Montana property tax exemptions can lower your bill — there are breaks for owner-occupants, seniors, veterans, and homeowners with disabilities, and many people who qualify never claim them. That is money left on the table every year. Below are the Montana property tax exemptions that exist, who qualifies, and how to apply. Amounts and income limits change over time and some are set locally, so treat each figure as a
starting point and confirm the current number with your local assessor.
Montana Property Tax at a Glance
| Homestead & Primary-Residence Relief | Available — see below |
| Senior Relief (Age 65+) | Available — see below |
| Veteran & Disabled-Veteran Relief | Available — see below |
| Disability Relief | Available — see below |
Verified from official state and county sources.
In This Montana Guide:
Montana Property Tax Exemptions & Relief
An exemption lowers the value your tax is figured on (or, in some states, gives you a credit or caps how fast your value can rise) — so the same tax rate produces a smaller bill. Here is each of the Montana property tax exemptions available to homeowners.
Relief does not look the same everywhere. Some states knock a flat dollar amount off your home’s value; others give a credit on the tax itself, cap how much your assessed value can rise each year, or freeze the bill for qualifying seniors. A few offer an income-based rebate instead of a value exemption. The point is the same — a lower bill for people who qualify — but the
form differs, so read each program below for how it actually works rather than assuming it is a simple dollar discount.
Homestead & Primary-Residence Relief
Montana has no traditional homestead exemption. Instead the state offers targeted relief: the Property Tax Assistance Program (PTAP) reduces the tax RATE on the first ~$418,000 of a primary residence’s value for lower-income owners, and there is a disabled-veteran program and an elderly credit (below). A 2025 reform (HB 231) also created a lower ‘homestead’ tax rate for primary residences vs second homes.
How much / how it works: No flat exemption; PTAP cuts the tax rate (by 30%, 50%, or 80%) on the first ~$418,000 of value for income-qualified owners. Confirm with the Montana Dept of Revenue.
Senior Relief (Age 65+)
Elderly Homeowner/Renter Credit: a refundable income-tax credit up to ~$1,150 for residents 62+ with household income under ~$45,000 (claimed on the Montana income-tax return). Lower-income seniors may also qualify for PTAP’s tax-rate reduction. Montana has no separate senior property exemption.
How much / how it works: Refundable credit up to ~$1,150 (62+, income under ~$45,000). Confirm with the Montana Dept of Revenue.
Veteran & Disabled-Veteran Relief
Montana Disabled Veterans (MDV) Assistance Program: reduces the property tax RATE on the home (by 50%, 70%, 80%, or 100% depending on income) for a veteran with a 100% service-connected disability, and unremarried surviving spouses. Apply with the Montana Dept of Revenue by April 15; income and ownership are checked yearly.
How much / how it works: Cuts the tax rate 50-100% based on income (100% disability required). Confirm with the Montana Dept of Revenue.
Disability Relief
Totally disabled homeowners can qualify for PTAP’s income-based tax-rate reduction regardless of age (30%, 50%, or 80% off the rate on the first ~$418,000 of value).
How much / how it works: PTAP rate reduction (income-based). Confirm with the Montana Dept of Revenue.
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Not sure which Montana breaks you qualify for?
How to Apply for Montana Property Tax Exemptions
Montana property tax exemptions are almost never automatic — you have to file for them, usually with your local assessor, and usually by a set date each year. Apply once for most breaks and they carry forward, but a few (like some senior or income-based programs) must be renewed. If you just bought your home, or just turned 65, or your disability or veteran status changed, that is the moment
to file.
Even one missed exemption can cost hundreds of dollars a year, so it is worth ten minutes to check.
Don’t want to appeal your Montana taxes yourself? A property tax appeal service can file everything for you and usually only charges if it wins — typically a share of what it saves you. It is one option; you can also appeal on your own for free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Montana property tax exemptions are available?
Montana has relief for owner-occupants (homestead), seniors 65+, veterans and disabled veterans, and homeowners with disabilities. The details, amounts, and income limits are covered above — and each is worth checking, because they can stack.
Who qualifies for a homestead exemption in Montana?
Generally an owner who lives in the home as their primary residence. Exact rules — and whether the state uses a dollar exemption, a credit, or an assessment cap — are described in the homestead section above.
How do I apply for Montana property tax exemptions?
File the application with your local assessor, usually by a set date each year. Most exemptions carry forward once approved; some must be renewed. Confirm the current form and deadline with your assessor.
Can I claim more than one of the Montana property tax exemptions?
Often yes — for example a homestead break plus a senior or veteran break — though some programs interact. The sections above note where that applies; your assessor can confirm what stacks.
Montana Property Tax Sources & Data
- Tax Foundation — Property Taxes by State & County: taxfoundation.org
- U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey): census.gov/acs
- Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (property tax data): lincolninst.edu
Exemption details for Montana on this page were verified from official Montana state and county sources and last
checked in July 2026. Amounts, income limits, and deadlines change and many are set locally — confirm the current
figures and forms with your local assessor before you rely on them.
More Property Tax Guides
- Property Tax Rates by State
- Property Tax by County
- Are You Overpaying? Over-Assessment Checker
- Property Tax Exemption Finder
Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Know Property Tax is an independent educational resource. It is not a government agency, not a county assessor, and not a tax-appeal service. Property tax rates, bills, exemptions, and deadlines change over time and vary by county and property. Confirm anything that affects your taxes with your county assessor or a licensed professional before you act.