§PlainStatute

Money & Debt · Homestead (property tax)

Homestead Property-Tax Exemption by State

How much the homestead exemption cuts the property-tax bill on an owner-occupied home, for each state. This is the tax break, not the creditor protection. Cited to the statute.

6 of 50 states published. 6 verified against the official statute or state tax agency.The mechanism differs by state: a flat value reduction, a two-tier reduction, a school-tax credit, or a district-set exclusion. You almost always have to apply.

Read this first: two different homesteads

The word homestead covers two unrelated protections. This page is the property-tax break that lowers your annual bill. The other homestead, creditor protection, shields your home equity from a judgment creditor. If you want a lower tax bill, you are in the right place; if you are worried about a lawsuit or bankruptcy, see the creditor page.

On the tax side the mechanism is not the same everywhere. California, Texas, and Illinois knock a flat amount off assessed value. Florida uses two tiers plus an assessment cap. New York delivers relief through STAR, mostly as a credit check for school taxes. Pennsylvania lets each school district set its own exclusion. And in nearly every state you have to apply, unlike the creditor homestead, which is usually automatic.

Pick your state

The benefit, the mechanism, and whether you must apply on each card.

What these pages are, and what they aren't

Each state page is a reference for the homestead property-tax benefit and how to claim it. They are deliberately not advice for your bill: these figures change often and vary by locality, so each page links to the statute or tax agency. This is general information, not tax or legal advice.