Who qualifies for the Homestead exemption (replaces the homestead credit) in Iowa?

You own and live in one Iowa home on July 1, you are an Iowa income-tax resident, and you live there at least six months a year. Military and nursing-home occupants can qualify without that. For assessment year 2026, 10% of your taxable value, but at least $5,500 and at most $20,000 of taxable value. It lowers taxable value for every levy. It first shows on the September 2027 and March 2028 installments. Your September 2026 and March 2027 bills still use the old credit (the tax on $4,850 of homestead value). Deadline: July 1 of the assessment year. July 1, 2026 has passed.

Who qualifies for the Homestead exemption, age 65 or older in Iowa?

A homestead owner who is 65 on or before January 1 of the assessment year and qualifies for the homestead claim. An added $6,500 off taxable value, applied after the 10% exemption. It lowers taxable value for every levy. It is already on your current bill if it was allowed for assessment year 2025. Deadline: July 1 of the first assessment year you claim it.

Who qualifies for the Disabled veteran homestead tax credit in Iowa?

A veteran who owns and lives in the home, qualifies for the homestead exemption, and has a permanent 100% service-connected rating or unemployability paid at the 100% rate. A surviving spouse who inherits the home keeps it until a move or remarriage. A surviving spouse or child on DIC can qualify on a new homestead. A credit equal to the entire tax on your homestead, for all taxing districts. There is no income or value cap. Applications on or after July 1, 2026 cover the dwelling only and at most one-half acre. Earlier applications keep the old homestead size. Taking this credit bars every other veteran property exemption, including the military exemption. Deadline: July 1 of the assessment year.

Who qualifies for the Military service exemption in Iowa?

An Iowa veteran with an honorable separation, or 18 months of service honorably discharged, or shorter service ended by a service-related injury. If the veteran does not claim it, a spouse or unmarried surviving spouse, then a dependent unmarried parent, then a minor child can. Up to $4,000 off taxable value on one property you own, including a manufactured home. It lowers taxable value for every levy. You cannot combine it with the disabled veteran credit. Deadline: July 1 of the first year.

Who qualifies for the Property tax credit for seniors and disabled homeowners in Iowa?

An Iowa resident who is 65 or older, or totally disabled and 18 or older, and meets that year's household-income schedule. If you are 70 or older, you can qualify with household income under 250% of the federal poverty level. A credit against your homestead tax, based on an income schedule on the claim form. It has been capped at $1,000. A new law raises the cap to $1,500, but the start date is not confirmed. Deadline: January 1 through June 1 before the fiscal year the taxes are due. The June 1, 2026 window for your current bill has closed. The treasurer may extend the time.

Who qualifies for the Special assessment credit in Iowa?

Age 65 or older, or totally disabled and 18 or older, on December 31, 2025, with total household income of $13,855 or less. 100% assistance on special assessments you must pay. It does not reduce ordinary levies. Deadline: September 30 of each year. September 30, 2026 has passed for this year's assessments.

Who qualifies for the Manufactured, mobile or modular home reduced tax rate in Iowa?

An Iowa resident, 23 or older, who owns a home taxed as a mobile, manufactured or modular home and meets the annual low-income limits. A reduced tax rate meant to match the senior and disabled credit. The dollar schedule is on the form. Deadline: June 1 each year. The treasurer or the director may extend it.

Rules by state / Iowa

Iowa property tax, line by line.

Your county treasurer sends one bill that covers school, city, county and other levies, plus any special assessments. Taxes are paid a year behind, in two halves.

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At a glance

Who sends the bill: The county treasurer bills and collects for every taxing authority. In Polk County the treasurer also collects mobile home taxes and city and county special assessments.
When it comes: As soon as practicable after the treasurer gets the tax list. Iowa law sets no statewide mail date.
When it's due: First half is payable before September 1 and is delinquent October 1. Second half is payable before March 1 and is delinquent April 1. Polk County tells owners the no-interest dates are September 30 and March 31. The bill you have now is for assessment year 2025.
If you pay late: Interest of 1.5% per month from the delinquent date. Each part of a month counts as a full month. If the month-end falls on a weekend or holiday, delinquency moves to the second business day.
Value is set as of: January 1 of the assessment year.
Limits on increases: The state rollback limits how fast residential taxable value can grow. Normal repairs of $2,500 or less per building per year that are not structural replacements do not raise your taxable value. A new law (SF 2472) also caps county and city revenue growth for budgets starting July 1, 2027.

