Montana · 2026
Montana 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary-residence rate relief | Declare per DOR instructions | Recent legislation gives owner-occupied primary residences a lower effective tax rate structure than second homes and rentals — applied through the DOR's homestead declaration process |
| Elderly homeowner/renter credit | Claimed on the Montana income tax return | A refundable income-tax credit up to about $1,150 for Montanans 62+ under income limits — homeowners and renters alike |
| Disabled veteran assistance (MDV) | Annual application with the DOR (spring) | Rate reductions for 100% disabled veterans and unremarried surviving spouses under income limits |
65 or older?
Start with the Elderly homeowner/renter credit — A refundable income-tax credit up to about $1,150 for Montanans 62+ under income limits — homeowners and renters alike. Deadline: Claimed on the Montana income tax return.
Comparing states? Every state's senior program is in the senior property tax exemptions by state table.
How to file
Primary-residence rate relief: File the primary-residence declaration with the Montana DOR when prompted.
Elderly homeowner/renter credit: File Form 2EC with the state return.
Disabled veteran assistance (MDV): File the MDV application 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 Montana.
Common questions
- Does Montana have a senior property tax exemption?
- Yes — Elderly homeowner/renter credit. A refundable income-tax credit up to about $1,150 for Montanans 62+ under income limits — homeowners and renters alike. Deadline: Claimed on the Montana income tax return.
- Do Montana 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:
- Montana DOR — informal review and formal appeal process — checked 2026-08-12
- Montana DOR — Form AB-26 — checked 2026-08-12
- Gallatin County — tax appeal information — checked 2026-08-12