West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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.
West Virginia 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 West Virginia Guide:
West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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
Homestead Exemption – $20,000 off the assessed value of an owner-occupied primary residence for owners 65+ OR permanently and totally disabled, with NO income limit. Must have been a WV resident for two consecutive years. Apply with the county assessor between July 1 and December 1.
How much / how it works: $20,000 of assessed value exempt (at the 60% assessment ratio, about $33,333 of market value). Confirm with your county assessor.
Senior Relief (Age 65+)
The $20,000 Homestead Exemption IS West Virginia’s senior benefit (age 65+). Lower-income seniors who have the homestead exemption may also claim the refundable Senior Citizen Tax Credit and/or the Homestead Excess Property Tax Credit on their state income-tax return.
How much / how it works: $20,000 assessed-value exemption, plus income-based credits on the state return. Confirm with your county assessor / WV Tax Division.
Veteran & Disabled-Veteran Relief
Disabled Veteran Real Property Tax Credit (W.Va. Code 11-13MM, effective 2024) – a REFUNDABLE state income-tax credit equal to the property tax paid on the homestead of a qualifying disabled veteran. This replaced the older $20,000 homestead reduction for 100% disabled veterans. Claim on the WV income-tax return (Form DV-1). It cannot be combined with the Senior Citizen Tax Credit or the Homestead Excess credit.
How much / how it works: Credit equals the actual property tax paid on the homestead (can offset the full bill). Confirm eligibility (disability rating) with the WV Tax Division.
Disability Relief
The $20,000 Homestead Exemption also applies to any owner-occupant who is permanently and totally disabled (any age), with proof of disability. Same terms as the 65+ homestead.
How much / how it works: $20,000 of assessed value exempt. Confirm with your county assessor.
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Not sure which West Virginia breaks you qualify for?
How to Apply for West Virginia Property Tax Exemptions
West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia property tax exemptions are available?
West Virginia 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 West Virginia?
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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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.
West Virginia 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 West Virginia on this page were verified from official West Virginia 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.