Texas Statutes
Subchapter B. Exemptions
Section 11.18. Charitable Organizations

Sec. 11.18. CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS. (a) An organization that qualifies as a charitable organization as provided by this section is entitled to an exemption from taxation of:
(1) the buildings and tangible personal property that:
(A) are owned by the charitable organization; and
(B) except as permitted by Subsection (b), are used exclusively by qualified charitable organizations; and
(2) the real property owned by the charitable organization consisting of:
(A) an incomplete improvement that:
(i) is under active construction or other physical preparation; and
(ii) is designed and intended to be used exclusively by qualified charitable organizations; and
(B) the land on which the incomplete improvement is located that will be reasonably necessary for the use of the improvement by qualified charitable organizations.
(b) Use of exempt property by persons who are not charitable organizations qualified as provided by this section does not result in the loss of an exemption authorized by this section if the use is incidental to use by qualified charitable organizations and limited to activities that benefit the beneficiaries of the charitable organizations that own or use the property.
(c) To qualify as a charitable organization for the purposes of this section, an organization, whether operated by an individual, or as a corporation, foundation, trust, or association, must meet the applicable requirements of Subsections (d), (e), (f), and (g).
(d) A charitable organization must be organized exclusively to perform religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes and, except as permitted by Subsections (h) and (l), engage exclusively in performing one or more of the following charitable functions:
(1) providing medical care without regard to the beneficiaries' ability to pay, which in the case of a nonprofit hospital or hospital system means providing charity care and community benefits in accordance with Section 11.1801;
(2) providing support or relief to orphans, delinquent, dependent, or handicapped children in need of residential care, abused or battered spouses or children in need of temporary shelter, the impoverished, or victims of natural disaster without regard to the beneficiaries' ability to pay;
(3) providing support without regard to the beneficiaries' ability to pay to:
(A) elderly persons, including the provision of:
(i) recreational or social activities; and
(ii) facilities designed to address the special needs of elderly persons; or
(B) the handicapped, including training and employment:
(i) in the production of commodities; or
(ii) in the provision of services under 41 U.S.C. Sections 8501-8506;
(4) preserving a historical landmark or site;
(5) promoting or operating a museum, zoo, library, theater of the dramatic or performing arts, or symphony orchestra or choir;
(6) promoting or providing humane treatment of animals;
(7) acquiring, storing, transporting, selling, or distributing water for public use;
(8) answering fire alarms and extinguishing fires with no compensation or only nominal compensation to the members of the organization;
(9) promoting the athletic development of boys or girls under the age of 18 years;
(10) preserving or conserving wildlife;
(11) promoting educational development through loans or scholarships to students;
(12) providing halfway house services pursuant to a certification as a halfway house by the parole division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice;
(13) providing permanent housing and related social, health care, and educational facilities for persons who are 62 years of age or older without regard to the residents' ability to pay;
(14) promoting or operating an art gallery, museum, or collection, in a permanent location or on tour, that is open to the public;
(15) providing for the organized solicitation and collection for distributions through gifts, grants, and agreements to nonprofit charitable, education, religious, and youth organizations that provide direct human, health, and welfare services;
(16) performing biomedical or scientific research or biomedical or scientific education for the benefit of the public;
(17) operating a television station that produces or broadcasts educational, cultural, or other public interest programming and that receives grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting under 47 U.S.C. Section 396, as amended;
(18) providing housing for low-income and moderate-income families, for unmarried individuals 62 years of age or older, for handicapped individuals, and for families displaced by urban renewal, through the use of trust assets that are irrevocably and, pursuant to a contract entered into before December 31, 1972, contractually dedicated on the sale or disposition of the housing to a charitable organization that performs charitable functions described by Subdivision (9);
(19) providing housing and related services to persons who are 62 years of age or older in a retirement community, if the retirement community provides independent living services, assisted living services, and nursing services to its residents on a single campus:
(A) without regard to the residents' ability to pay; or
(B) in which at least four percent of the retirement community's combined net resident revenue is provided in charitable care to its residents;
(20) providing housing on a cooperative basis to students of an institution of higher education if:
(A) the organization is exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(a), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, by being listed as an exempt entity under Section 501(c)(3) of that code;
(B) membership in the organization is open to all students enrolled in the institution and is not limited to those chosen by current members of the organization;
(C) the organization is governed by its members; and
(D) the members of the organization share the responsibility for managing the housing;
(21) acquiring, holding, and transferring unimproved real property under an urban land bank demonstration program established under Chapter 379C, Local Government Code, as or on behalf of a land bank;
(22) acquiring, holding, and transferring unimproved real property under an urban land bank program established under Chapter 379E, Local Government Code, as or on behalf of a land bank;
(23) providing housing and related services to individuals who:
(A) are unaccompanied and homeless and have a disabling condition; and
(B) have been continuously homeless for a year or more or have had at least four episodes of homelessness in the preceding three years;
(24) operating a radio station that broadcasts educational, cultural, or other public interest programming, including classical music, and that in the preceding five years has received or been selected to receive one or more grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting under 47 U.S.C. Section 396, as amended; or
(25) providing, without regard to the beneficiaries' ability to pay, tax return preparation services and assistance with other financial matters.
