Jefferson County Appraisal District

New legislation that became effective January 1, 1998 limits the amount the Appraisal District can increase your property value. This limitation only applies to the house you own and live in - it does not apply to any other property that you own. If you do not have a residential homestead exemption on your property, then this limitation to the value does not apply to you.

The appraised value of a residence homestead is limited to an increase of no more than 10 percent per year since it was last reappraised unless new improvements, excluding ordinary maintenance, have been made. The Jefferson County Appraisal District conducts a complete, county-wide reappraisal of all property in our jurisdiction once every two years. Therefore, unless your property was reappraised last year, the total increase in your property valuation is limited to 20 percent. This limitation takes effect on January 1 of the tax year following the first tax year the taxpayer qualifies for any homestead exemption and expires on January 1 of the first tax year that neither the taxpayer or the taxpayer’s spouse qualifies for a homestead exemption. Your property will now carry two values:

1. the limited appraised value which is the value, less exemptions, that your taxes will be based on, and

2. the market value which is the true value of the property.

Should you sell your property or no longer qualify for any homestead exemption, the limitation on the appraised value of your property will be removed and the tax base will increase to the market value.

For example, the appraised value of your residence homestead was $50,000 in 1998, the last year the Appraisal District reappraised it. In 1999 the Appraisal District appraises your property at $60,000. No new improvements, or additions, have been made to the property since it was last reappraised. The limited appraised value is calculated as follows:

$50,000 X 10% = $5,000 + $50,000 = $55,000

Your taxes will be based on the limited appraised value of $55,000 less any exemptions; however, the market value of your property will remain at $60,000. If your property value remains at $60,000 in 2000, the value may increase 10 percent over the 1999 value of $55,000 providing it does not exceed the market value of $60,000. In 2000 the value would be calculated as follows:

$55,000 X 10% = $5,500 + $55,000 = $60,500

Since this figure exceeds the market value of $60,000, the limited appraised value will equal the market value of $60,000.