| FAQ | General Information back to top |
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| Q | My property information is wrong. How do I get it changed? |
| A | Contact Lubbock Central Appraisal District at (806)762-5000 or email us at info@lubbockcad.org. Our office is located at 2109 Ave Q.back to top |
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| Q | How current is the information on your site? |
| A | The information is real time. Changes are reflected as they are made.back to top |
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| Q | I don't want my information available on the internet. How do I get it deleted? |
| A | The data that is being presented on this website is public record and available under laws governing the public's right to access public information. We cannot selectively remove or withhold this information. There are exceptions for certain individuals. If you have questions about whether or not you qualify to have certain property information confidential, please contact our office or refer to the Request for Confidentiality form on this website.back to top |
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| Q | Why do I get an error message that says 'Request Timed Out'? |
| A | This error generally occurs when the search criteria is too broad to complete the search before the set time limit. Narrow the search down by providing additional search criteria.back to top |
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| FAQ | Homestead, Over 65 and Disabled Exemptions back to top |
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| Q | What is a general homestead exemption? |
| A | The general homestead exemption is provided by state law for owner-occupied residential properties. The exemption removes a portion of your value from taxation providing a lower tax amount for the homestead property.back to top |
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| Q | How do I qualify for the general homestead exemption? |
| A | In order to qualify for this exemption you must have owned and occupied the property as of January 1st of that tax year. This property must also be your principal residence and you may not claim another homestead on another piece of property.back to top |
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| Q | Do I need to reapply every year for my homestead |
| A | No. You do not have to reapply unless the chief appraiser requests a new application or you move to a new residence.back to top |
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| Q | When and where do I apply for my homestead exemption? |
| A | You may apply in person at Lubbock Central Appraisal District between January 1st and April 30th of the tax year. You may file for late HS exemption up to one year after the date which the taxes become delinquent. There is never a fee to apply for a homestead application. The form is also available on our website.back to top |
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| Q | Am I eligible for additional exemptions when I turn 65? |
| A | If you are age 65 or older your residence homestead will qualify for additional exemption deductions and you will receive a tax ceiling for that home on your school taxes. Refer to the exemption table for exemptions and tax ceilings offered by each taxing unit. You qualify for the exemption in the year your turn 65. You do not have to be 65 on January 1.back to top |
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| Q | I am a surviving spouse. Am I eligible for any exemption benefits? |
| A | If a homeowner who has been receiving the tax ceiling on school taxes dies, the ceiling transfers to the surviving spouse, if the survivor is 55 or older and has ownership in the home. The survivor must apply to the appraisal district for the tax ceiling to transfer.back to top |
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| Q | I am a disabled veteran. Am I entitled to any property tax deductions? |
| A | You may qualify for a property tax deduction if you are either (1) a veteran who was disabled while serving with the U.S. armed forces or (2) the surviving spouse or child (under 18 years of age or unmarried) of a disabled veteran. You must be a Texas resident and must provide documentation from the Veteran's Administration reflecting the percentage of your service-connected disability. Your disability rating must be at least 10%. The exemption amount varies depending on the disability level. This exemption is different from the 100% Disabled Veteran Exemption. Refer to the section on 100% disabled veteran exemptions for additional information.back to top |
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| Q | I am a homeowner with disabilities. Am I entitled to any exemptions? |
| A | A person with a disability may get exemptions if (1) you can't engage in gainful work because of physical or mental disability or (2) you are 55 years old and blind and can't engage in your previous work because of your blindness. If you receive disability benefits under the Federal Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program through the Social Security Administration you should qualify. Disability benefits from any other program do not automatically qualify. Refer to the exemption table taxing units that grant the disability exemption and/or tax ceiling.
