Money Texas households often miss — six things to check (November 2026)

These are the checks we see households skip most often. Each one comes from a state source, linked at the bottom, as of November 2026. None of them costs money to do.

1. File your homestead exemption

If you own the home you live in, school districts must exempt $140,000 of its value, and another $60,000 if you are 65 or older or disabled — $200,000 in all (Tax Code §11.13; the amounts rose after voters approved Propositions 13 and 11 in November 2025). It is not automatic: file Form 50-114 with your county appraisal district. The general deadline is before May 1. If you bought in 2026, check that it is on file. Estimate what it changes with our property tax calculator.

2. Mark the protest deadline

If your appraisal notice looks too high, you can protest it with the appraisal review board. The deadline is May 15 or 30 days after the notice was delivered, whichever is later. Protesting yourself is free; firms that do it for you usually take a share of the savings. See how rates moved in school district tax rates, 2021–2025.

3. Search for unclaimed money

The Texas Comptroller held more than $9 billion in unclaimed property in early 2025 — including unreturned utility deposits, insurance payouts, paychecks, uncashed checks, mineral royalties and old bank accounts. Search your name, past business names and relatives' names at ClaimItTexas.gov. If you moved and your old electric company never returned your deposit, this is where it ends up.

4. Get help with the electric bill if you qualify

The Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), run by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) through local agencies in all 254 counties, helps with heating and cooling bills. For Program Year 2026 the income limit is 150% of the federal poverty guidelines:

Find your local agency on TDHCA's Help for Texans page or call 2-1-1. Households with someone 60 or older, a person with a disability or a child under 6 usually get priority.

5. Use the 14 days before your electricity contract ends

In the last 14 days of a fixed-rate contract you can usually switch without an early termination fee. If you do nothing, you roll onto a month-to-month rate that is usually much higher — see what happens when your contract ends. When you compare, look past the 1,000 kWh price: on November 3, 2026, 33 of the 60 cheapest-looking plans were not cheap over a year. If a provider asks for a deposit, you may be able to skip it — see the deposit rules.

6. Buy big appliances on the sales tax holiday

Texas holds sales tax holidays for ENERGY STAR and WaterSense products. In 2026 they ran May 23–25 (Memorial Day weekend). ENERGY STAR air conditioners up to $6,000 and refrigerators up to $2,000 qualify, as do ceiling fans, dishwashers, dehumidifiers and clothes washers; WaterSense showerheads, faucets and irrigation controls also qualify. The Comptroller announces the dates each year — if you can wait for a new AC or fridge, it saves the sales tax (up to 8.25%).

Your next step

Rank electricity plans on your own usage — every plan by its 12-month cost — and save your contract in your account to get a reminder before the fee-free window opens.

General information from state sources, not legal or tax advice. Program rules and amounts can change; check the linked official pages before you apply.