I'm Over 65 in McKinney — Does the School Tax Freeze Actually Protect Me From Collin County's Rising Appraisals?
I'm over 65 in McKinney — does the school tax freeze actually protect me from Collin County's rising appraisals? Partly. The freeze locks your school district tax bill, but your appraised value can still climb, and other taxing entities aren't frozen at all.
If you've owned your home in McKinney for a while and watched your Collin Central Appraisal District notice creep up year after year, you've probably heard neighbors talk about the over-65 exemption like it's a magic shield against rising taxes. It helps, and it's genuinely one of the better protections available to longtime homeowners in Collin County, but it doesn't work quite the way most people assume. The freeze applies specifically to the school district portion of your tax bill, which is typically the largest slice, but it's not the only slice. Your city, county, and any special districts can still raise the taxable amount tied to your rising appraisal, even if your school taxes stay flat. Understanding exactly what's frozen, what's not, and how your appraised value still factors into your overall tax picture can save you from either a nasty surprise or, just as often, from leaving money on the table because you assumed you were already maxed out on savings. This is especially relevant right now, as appraisals across McKinney and the rest of Collin County have continued rising with home values in neighborhoods like Eldorado Heights, Southgate, and the older sections near downtown. Whether you've had this exemption for years or just turned 65 and haven't filed yet, it's worth taking a closer look at how the freeze actually functions, what changes trigger a reset, and what other exemptions might be stacking on top of it. Let's break down what's really happening on your CCAD statement.
What the Over-65 School Tax Freeze Actually Does
The over-65 school tax ceiling freezes the dollar amount you pay in school district taxes at the level from the year you qualified, assuming you've filed the exemption with the Collin Central Appraisal District. Even if your home's appraised value rises after that, your school tax bill generally won't increase above that frozen amount, with a few specific exceptions.
That's a real, meaningful benefit. School taxes typically make up the biggest chunk of a Collin County property tax bill, so locking that number in place protects a large portion of your total obligation from future appraisal increases.
What It Does Not Freeze
Here's where the confusion usually starts. The freeze does not apply to:
- City of McKinney taxes
- Collin County taxes
- Any special districts or assessments tied to your property
- Your home's appraised value itself, which can still rise every year
So while your school tax number holds steady, your city and county tax bills can still climb as your appraisal increases, since those entities aren't bound by the same ceiling. Homeowners in McKinney sometimes see their overall bill go up even with the freeze in place, simply because the non-school portions are doing the heavy lifting.
When the Freeze Can Reset or Change
A few situations can adjust your frozen amount even after it's locked in:
- New construction or significant improvements to the home can add value that isn't covered by the freeze, raising the ceiling.
- Moving to a new home means the freeze doesn't automatically transfer at the same dollar amount, though Texas law allows you to port a percentage of your tax ceiling to a new qualifying homestead.
- Tax rate changes by the school district can, in rare cases, still affect the calculation depending on how the ceiling was originally set.
If you're considering a move within Collin County, whether that's downsizing within McKinney or relocating to a 55+ community, it's worth running the numbers before you assume your tax situation will look identical at the new address. We've written about this tradeoff in more detail in our post on downsizing into a 55+ community versus staying put.
Why Your Appraisal Still Matters Even With the Freeze
Collin County appraisals have risen substantially over the past several years, and that trend affects every homeowner's notice, frozen school taxes or not. Your appraised value still determines your city and county tax bills, and it's also the baseline used if you ever add improvements or move.
It's also worth remembering that a frozen tax amount is not the same as a frozen appraisal. You can, and should, still review your notice of appraised value each year and consider protesting if it seems out of line with comparable homes in your part of McKinney or the surrounding Collin County market. A lower appraisal helps your non-frozen tax entities even if it doesn't change your school bill.
Stacking Exemptions to Maximize Savings
The over-65 exemption often works alongside other exemptions that many longtime homeowners forget to check or update, including:
- The general residence homestead exemption
- An additional over-65 exemption amount on top of the standard homestead exemption
- Disability exemptions, if applicable, though you generally can't claim both over-65 and disability at once
If you've lived in your McKinney home for years and never revisited your CCAD account, there's a real chance you're either missing an exemption you qualify for or misunderstanding how much protection you actually have. The details matter, and they're easy to overlook when you're just glancing at a tax bill once a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the over-65 freeze apply automatically once I turn 65?
No. You need to file an application with the Collin Central Appraisal District to establish your over-65 exemption and freeze. It's not applied automatically just because of your age, so if you haven't filed, you could be missing out on savings you're already entitled to.
Can my city or county taxes still go up even with the school freeze in place?
Yes. The freeze only locks your school district tax amount. City of McKinney and Collin County taxes are based on your current appraised value and can rise as your home's value increases.
What happens to my freeze if I sell and buy another home in Collin County?
The specific dollar freeze doesn't move with you, but Texas law allows you to transfer a percentage of your tax ceiling to a new qualifying homestead, which can meaningfully reduce your school taxes at the new property. It's worth confirming the exact numbers with the appraisal district before you list your current home.
Property tax rules can be dense, and small details in your CCAD file can mean real dollars either saved or missed. Let's check your CCAD exemptions together and see whether your over-65 freeze is actually saving you money. Reach out to Jane Clark with Keller Williams McKinney, and let's make sure your tax picture reflects everything you're entitled to in McKinney and Collin County.
