If the July 2026 floods damaged your home or business, you could qualify for major tax relief. You must apply by Mid-October, 2026.
Flash flooding returned to Texas in mid-July 2026. Days of heavy rain pushed the Guadalupe and Nueces rivers out of their banks, forced hundreds of rescues across the Hill Country and Southwest Texas, and claimed lives in Kerr and Uvalde counties. Many of the same communities devastated by the July 2025 floods are cleaning up again.
While you focus on recovery, Texas law offers financial relief you should not overlook: the temporary disaster property tax exemption.
Governor Abbott issued a disaster declaration on July 14, 2026 covering 59 counties. On July 17, he signed a major disaster declaration for the 28 hardest-hit counties and sent it to the President for federal approval.
This exemption, established under Texas Tax Code Section 11.35, could significantly reduce your 2026 property tax bill, but only if you apply in time. You must apply no later than the 105th day after the governor declares your county a disaster area. We recommend filing by Mid-October 2026.
What Is the Disaster Property Tax Exemption?
Created after Hurricane Harvey in 2019, the exemption provides temporary tax relief to property owners whose homes or buildings were physically damaged during a governor-declared disaster. This is not automatic. You must file an application with your appraisal district within 105 days of the disaster declaration.
What Types of Property Qualify?
You may be eligible if your property falls into one of these categories:
- Residential structures (house, garage)
- Manufactured homes used as dwellings
- Business personal property (equipment, inventory) that was rendered and reported to the county
Only physical damage counts. Economic losses like reduced income or market value decline do not qualify.
Note: The land itself is not eligible. Only the damaged improvements (structures) are.
Is My Property in an Eligible County?
The July 14 declaration covers 59 counties across Southwest, Central, and Southeast Texas, including Bexar, Harris, and Travis counties and hard-hit Hill Country counties such as Kerr and Uvalde. The state may add counties as damage assessments continue, so check the governor’s proclamations and the Comptroller’s disaster relief page for the current list, or confirm directly with your county appraisal district.
All counties in the July 14 declaration share the same deadline. We recommend you apply by October 15, 2026 so a mail delay or missing document does not cost you the exemption.
One caution: Texas has had other declared disasters in 2026, including the June 15 severe storm declaration covering about 101 counties and the April North Texas storms. Each declaration starts its own 105-day clock. If your damage came from an earlier storm, your deadline is earlier. The June 15 window closes September 28, 2026.
How Do I Know If I Qualify?
Your damage must equal at least 15% of your structure’s value (not including land). Here is how to check:
- Find your improvement value on your appraisal notice.
- Add up damage costs using estimates, receipts, or insurance reports.
- Divide damage costs by improvement value.
Example: If your home’s improvement value is $200,000 and your damage totals $35,000, then $35,000 ÷ $200,000 = 17.5%. You qualify.
Pro tip: Use Travis County’s Disaster Exemption Calculator to estimate eligibility, even if you are not located in Travis County.
Note: Landscaping, pools, and fences cannot be included in the cost to repair.
How Much Relief Could I Get?
Your level of damage determines the percentage of the exemption:
| Level | Damage range | Exemption | Description |
| I | 15 to 29.99% | 15% | Minor damage, still usable |
| II | 30 to 59.99% | 30% | Nonstructural damage, waterline under 18 inches |
| III | 60 to 99.99% | 60% | Major structural damage, waterline over 18 inches |
| IV | 100% | 100% | Total loss |
The exemption is prorated based on how many days remain in the tax year after the disaster declaration.
Example: A Bexar County homeowner has $200,000 in improvement value and Level II damage (30%). The declaration came on July 14, with 170 days left in the year:
$200,000 × 0.30 = $60,000 → $60,000 × (170 ÷ 365) ≈ $27,945 exemption
Note: Photos documenting the waterline will have a significant impact on your tax relief.
How Do I Apply?
Submit Texas Comptroller Form 50-312 with documentation to your county appraisal district by the deadline. Include:
- Photos of the damage with dates and waterline measurements
- Repair estimates
- Insurance adjuster reports
- FEMA inspection reports (if applicable)
The deadline for the July 14 declaration is Tuesday, October 27, 2026. Apply by October 15th, 2026 to leave yourself a buffer.
What Happens After You File?
Once submitted:
- The appraisal district will review your claim.
- You will receive a written decision.
- If approved after you have already paid, you will receive a refund.
- If denied or under-assessed, you can file a protest with the Appraisal Review Board.
Please remember this is a temporary exemption. It expires on January 1, 2027.
Other Disaster-Related Tax Help
In addition to the temporary exemption, Texans in disaster zones may also qualify for:
- Installment plans: Pay property taxes in 4 interest-free payments.
- Continued homestead exemption while you rebuild.
- Sales tax exemption on labor for repairs.
- State filing extensions: The Comptroller grants extensions of time to file and pay state taxes in declared counties, on request.
- Federal relief: The major disaster declaration is awaiting presidential approval. If approved, FEMA assistance and IRS filing extensions typically follow. We will update this post as federal relief is confirmed.
- Production-related claims are handled by the USDA and are not part of the exemption tax relief.
How Home Tax Shield Can Help
At Home Tax Shield, we help Texas property owners navigate exemptions and protests, including disaster relief. We can walk you through:
- Confirming eligibility
- Estimating savings
- Filling out your exemption application
- Gathering supporting documentation
We stand with the homeowners and small businesses hit by this summer’s floods, many for the second year in a row. If you need help navigating your 2026 property tax relief options, we are here to support you, at no cost.
The disaster exemption process can feel overwhelming when you are focused on recovery. Whether you need a second set of eyes on your application or more hands-on support, do not hesitate to reach out.
Connect with us through our website chat, join one of our workshop calls or email exemptions@hometaxshield.com.
You focus on recovery. We will help take care of the paperwork.