(e) A charitable organization must be operated in a way that does not result in accrual of distributable profits, realization of private gain resulting from payment of compensation in excess of a reasonable allowance for salary or other compensation for services rendered, or realization of any other form of private gain and, if the organization performs one or more of the charitable functions specified by Subsection (d) other than a function specified by Subdivision (1), (2), (8), (9), (12), (16), or (18), be organized as a nonprofit corporation as defined by the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act (Article 1396-1.01 et seq., Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes).
(f) A charitable organization must:
(1) use its assets in performing the organization's charitable functions or the charitable functions of another charitable organization; and
(2) by charter, bylaw, or other regulation adopted by the organization to govern its affairs direct that on discontinuance of the organization by dissolution or otherwise:
(A) the assets are to be transferred to this state, the United States, or an educational, religious, charitable, or other similar organization that is qualified as a charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; or
(B) if required for the organization to qualify as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(12), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the assets are to be transferred directly to the organization's members, each of whom, by application for an acceptance of membership in the organization, has agreed to immediately transfer those assets to this state or to an educational, religious, charitable, or other similar organization that is qualified as a charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, as designated in the bylaws, charter, or regulation adopted by the organization.
(g) A charitable organization that performs a charitable function specified by Subsection (d)(15) must:
(1) be affiliated with a state or national organization that authorizes, approves, or sanctions volunteer charitable fundraising organizations;
(2) qualify for exemption under Section 501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;
(3) be governed by a volunteer board of directors; and
(4) distribute contributions to at least five other associations to be used for general charitable purposes, with all recipients meeting the following criteria:
(A) be governed by a volunteer board of directors;
(B) qualify for exemption under Section 501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;
(C) receive a majority of annual revenue from private or corporate charitable gifts and government agencies; and
(D) provide services without regard to the ability of persons receiving the services to pay for the services.
(h) Performance of noncharitable functions by a charitable organization that owns or uses exempt property does not result in loss of an exemption authorized by this section if those other functions are incidental to the organization's charitable functions. The division of responsibilities between an organization that qualifies as a charitable organization under Subsection (c) and another organization will not disqualify the organizations or any property owned or used by either organization from receiving an exemption under this section if the collaboration furthers the provision of one or more of the charitable functions described in Subsection (d) and if the other organization:
(1) is exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(a), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as an organization described by Section 501(c)(3) of that code;
(2) meets the criteria for a charitable organization under Subsections (e) and (f); and
(3) is under common control with the charitable organization described in this subsection.
(i) In this section, "building" includes the land that is reasonably necessary for use of, access to, and ornamentation of the building.
(j) The exemption of an organization preserving or conserving wildlife is limited to land and improvements and may not exceed 1,000 acres in any one county.
(k) In connection with a nursing home or retirement community, for purposes of Subsection (d):
(1) "Assisted living services" means responsible adult supervision of or assistance with routine living functions of an individual in instances where the individual's condition necessitates that supervision or assistance.
