SD · No general homestead exemption
South Dakota homestead exemption
South Dakota has no flat homestead exemption for all homeowners.
- Main exemption
- No general exemption
- Filing deadline
- Not in our data
- Own and live there by
- Not in our data
- Renewal
- Renews automatically
- Where to file
- County director of equalization
South Dakota has no flat homestead exemption for all homeowners. Instead, any owner who lives in their home can get the owner-occupied classification, which lowers the school general fund levy, and permanently and totally disabled veterans can exempt up to $200,000 of assessed value. Seniors and disabled owners also have an assessment freeze, a tax refund and a tax deferral.
Last verified · Sources
How much the South Dakota exemption is worth
South Dakota has no general homestead exemption for all homeowners. The relief that does exist is described below.
Who qualifies
- Owner-occupied classification: any South Dakotan who owns and occupies a home as their primary residence.
- Owners include joint tenants, life estate holders, contract-for-deed buyers and trust beneficiaries.
Deadline and renewal
Apply for owner-occupied classification through the county director of equalization or the Department of Revenue's online form. Senior and disabled relief programs are due to the county treasurer by April 1; the disabled veteran exemption is due to the county assessor by November 1.
Once approved, owner-occupied classification continues until the home is sold or its use changes. The freeze and deferral programs require yearly applications.
Extra breaks for seniors, veterans and disabled owners
| Who | Program | Amount | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seniors | Assessment freeze for the elderly and disabled | Not in our data | Reduces assessed value for owners 65+ or disabled with 5 years of residency. Income must be under $56,595 single or $66,885 multi-member, and homes worth $514,500 or more are not eligible for new applicants. File with the county treasurer by April 1 each year. Source |
| Seniors | Tax refund for senior and disabled citizens | Not in our data | A yearly income-based refund for residents 65+ or disabled with income of $17,215 or less living alone, or $23,265 or less for a household. Apply May 1 to July 1. Source |
| Seniors | Homestead exemption (tax deferral, 70+) | Not in our data | Owners 70+ or a surviving spouse can delay paying property taxes until the home is sold; the taxes plus interest become a lien. File with the county treasurer by April 1 each year. Source |
| Veterans | Disabled veteran exemption | $200,000 off assessed value | Exempts up to $200,000 of assessed value for a veteran rated permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability. Apply with the county assessor by November 1. Source |
| Disabled owners | Paraplegic veteran exemption | 100% of value | Exempts the home from all property taxes for a paraplegic veteran, a veteran with loss of use of both lower extremities, or their unremarried widow or widower, if the home is designed for wheelchair use. Source |
| Surviving spouses | Surviving spouse of a disabled veteran | $200,000 off assessed value | An unremarried surviving spouse who owns and occupies the home can keep the disabled veteran exemption. Source |
Law: SDCL 10-13-39
South Dakota county guides
County guides for South Dakota are not published yet. File with: County director of equalization.
Frequently asked questions
What does owner-occupied status do?
It lowers only the school general fund levy on your home. County, city and other levies are the same for all property.
Do I reapply every year for owner-occupied status?
No. It stays until the home is sold or its use changes.
Is South Dakota's 'homestead exemption' an exemption?
No. It is a deferral for owners 70+: taxes are delayed and become a lien with interest, paid when the home is sold.
When is the homestead exemption deadline in South Dakota?
Apply for owner-occupied classification through the county director of equalization or the Department of Revenue's online form. Senior and disabled relief programs are due to the county treasurer by April 1; the disabled veteran exemption is due to the county assessor by November 1.
Sources
- Property Tax Relief Programs · South Dakota Department of Revenue
- Owner-Occupied Classification tax fact · South Dakota Department of Revenue
- Freeze on Assessments brochure · South Dakota Department of Revenue
Last verified
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