Delaware · 2026
Delaware property tax exemptions
✓ Verified August 2026 against official county pages — 3 sources linked below.
Exemptions lower the value your taxes are figured on — for most homeowners they're the easiest money on this page. Nearly every one has a filing date, though, and missing it usually costs you a year. The statewide programs and their deadlines are below; many counties and cities layer their own versions on top.
| Exemption | Deadline to file | What it's worth |
|---|---|---|
| Senior School Property Tax Credit | Apply by April 30 through your county | 50% off school property taxes (up to the statutory cap) for homeowners 65+ meeting Delaware residency requirements |
| County senior & disability exemptions | County application windows (spring) | Each county adds income-tested exemptions for seniors and disabled homeowners on the county portion |
| Disabled veteran school credit | Apply through the county | A full credit against school taxes for qualifying veterans with 100% service-connected permanent disability |
65 or older?
Start with the Senior School Property Tax Credit — 50% off school property taxes (up to the statutory cap) for homeowners 65+ meeting Delaware residency requirements. Deadline: Apply by April 30 through your county.
Comparing states? Every state's senior program is in the senior property tax exemptions by state table.
How to file
Senior School Property Tax Credit: One-time application with the county; the credit then renews.
County senior & disability exemptions: Apply through your county's assessment office.
Disabled veteran school credit: File with VA documentation.
Amounts and dates above are the statewide baseline — where counties or cities run their own versions, the local deadline and paperwork can differ. Confirm with your county assessor before relying on a date.
Exempted and still think the bill is high? The next lever is the value itself: how to appeal in Delaware.
Common questions
- Does Delaware have a senior property tax exemption?
- Yes — Senior School Property Tax Credit. 50% off school property taxes (up to the statutory cap) for homeowners 65+ meeting Delaware residency requirements. Deadline: Apply by April 30 through your county.
- Do Delaware exemptions apply automatically?
- Most don't — nearly every program starts with an application, and some must be renewed. Missing the filing window usually means waiting a year, so if you live in the home you own, check what you've claimed before anything else. Confirm details with your county assessor.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from an official page. Check them yourself:
- Delaware Dept. of Finance — senior school property tax relief — checked 2026-08-12
- New Castle County — reassessment updates — checked 2026-08-12
- Sussex County — senior school tax credit — checked 2026-08-12