A.  You may apply to the County Auditor's Office for the Homestead Exemption discount only for your legal residence if you are:

• 65 years old on or before December 31 preceding the tax year in which you wish to claim the exemption;
• totally and permanently disabled*;
• legally blind*;
• at least 50 years of age when your spouse (who was eligible for the Homestead Exemption) died.
• the fee simple title owner of the property
• a legal resident for one year preceding the year in which you wish to claim the exemption

*For more details on requirements for applicants in this category, please click on the following: Homestead Exemption Program.

Q.  When may I apply for the homestead exemption?

A.  The earliest that an application can be made for the homestead exemption is on and after July 16 preceding the year that the exemption is to be claimed.

Q.  When is the deadline for filing for the homestead exemption?

A.  The day before the tax bill would incur penalties. A failure to apply by that date is considered a waiver of the exemption for that tax year.

Q.  In the past, I received the Homestead Exemption but now I don't.  Why?

 A.   The following are some possible reasons:

• If you moved, you need to submit a new application to the County Assessor's Office for the Legal Residence classification and to the County Auditor's Office for the Homestead Exemption (for more details on the latter, click on the following:  Homestead Exemption Program).  Both of these offices are located at the County Administration Building, 212 South Lake Drive, Lexington.

• If there was a name change or ownership change affecting the property, new applications for the Legal Residence and Homestead discounts must be submitted.

• If the person who was eligible to receive the homestead exemption no longer has an ownership interest in the legal residence, the exemption cannot be continued unless the new owner is the surviving spouse who is over 50 years old and submits a new application for the Legal Residence and Homestead Exemption discounts.
• If you think the homestead exemption has been dropped by mistake, you may contact the Office of the County Auditor at 785-8448.

Q.  My husband and I were getting Homestead Exemption.  I am not old enough to qualify.  He died in the middle of the year.  Do I still get homestead on this bill?

 A.  If you are over 50, you may submit a new application as a surviving spouse of an eligible legal residence property owner.  For more details, click on the following:  Homestead Exemption Program.  Remember, you may receive the homestead exemption only on property that you have applied for and received legal residence status from the County Assessor's Office.

Q.  How is the homestead exemption calculated?

 A.  The homestead exemption is calculated by multiplying the full exemption ($50,000) by the percentage of ownership held by the applicant or by the applicant and their spouse.

Scenario:

The applicant holds one-third owner interest and the other two-thirds interest is held by a brother and sister equally who both claim residence elsewhere or otherwise do not meet the eligibility requirements for the homestead exemption.

Calculation:

$50,000 x .33 = $16,650 of the fair market value of their legal residence would be tax immune.