Texas · Shelby County · Local exemptions · Updated Oct 2026

Shelby County, TX property tax exemptions (2026)

The property tax breaks that are set or run locally in Shelby 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 Shelby County

In Shelby County your exemptions depend on each taxing unit on your bill: of the 13 units the Shelby County Appraisal District lists for 2026, 9 give a percentage homestead exemption, 6 non-school units add an over-65 amount, and the list does not say which non-school units have adopted a tax ceiling (freeze). Shelby County itself: 20% of the home's value off for every homestead (at least $5,000); $5,000 off for owners 65 or older; $5,000 off for disabled owners. Center ISD: 20% of the home's value off for every homestead (at least $5,000) in addition to the state $140,000; a school tax ceiling (freeze) for 65+/disabled owners, as state law requires. It has no local over-65 amount beyond the state $60,000.

Apply at
Shelby County Appraisal District
Phone
936-598-6171
Local breaks
Shelby County local option homestead exemptions, Center ISD local option homestead exemptions, City of Center local option homestead exemptions
Tax year
2026

Where to apply in Shelby County

Shelby County Appraisal District

Phone
936-598-6171
Address
724 Shelbyville St., Center, TX 75935-3736
Official exemptions page

Other offices

Local exemptions in Shelby County

Seniors

Shelby County local option homestead exemptions

20% of the home's value off for every homestead (at least $5,000); $5,000 off for owners 65 or older; $5,000 off for disabled owners.

Set by
county
Tax year
2026
Who qualifies
You own the home and live in it as your principal residence (residence homestead) in Shelby County. Over-65 amount: you are 65 or older; a surviving spouse 55 or older can keep it. Disabled amount: you meet the Social Security definition of disability. You can get the over-65 or the disabled amount from a unit, not both.
How to apply
No separate application to Shelby County: file Form 50-114 once with the Shelby County Appraisal District, checking the age 65 or disabled box if it applies, with a copy of your Texas driver's license or ID showing the home's address. The appraisal district applies every taxing unit's exemptions to your home.
Deadline
Homestead: generally by April 30 of the tax year; age 65/disabled: within one year after you qualify. Late applications are accepted up to two years after the taxes become delinquent (Tax Code §11.43, §11.431).
Renewal
One-time, unless the appraisal district asks you to reapply.

Source: official page

Homestead

Center ISD local option homestead exemptions

20% of the home's value off for every homestead (at least $5,000) in addition to the state $140,000; a school tax ceiling (freeze) for 65+/disabled owners, as state law requires. It has no local over-65 amount beyond the state $60,000.

Set by
school district
Tax year
2026
Who qualifies
You own the home and live in it as your principal residence (residence homestead) in Center ISD.
How to apply
No separate application to Center ISD: file Form 50-114 once with the Shelby County Appraisal District, checking the age 65 or disabled box if it applies, with a copy of your Texas driver's license or ID showing the home's address. The appraisal district applies every taxing unit's exemptions to your home.
Deadline
Homestead: generally by April 30 of the tax year; age 65/disabled: within one year after you qualify. Late applications are accepted up to two years after the taxes become delinquent (Tax Code §11.43, §11.431).
Renewal
One-time, unless the appraisal district asks you to reapply.

Source: official page

Seniors

City of Center local option homestead exemptions

20% of the home's value off for every homestead (at least $5,000); $5,000 off for owners 65 or older.

Set by
city
Tax year
2026
Who qualifies
You own the home and live in it as your principal residence (residence homestead) in City of Center. Over-65 amount: you are 65 or older; a surviving spouse 55 or older can keep it.
How to apply
No separate application to City of Center: file Form 50-114 once with the Shelby County Appraisal District, checking the age 65 or disabled box if it applies, with a copy of your Texas driver's license or ID showing the home's address. The appraisal district applies every taxing unit's exemptions to your home.
Deadline
Homestead: generally by April 30 of the tax year; age 65/disabled: within one year after you qualify. Late applications are accepted up to two years after the taxes become delinquent (Tax Code §11.43, §11.431).
Renewal
One-time, unless the appraisal district asks you to reapply.

