Property Tax Exemption for Seniors

A property-tax exemption is available to senior citizens, surviving spouses of senior citizens, and one hundred percent disabled veterans.  For those who qualify, 50 percent of the first $200,000 in actual value of their primary residence is exempted from property taxation.  The state pays the exempted portion of the property tax. 

The Property Tax Exemption for seniors and one hundred percent disabled veterans is administered by the Department of Local Affairs, but the Treasurer's office is responsible for the distribution of state funds to counties representing the amount issued in exemptions. 

Requirements for Eligibility, Seniors 

• Applicant must be a senior who is 65 or older or a surviving spouse of a senior who previously qualified for the exemption.
• Applicant must have owned and occupied the property as their primary residence for ten or more years.
• Fifty percent of the first $200,000 in actual property value is exempt from property taxation.

Requirements for Eligibility, Veterans

• Applicant must be a one hundred percent permanent disabled veteran who has been rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as permanently disabled. (VA unemployability awards do not meet the requirement for determining an applicant's eligibility.)
• Applicant must have owned and occupied the property as their primary residence on January 1st of the year in which they are applying for the exemption. (If the veteran's spouse is an owner and the veteran is not, the veteran can still qualify if the couple was married on or before January 1 and both have occupied the property as their primary residence since January 1.)
• Fifty percent of the first $200,000 in actual property value is exempt from property taxation.

Procedure, Seniors

• Seniors and/or surviving spouses who qualify for the property tax exemption must submit an application to their county assessors between January 1st and July 15th of the year you qualify.
• The state Treasurer's office distributes state funds to the county where the exempted property is located.

Procedure, Disabled Veterans

• Disabled Veterans who qualify for the property tax exemption must submit an application to the Division of Veteran Affairs between January 1st and July 1st of the year you qualify.
• The state Treasurer's office distributes state funds to the county where the exempted property is located.