How long does it take to process a homestead exemption application? It can take up to 90 days to process a homestead exemption application.How Do I Apply for an Exemption and Fill out a Homestead Exemption Form? First, fill out the application specific to your County Appraisal District, then mail all of the documents to the Appraisal District for your county. In most cases, the homeowner is simply given a filled-out property tax homestead exemption application form from the firm that is conducting the solicitation. It is FREE to apply for the General Homestead Exemption. Visit the Travis Central Appraisal District website to complete the application online. This video covers how to fill out Texas Residential Homestead Exemption with a focus on Bexar County. You must live in the home to qualify for the tax break. Up to 20 acres of land may also qualify for homestead exemption, assuming it remains in use for noncommercial purposes.