Source: official page

Amounts by taxing unit in Shelby 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
Center ISDschool districtstate $60,000 only (2026)yes, required by state law for school taxes (2026)20% of home value (at least $5,000), on top of the state $140,000 (2026)state $60,000 only (2026)official
City of Centercitynone (2026)not stated (2026)20% of home value (at least $5,000) (2026)$5,000 (2026)official
City of Joaquincity$3,000 (2026)not stated (2026)20% of home value (at least $5,000) (2026)$5,000 (2026)official
City of Tenahacitynone (2026)not stated (2026)20% of home value (at least $5,000) (2026)$3,000 (2026)official
City of Timpsoncitynone (2026)not stated (2026)20% of home value (at least $5,000) (2026)$3,000 (2026)official
Excelsior ISDschool districtstate $60,000 only (2026)yes, required by state law for school taxes (2026)none (2026)state $60,000 only (2026)official
Joaquin ISDschool districtstate $60,000 only (2026)yes, required by state law for school taxes (2026)20% of home value (at least $5,000), on top of the state $140,000 (2026)state $60,000 only (2026)official
San Augustine ISDschool districtstate $60,000 only (2026)yes, required by state law for school taxes (2026)none (2026)state $60,000 only (2026)official
Shelby Countycounty$5,000 (2026)not stated (2026)20% of home value (at least $5,000) (2026)$5,000 (2026)official
Shelby County Road & Bridgecounty$2,000 (2026)not stated (2026)20% of home value (at least $5,000) (2026)$2,000 (2026)official
Shelbyville ISDschool districtstate $60,000 only (2026)yes, required by state law for school taxes (2026)none (2026)state $60,000 only (2026)official
Tenaha ISDschool districtstate $60,000 only (2026)yes, required by state law for school taxes (2026)none (2026)state $60,000 only (2026)official
Timpson ISDschool districtstate $60,000 only (2026)yes, required by state law for school taxes (2026)20% of home value (at least $5,000), on top of the state $140,000 (2026)state $60,000 only (2026)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 Shelby 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.

Shelby County median effective rate: 0.64% (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 Shelby 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 Shelby 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 Shelby 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 Shelby County

What property tax exemptions are there in Shelby County?

In Shelby County your exemptions depend on each taxing unit on your bill: of the 13 units the Shelby County Appraisal District lists for 2026, 9 give a percentage homestead exemption, 6 non-school units add an over-65 amount, and the list does not say which non-school units have adopted a tax ceiling (freeze). Shelby County itself: 20% of the home's value off for every homestead (at least $5,000); $5,000 off for owners 65 or older; $5,000 off for disabled owners. Center ISD: 20% of the home's value off for every homestead (at least $5,000) in addition to the state $140,000; a school tax ceiling (freeze) for 65+/disabled owners, as state law requires. It has no local over-65 amount beyond the state $60,000. Local breaks here: Shelby County local option homestead exemptions; Center ISD local option homestead exemptions; City of Center local option homestead exemptions.

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

Shelby County Appraisal District Phone: 936-598-6171 Address: 724 Shelbyville St., Center, TX 75935-3736. Also: Shelby County Tax Assessor-Collector, which collects the property tax bill. Also: Texas Comptroller, Property Tax Assistance Division, which state agency: statewide exemption rules and forms.

When is the deadline to apply in Shelby County?

Shelby County local option homestead exemptions: Homestead: generally by April 30 of the tax year; age 65/disabled: within one year after you qualify. Late applications are accepted up to two years after the taxes become delinquent (Tax Code §11.43, §11.431). Center ISD local option homestead exemptions: Homestead: generally by April 30 of the tax year; age 65/disabled: within one year after you qualify. Late applications are accepted up to two years after the taxes become delinquent (Tax Code §11.43, §11.431). City of Center local option homestead exemptions: Homestead: generally by April 30 of the tax year; age 65/disabled: within one year after you qualify. Late applications are accepted up to two years after the taxes become delinquent (Tax Code §11.43, §11.431).

Do I have to reapply every year in Shelby County?

Shelby County local option homestead exemptions: One-time, unless the appraisal district asks you to reapply. Center ISD local option homestead exemptions: One-time, unless the appraisal district asks you to reapply. City of Center local option homestead exemptions: One-time, unless the appraisal district asks you to reapply.

Do Texas’s statewide exemptions apply in Shelby 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 Shelby County sets or runs itself.

Good to know in Shelby County

  • Statewide, every school district must exempt $140,000 of a homestead's value and another $60,000 for owners 65+ or disabled, and freeze school taxes for them; the amounts in the table are what each local unit adds (Texas Tax Code §11.13, §11.26).

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

Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.