A charitable organization may get a property tax exemption for qualifying property if it meets the stated requirements and uses the property for the specified low-income housing purpose.
Sec. 11.181. CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS IMPROVING PROPERTY FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSING. (a) An organization is entitled to an exemption from taxation of improved or unimproved real property it owns if the organization: (1) meets the requirements of a charitable organization provided by Sections 11.18(e) and (f); (2) owns the property for the purpose of building or repairing housing on the property primarily with volunteer labor to sell without profit to an individual or family satisfying the organization's low-income and other eligibility requirements; and (3) engages exclusively in the building, repair, and sale of housing as described by Subdivision (2), and related activities. (b) Property may not be exempted under Subsection (a) after the fifth anniversary of the date the organization acquires the property. Property that received an exemption under Section 11.1825 and that was subsequently transferred by the organization described by that section that qualified for the exemption to an organization described by this section may not be exempted under Subsection (a) after the fifth anniversary of the date the transferring organization acquired the property. (c) An organization entitled to an exemption under Subsection (a) is also entitled to an exemption from taxation of any building or tangible personal property the organization owns and uses in the administration of its acquisition, building, repair, or sale of property. To qualify for an exemption under this subsection, property must be used exclusively by the charitable organization, except that another individual or organization may use the property for activities incidental to the charitable organization's use that benefit the beneficiaries of the charitable organization. (d) For the purposes of Subsection (e), the chief appraiser shall determine the market value of property exempted under Subsection (a) and shall record the market value in the appraisal records. (e) If the organization that owns improved or unimproved real property that has been exempted under Subsection (a) sells the property to a person other than an individual or family satisfying the organization's low-income or other eligibility requirements, a penalty is imposed on the property equal to the amount of the taxes that would have been imposed on the property in each tax year that the property was exempted from taxation under Subsection (a), plus interest at an annual rate of 12 percent calculated from the dates on which the taxes would have become due. (f) The charitable organization and the purchaser of the property from that organization are jointly and severally liable for the penalty and interest imposed under Subsection (e). A tax lien in favor of all taxing units for which the penalty is imposed attaches to the property to secure payment of the penalty and interest. (g) The chief appraiser shall make an entry in the appraisal records for the property against which a penalty under Subsection (e) is imposed and shall deliver written notice of the imposition of the penalty and interest to the charitable organization and to the person who purchased the property from that organization. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 345, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1994. Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1137 (H.B. 2555), Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1309 (H.B. 3133), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2011.