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| Q | What information must I provide to obtain a homestead exemption. |
| A | Effective for exemptions filed after September 1, 2011 you must provide a copy of your driver's license or state identification card and must include a vehicle registration receipt. If you do not owne a vehicle, you must provide an affidavit to that effect and a copy of a utility bill for the property in the applicant's name.back to top |
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| Q | Is there a fee to apply for an exemption? |
| A | There is NEVER a fee to apply for any exemption.back to top |
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| FAQ | 100% Disabled Veteran Exemption back to top |
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| Q | I already have a homestead exemption. Do I need to apply for the new exemption? |
| A | Yes. The new exemption is not given automatically.back to top |
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| Q | I just qualified for the disabled veteran's exemption. Why do I need to send you my documentation for the new exemption? |
| A | Qualifications for the 100% disabled veteran homestead exemption differ from those for the prior disabled veteran's exemption. In particular, you must show that you actually receive 100% disability compensation for a service-connected disability, and have a rating of 100% disability or individual unemployability.back to top |
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| Q | When is the new homestead exemption effective? |
| A | It is retroactive to January 1, 2009. If you owned your home and qualified on that date, you'll receive the exemption for 2009.back to top |
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| Q | My disability rating is actually 50%, but because I am over 65, I receive the maximum disability exemption. Do I qualify for the new homestead exemption? |
| A | No. You must be 100% disabled or have a rating of individual unemployability to qualify for the new exemption. You must also be receiving 100% disability compensation from the VA. If the VA reduces or changes either of these ratings, it is your responsibility to notify the appraisal district in writing.back to top |
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| Q | If something happens to me, will the 100% disabled veteran homestead exemption pass to my spouse or children? |
| A | Effective January 1, 2012 the exemption will transfer to the surviving spouse for the same property to which the disabled veteran exemption applied. The surviving spouse is entitled to the exemption if he or she has not remarried since the death of the disabled veteran and the property was the residence homestead of the surviving spouse when the disabled veteran died and remains the residence homestead of the surviving spouse. The exemption in an amount equal to the dollar amount of the exemption of the former homestead will transfer to the subsequent property as long as the surviving spouse has not remarried.back to top |
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| Q | I am in a hospital or nursing home. Can I still get the new exemption? |
| A | Yes, as long as you intend to return to the home when you are able.back to top |
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| Q | My spouse and I own our home together. How is the new homestead exemption calculated? |
| A | If the home is community property, it is calculated as if you owned 100% of the home. If the home is not community property, the exemption is prorated in proportion to the value of your interest.back to top |
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| Q | I have a mortgage on the home. Can I still get the new homestead exemption? |
| A | Yes.back to top |
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| Q | I don't currently have a homestead exemption. Do I need to apply for the regular homestead exemption in addition to this one? |
| A | You should also apply for the regular homestead exemption. This will ensure that you receive the maximum benefits of the regular exemption should your qualification for the new exemption change.back to top |
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| Q | I have recently turned 65. Should I apply for the over-65 homestead exemption in addition to the new exemption? |
| A | Yes, for the same reason given above.back to top |
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| Q | How much of my home's value will the new exemption exempt? |
| A | Your home will be totally exempt from property taxes.back to top |
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| Q | I meet all the qualifications for the new exemption. I currently apply the $12,000 regular disabled veteran's exemption to my home. When I get the new disability exemption, what happens to the other exemption? |
| A | The new exemption will exempt all of the value of your home. Consequently, the $12,000 disabled veteran's exemption will have no effect. If you own other taxable property (such as a vacation home or business), you should file a new application with the appraisal district and designate the exemption as applying to the other property.back to top |
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| Q | Will I have to reapply every year for the new disability homestead exemption? |
| A | No. Once your exemption is granted, you will not have to reapply unless the chief appraiser requires you to do so in writing.back to top |
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| Q | I already have a disability homestead exemption on my home. What is the difference between that one and this one? |
| A | The existing disability homestead exemption has different requirements and benefits. For that exemption, you must meet the Social Security Administration's definition of disabled, which is not necessarily the same as that used by the VA or your branch of the military. The benefits are also different. Only school districts are required to provide a disability homestead exemption, though many other taxing entities do. The new exemption will apply to all taxing units and will exempt the total value of your home.back to top |
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| Q | Can I apply the new exemption to my main home and get the general homestead exemption on my vacation home? |
| A | No. Both exemptions apply only to the home that is your principal residence. You can, however, apply the prior disabled veteran's exemption to your vacation home.back to top |
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| Q | How do I get documentation of my status from the VA? |
| A | You can contact the VA at 1-800-827-1000. Their website is at www.va.gov.back to top |
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| Q | I am a surviving spouse of a disabled veteran. Do I get to keep the 100% exemption? |
| A | An individual must have been married to a disabled veteran at the time of the veteran's death and the disabled veteran must have qualified for the 100% or totally disabled veteran exemption when he or she died. The property must have been the residence homestead of the surviving spouse when the disabled veteran died and remain the residence homestead of the surviving spouse.
