Guide
Bought a home mid-year? When your homestead exemption starts
Published
In 13 of 24 states with a set date, you must own and live in the home on January 1 to get that year's homestead exemption, including Florida and Georgia. Buy after the date and you usually wait until the next tax year, though some states prorate.
The date you must own the home, by state
| State | Own and live there by | Then file by |
|---|---|---|
| California | January 1 | February 15 |
| Colorado | January 1 | July 15 |
| Delaware | June 30 | April 30 |
| Florida | January 1 | March 1 |
| Georgia | January 1 | April 1 |
| Indiana | January 1 | January 15 |
| Iowa | July 1 | July 1 |
| Kentucky | January 1 | Not confirmed |
| Maine | April 1 | April 1 |
| Maryland | July 1 | Not confirmed |
| Minnesota | December 31 | December 31 |
| Mississippi | January 1 | April 1 |
| Nebraska | January 1 | June 30 |
| New Hampshire | April 1 | April 15 |
| New Jersey | October 1 | Not confirmed |
| New York | July 1 | Not confirmed |
| North Carolina | January 1 | June 1 |
| Ohio | January 1 | December 31 |
| Oklahoma | January 1 | March 15 |
| Rhode Island | December 31 (Providence) | March 15 (Providence) |
| Texas | January 1 | April 30 |
| Utah | January 1 | Not confirmed |
| Vermont | April 1 | April 15 |
| Washington | December 31 | Not confirmed |
Texas is an exception
Yes. If the previous owner did not get the same exemption for that year, you can receive it for the part of the year after you qualify.
Check the seller's exemption
Your first tax bill may still carry the seller's exemption. That can make the bill look low until the exemption drops off, so budget for the full amount the following year.
State and county guides in this article
- CACalifornia$7,000 off assessed value
- COColoradoNo general exemption
- DEDelawareNo general exemption
- FLFlorida$50,000 off assessed value
- GAGeorgia$2,000 off assessed value
- INIndiana$40,000 off assessed value
- IAIowa10% of value
- KYKentuckyNo general exemption
- MEMaine$25,000 off market value
- MDMaryland10% assessment cap
- MNMinnesota$38,000 off market value
- MSMississippi$300 tax credit
- NENebraskaNo general exemption
- NHNew HampshireNo general exemption
- NJNew JerseyNo general exemption
- NYNew York$30,000 off market value
- NCNorth CarolinaNo general exemption
- OHOhioNo general exemption
- OKOklahoma$1,000 off assessed value
- RIRhode IslandNo general exemption
- TXTexas$140,000 off assessed value
- UTUtah45% of value
- VTVermontNo general exemption
- WAWashingtonNo general exemption
Figures come from the official sources linked on each state and county page. Rules change, so confirm with the official source before you file.