The senior citizens homestead exemption
An additional reduction for owner-occupiers aged 65 or over. Some counties renew it automatically; some do not.
This is an additional exemption, on top of the general homestead exemption, for owner-occupiers who reach 65.
Who qualifies
An owner aged 65 or older during the tax year who occupies the property as their principal residence. It applies from the year the owner turns 65 — not the year after.
The application
It is not automatic on turning 65. Somebody has to apply, and the county has no way of knowing your birthday otherwise. Many people qualify for years before discovering it.
Renewal
Some counties require annual renewal, some renew automatically, and a few have changed practice recently. If your county sends a renewal card, returning it matters — an unreturned card is one of the most common causes of a bill jumping for no visible reason.
If the qualifying owner has died
The exemption does not transfer to a surviving spouse under 65. That is a real and common increase, and it is worth knowing in advance rather than discovering it on a bill.
Check with the assessor
Amounts differ between counties and change over time. The Supervisor of Assessments will tell you the current figure, whether you qualify, and whether prior years can be corrected.