deadlines to print or keep on your phone.

The checklist asks for no personal details and nothing is sent to our server: the files are made on your device.

Exemptions to include

Questions about property tax exemptions in Cooke County

What property tax exemptions are there in Cooke County?

Cooke County itself grants $8,000 off for age 65+ and a tax ceiling (freeze) for 65+/disabled (2023-2024). Gainesville ISD, the largest school district, gives only the state school exemptions ($140,000; +$60,000 for 65+/disabled). 2 of the 26 taxing units listed offer a local homestead exemption; details for every unit are in the table. Local breaks here: Local age 65 or older exemption (Cooke County); County tax ceiling (freeze) for 65+ or disabled (Cooke County).

Where do I apply for a property tax exemption in Cooke County?

Cooke Appraisal District Phone: 940-665-7651 Address: 201 N. Dixon St., Gainesville, TX 76240-3974. Also: Texas Comptroller, Property Tax Assistance Division, which state rules and forms.

When is the deadline to apply in Cooke County?

Local age 65 or older exemption (Cooke County): No later than one year after you turn 65 or become disabled (Tax Code §11.43(k)); late applications up to two years after the delinquency date (§11.431). County tax ceiling (freeze) for 65+ or disabled (Cooke County): No later than one year after you turn 65 or become disabled (Tax Code §11.43(k)); late applications up to two years after the delinquency date (§11.431).

Do I have to reapply every year in Cooke County?

Local age 65 or older exemption (Cooke County): One-time; you do not reapply each year unless the appraisal district asks you to. County tax ceiling (freeze) for 65+ or disabled (Cooke County): One-time; you do not reapply each year unless the appraisal district asks you to.

Do Texas’s statewide exemptions apply in Cooke County too?

Yes. The statewide breaks on our Texas page apply here as well, for example General Residence Homestead Exemption, Age 65 or Older or Disabled Residence Homestead Exemption and School Tax Ceiling (tax freeze) for Age 65 or Older or Disabled. This page adds what Cooke County sets or runs itself.

Good to know in Cooke County

  • Cooke County, its road funds, the cities of Callisburg and Gainesville and North Central Texas College have adopted the tax ceiling (freeze) for 65+/disabled homeowners.
  • The sheet predates the 2025 increase in state school exemptions (it shows $100,000 and $10,000); local amounts may have changed since.

Think your assessed value is too high? See how to appeal in Cooke County.

Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.