Overview of the Homestead Act. To qualify, you must own and reside in your home on January 1 of the year application is made and cannot claim a homestead exemption on any other property.Check List – Fill out the Homestead Declaration Form completely, sign it and have it notarized. GENERAL INFORMATION: Property owners applying for a residence homestead exemption file this form and supporting documentation with the appraisal district in. I'm going to show you how to file your homestead exemption in Dallas County Texas. You'll need to complete an application form, provide necessary documentation, and submit it to the appropriate authority. To apply for the exemption, homeowners must submit a completed application to their county appraisal district. Like the homestead exemption, only school districts are required to offer this exemption. The original document will be mailed to you within 4 to 6 weeks (after we complete the process of adding your document to our database for archival retention). Official website of the U.S. Social Security Administration.