Total Exemption for the Surviving Spouse of a Servicemember Killed in the Line of Duty
Exempts the entire appraised value of the home of a surviving spouse of a servicemember killed or fatally injured in the line of duty.
Verified August 17, 2026
What this benefit is
A total exemption of the appraised value of the home of a surviving spouse of a servicemember killed or fatally injured in the line of duty.
Like the §11.131 carryover, it becomes a fixed dollar amount if the spouse later moves.
What it's worth: 100% of your property tax bill
- The whole appraised value of the residence homestead is exempt.
- If you move, §11.133(c) carries the DOLLAR amount from your last year at the old home, not a fresh total exemption.
Who is entitled to it
- The surviving spouse of a member of the armed services killed or fatally injured in the line of duty,
- who has not remarried since the death,
- and who owns and occupies the property as their residence homestead.
Exceptions
Remarriage ends the surviving-spouse exemption. Texas is explicit and there is no route back — every surviving-spouse exemption in chapter 11 is conditioned on not having remarried since the death. Tex. Tax Code §11.131(c)
Not sure whether that describes you?
Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.
The thing most people get wrong
"Line of duty" is broader than "killed in action"
The statute was written to reach a death or fatal injury in the line of duty, not only a combat death. A training accident, a vehicle incident on duty, or another non-combat death in service is covered. A great deal of published guidance still says "killed in action", which understates who qualifies — and this is a total exemption, so being wrongly excluded from it is expensive. Note also the neighbouring provision: §11.22(d) gives a $5,000 exemption for a death on active duty. If the death was in the line of duty, this section is the one to claim and it is worth many times more.
How to claim it
Deadline: April 30- 1File Form 50-114 with your county appraisal district.
- 2Ask the district for the §11.133(c) certificate before moving — it fixes the amount you carry.
- Form
- 50-114
- File with
- Your county appraisal district
- Documents you will need
- death certificate · dd1300 or casualty report · proof of title
- Confirm this every year
- Nothing in the Texas system tells a survivor this exemption exists or that it must be claimed in their own name. Check it is on your bill.
Common mistakes that cost people this benefit
- Claiming the $5,000 exemption under §11.22(d) when this total exemption applies.
- Reading older guidance that says "killed in action" and concluding you do not qualify.
- Moving without asking the district for the §11.133(c) certificate first.
Questions people ask
- My spouse died in a training accident, not in combat. Does this apply?
- On the text of the statute, yes — it reaches a servicemember killed or fatally injured in the line of duty. Take the casualty documentation to the district and ask them to apply §11.133 specifically.
- How is this different from the $5,000 exemption?
- §11.22(d) removes $5,000 from your appraised value for a death on active duty — worth roughly $70 a year. §11.133 exempts the entire value. Same tragedy, two provisions, wildly different amounts.
Sources
- authority · statuteTex. Tax Code §11.133
- operating · published policyTexas Comptroller — Property Tax Exemptions
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