What the Freeze Does
Texas law allows homeowners aged 65 and older to freeze the school district portion of their property tax bill at the amount paid in the year they apply for the exemption. Once the freeze is in place, the school district can never increase your school tax above that frozen amount — regardless of future rate increases or appraisal growth — as long as you maintain the property as your primary homestead. The freeze follows the homeowner, not the home. If you move, you apply for a new freeze at your new address.
This is not a small benefit. School district taxes are consistently the single largest component of a Houston-area property tax bill, representing approximately 40–50% of the total annual tax. Freezing that portion permanently caps your largest line item for as long as you own the home.
How Much the Freeze Saves at Houston Price Points
| Home Value | ISD Rate (approx.) | ISD Tax Before Freeze | Savings If ISD Rate Rises 10% | Savings If Appraised Value Rises 20% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $300,000 | $1.28 (Katy ISD) | $3,840/yr | $384/yr saved | $768/yr saved |
| $400,000 | $1.28 (Katy ISD) | $5,120/yr | $512/yr saved | $1,024/yr saved |
| $500,000 | $1.28 (Katy ISD) | $6,400/yr | $640/yr saved | $1,280/yr saved |
| $700,000 | $1.28 (Katy ISD) | $8,960/yr | $896/yr saved | $1,792/yr saved |
| $500,000 | Willis ISD (Chambers Creek) | Included in 3.02% total | Meaningful — freeze urgently recommended | See note |
The Chambers Creek Freeze Is Especially Valuable
At Chambers Creek, where the combined tax rate is 3.02% and home values reach $500,000–$900,000, the school tax portion at Willis ISD rates is substantial. Freezing it immediately upon purchase — or upon turning 65 — locks in a significant portion of the tax bill permanently. On a $700,000 Chambers Creek home, the difference between frozen and unfrozen school taxes over 10 years with modest appraisal and rate growth could easily exceed $15,000.
How to Apply in Each Houston County
Harris County: File an Exemption Application with the Harris County Appraisal District (hcad.org). The deadline is April 30 of the tax year for which you want the exemption, though late filing is allowed in some circumstances. You must have been 65 by January 1 of the tax year.
Fort Bend County: File with the Fort Bend Central Appraisal District (fbcad.org). Same April 30 deadline. The freeze applies to whichever school district serves your address — Lamar CISD, Katy ISD, Fort Bend ISD, or others depending on location.
Montgomery County: File with the Montgomery County Appraisal District (mcad-tx.org). Willis ISD, Conroe ISD, Tomball ISD, and others serve different sections of the county.
Galveston County: File with the Galveston County Appraisal District (galvestoncad.org). League City ISD applies to Village at Tuscan Lakes.
Brazoria County: File with the Brazoria County Appraisal District (brazoriacad.org). Pearland ISD applies to CountryPlace and Bellavita.
What the Freeze Does Not Cover
The school tax freeze covers only the school district portion of the tax bill. It does not freeze county taxes, city taxes, MUD taxes, hospital district taxes, or any other taxing entity. This distinction matters at Chambers Creek, where the $1.35 MUD rate — the largest of any Houston 55+ community — is entirely outside the freeze. The freeze helps, but the MUD component remains fully exposed to future rate changes and appraisal growth.
Related Research
Five-County Tax ComparisonHouston MUD Tax GuideDel Webb Sweetgrass True CostChambers Creek True CostHouston Market HubGet Your Post-Freeze Tax Calculated
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