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| Q | I am a surviving spouse of a disabled veteran. Do I get to keep the exemption if I remarry? |
| A | No. A surviving spouse does NOT qualify if the surviving spouse has remarried since the death of the disabled veteran.back to top |
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| Q | I am a surviving spouse of a disabled veteran. Do I get to keep the exemption if I move to a new home? |
| A | A surviving spouse can receive an exemption on a subsequent homestead if he or she has not remarried since the death of the disabled veteran; however, the amount of the exemption is the dollar amount of the exemption from taxation of the former homestead in the last year the surviving spouse received the exemption.back to top |
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| FAQ | Appraisal Process back to top |
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| Q | What is a Notice of Appraised Value? |
| A | The Notice of Appraised Value gives information about your property such as legal description, situs, taxing units, current year proposed value and exemptions and prior year value and exemptions. Included with the notice are a protest form and other information about the appraisal process.back to top |
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| Q | Who receives a Notice of Appraised Value? |
| A | Notices are mailed to all real property that had an increase in value over the prior year greater than $100, mailing address changed, ownership transferred or the value was rendered. All business personal property, mineral interests, and mobile homes receive a Notice of Appraised Value.back to top |
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| Q | What should I do when I receive a Notice of Appraised Value? |
| A | If you agree with the value on your property you do not have to do anything. If you do not agree with value you should file a formal protest. A protest form is included with the Notice of Appraised Value.back to top |
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| Q | What is the deadline to file my protest? |
| A | You have 30 days from the date of the Notice of Appraised Value or May 31st, whichever is later.back to top |
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| Q | Can I resolve my questions informally? |
| A | Appraisal district staff meets informally with property owners about values. You should always file your formal protest to preserve your right to protest to the ARB. Questions about exemptions, property description and taxing units can usually be resolved without a formal protest.back to top |
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| Q | What is the Appraisal Review Board? |
| A | The Appraisal Review Board (ARB) is an independent, impartial group of citizens authorized to resolve disputes between taxpayers and the appraisal district. The ARB is appointed by the appraisal district board of directors but is not controlled by the appraisal district.back to top |
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| Q | What happens after I file a formal protest? |
| A | At least 14 days prior to your hearing, the appraisal district will mail you information about the date and time of your hearing, a copy of the Appraisal Review Board procedures, and a copy of Property Taxpayer Remedies.
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| Q | What information should the appraisal district provide about my property? |
| A | Upon request, you may inspect and obtain a copy of the data, schedules, formulas and any other information that will be used by the appraisal district at your hearing. This information is not required to be delivered 14 days before a hearing.back to top |
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| Q | What if I cannot make or miss my hearing? |
| A | You will be allowed one reschedule if you contact the ARB one day prior to your hearing time. If you fail to appear, you may lose the right to be heard by the ARB. If you are not represented by an agent and you fail to appear at a hearing, you are entitled to a new hearing if you file with the ARB, not later than four days after your hearing date, a written statement showing good cause for failing to appear.back to top |
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| Q | What if I disagree with the Appraisal Review Board's decision? |
| A | After your hearing the ARB will send a written order by certified mail stating the results of the hearing. Depending on the facts and type of property, you may be able to appeal to the state district court or to an independent arbitrator appointed by the comptroller. You may appeal through binding arbitration if your property is valued at $1 million or less or if the property is your residence homestead regardless of its appraised value. Contact the appraisal district for additional information.back to top |
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| Q | How is my residence appraised? |
| A | In order for the Appraisal District to appraise all properties in the county, a mass appraisal system is used. This system provides for the appraisal of more than 135,000 properties of which approximately 80,000 are homes. All improved residential property is classed on a scale from 1 to 15. Quality, architectural design, and building attributes determine the class. A substantial majority of Lubbock County homes are classified within the class 4 to 10 range. Similarly classed properties within a neighborhood are appraised using sales of comparable properties. A neighborhood can be as small as just a few square blocks or as large as one square mile. The market dictates established boundaries of over 700 defined neighborhoods.
Residences are appraised primarily based on what similar properties in a neighborhood sold for on a price per square foot basis during the twelve month period prior to the January 1 date of appraisal. The Appraisal District compares the most recent appraised values of sold properties to the recent sale prices. If the neighborhood is less than or greater than 100%, a neighborhood adjustment is made to every property in the neighborhood. Neighborhood adjustments are used to adjust all similar properties equally within the defined neighborhood after determining the level of appraisal. The level of appraisal is calculated by an appraisal to sale price ratio of all qualifying recently sold homes in the defined neighborhood. This process compares the most recent appraised value to the sale price of the sold property. The median property value is used to determine the level of appraisal for the neighborhood.
The formula to calculate an individual home value is:
SQUARE FOOTAGE X UNIT PRICE X CONDITION PERCENTAGE X NEIGHBORHOOD ADJUSTMENT=APPRAISED VALUE
This formula is repeated for each area type of the home (main living area, second story, garage, shop, etc.) The land value is then added to the home value to determine the total appraised value of the individual residential property.back to top |
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