(2) "Charity care," "government-sponsored indigent health care," and "net resident revenue" are determined in the same manner for a retirement community or nursing home as for a hospital under Section 11.1801(a)(2).
(3) "Nursing care services" includes services provided by nursing personnel, including patient observation, the promotion and maintenance of health, prevention of illness or disability, guidance and counseling to individuals and families, and referral of patients to physicians, other health care providers, or community resources if appropriate.
(4) "Retirement community" means a collection of various types of housing that are under common ownership and designed for habitation by individuals over the age of 62.
(5) "Single campus" means a facility designed to provide multiple levels of retirement housing that is geographically situated on a site at which all levels of housing are contiguous to each other on a single property.
(l) A charitable organization described by Subsection (d)(3) that provides support to elderly persons must engage primarily in performing charitable functions described by Subsection (d)(3), but may engage in other activities that support or are related to its charitable functions.
(m) A property may not be exempted under Subsection (a)(2) for more than three years.
(n) For purposes of Subsection (a)(2), an incomplete improvement is under physical preparation if the charitable organization has:
(1) engaged in architectural or engineering work, soil testing, land clearing activities, or site improvement work necessary for the construction of the improvement; or
(2) conducted an environmental or land use study relating to the construction of the improvement.
(o) For purposes of Subsection (a)(2), real property acquired, held, and transferred by an organization that performs the function described by Subsection (d)(21) or (22) is considered to be used exclusively by the qualified charitable organization to perform that function.
(p) The exemption authorized by Subsection (d)(23) applies only to property that:
(1) is owned by a charitable organization that has been in existence for at least:
(A) 20 years if the property is located in a county described by Subdivision (4)(A); or
(B) two years if the property is located in a municipality described by Subdivision (4)(B);
(2) is located on a tract of land that:
(A) is at least 15 acres in size; and
(B) was either:
(i) owned by the organization on July 1, 2021; or
(ii) acquired by donation and owned by the organization on January 1, 2023;
(3) is used to provide permanent housing and related services to individuals described by that subsection; and
(4) is located in:
(A) a county with a population of more than one million and less than 1.5 million; or
(B) a municipality with a population of more than 100,000 and less than 150,000 at least part of which is located in a county with a population of less than 5,000.
(p-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a)(1), the exemption authorized by Subsection (d)(23) applies to real property regardless of whether the real property is considered to constitute a building within the meaning of this section.
(q) Real property owned by a charitable organization and leased to an institution of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, is exempt from taxation to the same extent as the property would be exempt if the property were owned by the institution.
Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2236, ch. 841, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1980. Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., 1st C.S., p. 127, ch. 13, Sec. 33, eff. Jan. 1, 1982; Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 2207, ch. 412, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984; Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 960, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986; Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 430, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1988; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 407, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 360, Sec. 5, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 471, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1996; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 781, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 715, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1039, Sec. 7, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1411, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 138, Sec. 1, eff. May 18, 1999; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 266, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 924, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1443, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 18.001(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 288, Sec. 1.01, eff. June 18, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 288, Sec. 2.01, eff. Jan. 1, 2006.
Amended by:
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1034 (H.B. 1742), Sec. 13, eff. September 1, 2007.
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1341 (S.B. 1908), Sec. 34, eff. September 1, 2007.
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 87 (S.B. 1969), Sec. 22.002, eff. September 1, 2009.
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1246 (S.B. 2442), Sec. 1, eff. January 1, 2010.
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1246 (S.B. 2442), Sec. 2, eff. January 1, 2010.
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1314 (H.B. 2628), Sec. 1, eff. January 1, 2010.
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1314 (H.B. 2628), Sec. 2, eff. January 1, 2010.
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 91 (S.B. 1303), Sec. 23.001, eff. September 1, 2011.
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 91 (S.B. 1303), Sec. 27.001(55), eff. September 1, 2011.
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1163 (H.B. 2702), Sec. 113, eff. September 1, 2011.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 849 (H.B. 294), Sec. 1, eff. January 1, 2014.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1123 (S.B. 1345), Sec. 1, eff. January 1, 2018.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 628 (H.B. 115), Sec. 1, eff. January 1, 2022.

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