Bill dates source · Assessment source

What may come off

7 programs homeowners can claim

None of these are applied for you automatically. Each one is free to apply for. If you upload your bill, we check which ones are already on it and which may fit you.

Homestead exemption (replaces the homestead credit)

Who: You own and live in one Iowa home on July 1, you are an Iowa income-tax resident, and you live there at least six months a year. Military and nursing-home occupants can qualify without that.
What you get: For assessment year 2026, 10% of your taxable value, but at least $5,500 and at most $20,000 of taxable value. It lowers taxable value for every levy. It first shows on the September 2027 and March 2028 installments. Your September 2026 and March 2027 bills still use the old credit (the tax on $4,850 of homestead value).
How to apply: File the Homestead Tax Exemption form with your city or county assessor. Form: 54-028.
Deadline: July 1 of the assessment year. July 1, 2026 has passed.
If you're late: A claim filed after July 1 counts for the next assessment year only. A timely 2026 claim first lowers your September 2027 and March 2028 taxes.
After that: One time.

54-028: the form

Homestead exemption, age 65 or older

Who: A homestead owner who is 65 on or before January 1 of the assessment year and qualifies for the homestead claim.
What you get: An added $6,500 off taxable value, applied after the 10% exemption. It lowers taxable value for every levy. It is already on your current bill if it was allowed for assessment year 2025.
How to apply: Claim it on Form 54-028 with your assessor. The assessor cannot demand documents the form does not require.
Deadline: July 1 of the first assessment year you claim it.
If you're late: A late claim counts for the next year.
After that: One time.

54-028: the form

Disabled veteran homestead tax credit

Who: A veteran who owns and lives in the home, qualifies for the homestead exemption, and has a permanent 100% service-connected rating or unemployability paid at the 100% rate. A surviving spouse who inherits the home keeps it until a move or remarriage. A surviving spouse or child on DIC can qualify on a new homestead.
What you get: A credit equal to the entire tax on your homestead, for all taxing districts. There is no income or value cap. Applications on or after July 1, 2026 cover the dwelling only and at most one-half acre. Earlier applications keep the old homestead size. Taking this credit bars every other veteran property exemption, including the military exemption.
How to apply: File form 54-049 and Form 54-028 with your city or county assessor. Include a DD-214 or equivalent and a VA benefit letter dated within 12 months. Form: 54-049 and 54-028.
Deadline: July 1 of the assessment year.
If you're late: A claim filed after July 1 is for the next assessment year.
After that: One time. Once allowed it continues. Tell the assessor if your eligibility ends.

54-049 and 54-028: the form

Military service exemption

Who: An Iowa veteran with an honorable separation, or 18 months of service honorably discharged, or shorter service ended by a service-related injury. If the veteran does not claim it, a spouse or unmarried surviving spouse, then a dependent unmarried parent, then a minor child can.
What you get: Up to $4,000 off taxable value on one property you own, including a manufactured home. It lowers taxable value for every levy. You cannot combine it with the disabled veteran credit.
How to apply: Record your discharge with the county recorder, then file the Military Service Property Tax Exemption form with the assessor. Form: 54-146.
Deadline: July 1 of the first year.
After that: One time while you keep the same property and stay eligible.

54-146: the form

Property tax credit for seniors and disabled homeowners

Who: An Iowa resident who is 65 or older, or totally disabled and 18 or older, and meets that year's household-income schedule. If you are 70 or older, you can qualify with household income under 250% of the federal poverty level.
What you get: A credit against your homestead tax, based on an income schedule on the claim form. It has been capped at $1,000. A new law raises the cap to $1,500, but the start date is not confirmed.
How to apply: File the Iowa Property Tax Credit Claim with your county treasurer. It is not filed on your Iowa income tax return. Form: 54-001.
Deadline: January 1 through June 1 before the fiscal year the taxes are due. The June 1, 2026 window for your current bill has closed. The treasurer may extend the time.
If you're late: The Department no longer accepts late claims for a year beginning on or after July 1, 2025.
After that: Every year.

