How to File for Your Homestead Exemptions

Application for Homestead Exemption
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General Residential Homestead Exemption

Land and a house (improvements) must meet the test of residential occupancy.
One house may use one lot, another may use one acre, another three acres and
so on. However, no homestead exemption may be granted on more land than is
being used as a residence. In other words, a residence homestead is
basically a home and a yard. To qualify, the property must be designed or
adapted for human residence and the homeowner must own the property on
January 1 of the year application is made. The person claiming the exemption
must reside at the property on January 1 and cannot claim a homestead
exemption on any other property. In addition, a homestead exemption may not
be claimed by a spouse on other property.

Over-65 Homestead Exemption

You will qualify for this exemption on the date you become age 65. This
exemption includes a school tax limitation, or ceiling. You must submit
proof of age. Acceptable proof includes a copy of the front side of your
driver-s license, or a copy of your birth certificate. You may not receive
both this exemption and the Disability Exemption. If you qualify for both
exemptions, you must choose one. The Over-65 Exemption is generally the
better choice, since it qualifies for a school tax ceiling. In addition the
Over-65 Exemptions and the school tax ceiling may be transferred to another
property if you change your primary residential status to that property.

Disability Homestead Exemption

You must meet all of the qualifications for the General Residential
Homestead Exemption outlined above and you must be under a disability for
the purposes of payment of disability benefits under the Federal Old-Age,
Survivor-s and Disability Insurance Act. Or, you must have met the
definition of disabled in that act on January 1 of the year for which you
are applying. You must submit proof of disability which includes a current
printout from Social Security showing that you are disabled and the date on
which your disability began. You may also submit a current letter of
verification from your physician stating that you are disabled, giving the
date your disability began, and that you are unable to engage in any
substantial gainful work for a period which has lasted or can be expected to
last for a continuous period of a year or more. You may not receive both
this exemption and the Over-65 Exemption.

Over-55 Surviving Spouse of a Person Who Received The Over-65 Exemptions

If qualified, you will receive an extension of your spouse's Over-65
exemptions and the school tax ceiling. In order to qualify, your deceased
spouse must have been receiving the Over-65 Exemption on this residence
homestead or would have applied and qualified before the spouse-s death. You
must have been 55 years of age or older on the date your spouse died and
death must have occurred on or after December 1, 1987. You must submit proof
of age and proof of death of your spouse.