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Reduce your 2025 property tax bill with these senior breaks
You do not have to keep paying full freight on your home. Almost every state offers targeted property tax relief for older homeowners, but many people never file. A few forms and the right timing can trim hundreds, sometimes thousands, from your 2025 bill.
Four kinds of relief most states offer
Exemptions. These reduce the taxable value of your home. Some are senior-specific and can stack on top of a standard homestead. Examples include senior homestead exemptions or senior school-tax exemptions adopted by your city or county.
Credits or “circuit breakers.” These are income-based tax credits that refund part of your property tax bill when it exceeds a set share of your income. States brand them differently, but the idea is similar.
Freezes or ceilings. These limit assessed value growth or freeze part of your bill once you qualify at a certain age or income.
Deferral or postponement. These let you postpone paying property taxes while you live in the home, with the state placing a lien that is repaid when you sell or from your estate. California’s statewide Property Tax Postponement is a good example.
Where to start: five widely used programs
Homeowners can receive the STAR credit for school taxes if household income is within the state limits, and Enhanced STAR provides a larger benefit for those 65 and older who meet the annual income test. You must own and occupy the home as your primary residence. Check the state’s delivery schedule and eligibility before you file.
If you are 65 or older or receive disability benefits, New Jersey reimburses the increase in your property taxes above the amount you paid in your base year, so your out-of-pocket cost is effectively “frozen.” For 2025, the state consolidated Senior Freeze, ANCHOR, and Stay NJ into one combined application. Payments began going out on a published schedule in July 2025.
Homeowners and renters who meet age and income rules can get a rebate, with amounts scaled by income and boosted in some cities. The state’s program is funded by the Lottery and gaming revenue, and the 2025 application window runs through December 31, 2025.
For 2025 and 2026, eligible seniors can receive a reduction equal to 50% of the first $200,000 of a primary residence’s value, and a special classification helps those who moved recently retain the benefit. County assessors administer applications on a defined timeline.
If you are 62 or older, blind, or have a disability and meet income and equity requirements, the State Controller can pay current-year property taxes on your principal residence and record a lien to be repaid later. Filings are annual, and the program is open statewide.
More states with real programs you can use
Below is a quick-scan list of active, senior-friendly relief types. Exact age, income, residency, and filing windows vary by state and sometimes by county or city. Always check with your local assessor.
Florida. Many counties adopt an additional senior homestead exemption on top of the standard homestead, and Save Our Homes caps assessed-value increases on homesteads.
Texas. An over-65 homestead exemption reduces school taxes, and a school tax ceiling prevents future school taxes from rising once you qualify. Local options may add more.
Massachusetts. The Senior Circuit Breaker is a refundable state income tax credit for those 65+ whose property tax or rent exceeds a percentage of income.
South Carolina. The statewide Homestead Exemption removes taxes on the first $50,000 of fair market value for a legal residence if you are 65+, disabled, or legally blind.
Ohio. The Homestead Exemption reduces taxable value for qualifying seniors and people with disabilities; counties explain how to file and the current value reductions.
Indiana. The long-standing Over-65 homestead deduction is transitioning into an Over-65 credit beginning with taxes due in 2026, with updated income rules set by the state.
Illinois. The Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption (often called the senior freeze) freezes your equalized assessed value once you qualify and renew annually. Income limits are set by statute and have been updated.
Minnesota. A statewide Senior Citizens Property Tax Deferral limits annual out-of-pocket property taxes to a percentage of household income for seniors who qualify.
Wisconsin. The Property Tax Deferral Loan through WHEDA offers loans to pay property taxes for eligible older homeowners, repaid when the property transfers.
Maryland. The Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit caps your tax bill as a percentage of income. The 2025 application is live through the state’s SDAT.
District of Columbia. Qualifying seniors with income under the District’s annual limit can receive 50% off their real property tax; the homestead deduction also reduces assessed value.
Arizona. Counties administer the Senior Property Valuation Protection Option that freezes taxable value for three years if you meet age, income, and residency rules.
Oregon and Maine. Both operate statewide deferral programs for seniors who meet income and equity criteria, with the state paying taxes and recording a lien.
New York beyond STAR. Many municipalities also offer a Senior Citizens Exemption that cuts general property taxes for 65+ homeowners within local income limits.
Tip: In several states, relief is local-option. Georgia, Virginia, and parts of Florida add senior exemptions or freezes by county or city. Check your county assessor’s website even if you already claim a standard homestead.
Deadlines, proof, and stacking rules
Applications often run on a calendar tied to assessment dates, not April 15. New York STAR benefit schedules, New Jersey’s combined PAS-1 filing, and Colorado’s senior exemption have different windows and deliver benefits at different times of the year. Filing on time and submitting all required proof of age, income, and residency is the difference between a lower bill and no relief this year.
Common mistakes that cost retirees money
Assuming the standard homestead is automatic for seniors
Moving houses and forgetting you may need to reapply
Missing income documentation or using the wrong year’s numbers
What this means for you
You likely qualify for something. Even moderate-income homeowners often meet the age and residency tests for at least one program in their state.
Programs can stack. A homestead plus a senior exemption plus a circuit breaker credit is common, as long as your state allows it.
Do it every year or when required. Some benefits renew automatically, others need annual or biennial renewal. Put a reminder in your calendar.
Quick 3-step checklist
Make a state-by-state short list. Start with your state website, then your county assessor’s page.
Collect documents. Photo ID, proof of occupancy, last year’s income documents, and your latest tax bill.
File before your window closes. If you moved recently, look for special portability or first-year rules.
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Nothing in this newsletter is financial advice. Always do your own research and think for yourself.