54-001: the form

Special assessment credit

Who: Age 65 or older, or totally disabled and 18 or older, on December 31, 2025, with total household income of $13,855 or less.
What you get: 100% assistance on special assessments you must pay. It does not reduce ordinary levies.
How to apply: File the Iowa Special Assessment Credit form with your county treasurer. Form: 54-036.
Deadline: September 30 of each year. September 30, 2026 has passed for this year's assessments.
After that: Every year.

54-036: the form

Manufactured, mobile or modular home reduced tax rate

Who: An Iowa resident, 23 or older, who owns a home taxed as a mobile, manufactured or modular home and meets the annual low-income limits.
What you get: A reduced tax rate meant to match the senior and disabled credit. The dollar schedule is on the form.
How to apply: File with your county treasurer. Form: 54-014.
Deadline: June 1 each year. The treasurer or the director may extend it.
After that: Every year.

54-014: the form

Flat charges and parcel taxes. The special assessment credit can cover special assessments for a low-income senior or disabled owner. Ask your county treasurer.

In some situations

If you moved, inherited, built or had a disaster

Geothermal heating and cooling exemption

Who: Homes with a geothermal system newly installed or refitted on or after July 1, 2012.
What you get: The added value of the system is exempt for 10 years.
How to apply: File with your assessor. Form: 54-011.
Deadline: February 1 of the first assessment year.
After that: One time for the 10-year term.

Source

Historic property rehabilitation exemption

Who: Property the assessor finds meets the historic-property rules in Iowa Code 427.16.
What you get: An exemption for up to four years. The amount is the rehabilitated value allowed by that law, not a flat statewide amount.
How to apply: File with your city or county assessor. Form: 54-019.
Deadline: February 1 of the assessment year.
After that: Runs up to four years after you file.

Source

Urban revitalization exemption

Who: An owner who adds enough value inside a city or county revitalization area. Homes generally must gain at least 10%, or the local percentage.
What you get: A local schedule exempts the added value for a local number of years. There is no statewide dollar amount.
How to apply: Apply with your assessor. The form is local.
Deadline: February 1 of the year the value is added. An extended deadline exists.

Source

Think your value is too high?

Asking for a lower assessed value

Free review: From April 2 through April 25 you can ask your assessor to review your assessment. You may sign an agreement changing it, or the assessor may recommend a change to the board of review.
Formal appeal: Your local board of review. The next step is the Property Assessment Appeal Board or district court, not both as the first appeal.
Deadline: File a written protest from April 2 through April 30 of the assessment year. If April 30 is a weekend, the next Monday counts. A disaster declaration can extend the window to June 5. To appeal the board's decision, file within 20 days after the board adjourns or by May 31, whichever is later. In even years, protests are narrower if your property was not reassessed.
Fee: No fee for the board protest is in the law. District court charges the clerk's ordinary filing fee.
Good to know: Appealing can lead to a higher value as well as a lower one. The statewide rollback percentage is not a local error and cannot be appealed as one. You can prepare the forms yourself, or an authorized agent can sign the protest.

A formal appeal reopens your whole value: the board can raise it as well as lower it. Bring recent sales of similar homes.

Source · We never charge for help asking for a lower value.

What can't come off

Charges you can't remove

School, city, county and community-college levies, except where an exemption cuts taxable value or a credit cuts the tax.
The new 10% homestead exemption on the September 2026 and March 2027 installments.
The military exemption and the disabled veteran credit on the same homestead.
Special assessments, unless the income-qualified credit covers them.
Interest after the delinquent date.

The county treasurer collects special assessments and certified rates or charges with your tax. The homestead exemption does not remove them. They become delinquent on the first-installment delinquent date. Drainage, sidewalk and nuisance charges appear only if the authority certifies them.

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Rules checked October 28, 2026 against official Iowa sources. Rules change: check the deadline with your county before you rely on it. Not legal or tax advice.