Maryland 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 Maryland 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.
Maryland 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 Maryland Guide:
Maryland 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 Maryland 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 Tax Credit – not a value exemption but a CAP on how much your taxable assessment can rise each year (the state caps it at 10%; each county/municipality sets its own cap, from 0% to 10%). File a one-time application with SDAT to establish owner-occupancy, after which it applies automatically. Separately, the income-based Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit can sharply cut the bill (below).
How much / how it works: Caps the annual taxable-assessment increase (10% state cap; your county’s cap may be lower). Confirm your county’s cap with SDAT.
Senior Relief (Age 65+)
Maryland has no statewide senior value exemption, but the income-based Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit (‘circuit breaker’) caps property tax at a percentage of household income (can reduce the bill to zero) – apply annually to SDAT by October 1. Many counties also offer a local Senior Tax Credit (for example a 20% county-portion credit for owners 65+), with local income/value/tenure limits.
How much / how it works: Homeowners’ credit income limit about $60,000 with net worth under $200,000; local senior credits vary (often ~20% of the county portion). Confirm current limits with SDAT and your county.
Veteran & Disabled-Veteran Relief
Disabled Veterans Exemption (Md. Tax-Property 7-208) – a FULL exemption of property tax on the dwelling of a veteran with a 100% permanent and total service-connected disability, plus unremarried surviving spouses and surviving spouses of servicemembers killed in the line of duty. File Form AT3-45 with your local SDAT office.
How much / how it works: Full (100%) exemption of the dwelling’s property tax; no cap. Confirm with your local SDAT office.
Disability Relief
The income-based Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit is open to disabled homeowners on the same income terms as everyone else. A Blind Person Exemption also gives a $15,000 assessment reduction (with a doctor’s certification).
How much / how it works: Homeowners’ credit (income-based) plus a $15,000 assessment reduction for legally blind owners. Confirm with SDAT.
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Not sure which Maryland breaks you qualify for?
How to Apply for Maryland Property Tax Exemptions
Maryland 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 Maryland 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 Maryland property tax exemptions are available?
Maryland 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 Maryland?
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 Maryland 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 Maryland 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.
Maryland 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 Maryland on this page were verified from official Maryland 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.