Washington Property Tax Relief: Exemptions & How to File
Washington has 5 main property tax relief programs, administered through your County Assessor. Filing is free.
Biggest benefit
Deferral of up to 50% of special assessments and/or real property taxes each year. Total amount deferred may not exceed 40% of the claimant's equity in the residence. Deferred amounts accrue interest and become a lien repaid on sale, death, or when the home is no longer the primary residence.
Earliest common deadline
Deadline varies — confirm locally
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Never pay to file a property tax exemption
Applying for a homestead, senior, veteran, or disability exemption is always free through your County Assessor. You do not need a middleman, and no one can file it "faster" for a fee.
Be skeptical of official-looking letters offering to file your homestead exemption, "designate" your homestead, or send you a copy of your deed for $50–$200. These are private solicitations, not government notices. When in doubt, contact your County Assessor directly using the phone number on your tax bill.
Washington property tax relief programs
Amounts, eligibility, deadlines, and the official source for each program.
| Program | Benefit | Who qualifies | Deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Property Tax Exemption for Senior Citizens, People with Disabilities, and Veterans with DisabilitiesSenior (65+) | Tiered by income relative to your county's income thresholds. Income Threshold 3: exempt from all excess (voter-approved) levies and the additional state levy portion. Income Threshold 2: also exempt from regular property taxes on the greater of $50,000 or 35% of assessed value (not to exceed $70,000). Income Threshold 1: also exempt from regular property taxes on the greater of $60,000 or 60% of assessed value. In all cases the taxable assessed value of the residence is frozen at the value on January 1 of the year the applicant first qualifies (or Jan. 1, 1995, if later). | Age 61+ · Alternative to the age requirement: retired from regular gainful employment by reason of disability; OR a veteran of the U.S. armed forces receiving VA compensation at a combined service-connected evaluation rating of 40% or higher, or a total (100%) disability rating for a service-connected disability regardless of evaluation percent. Disabled veterans and disabled persons qualify at any age. · Income: Combined disposable income at or below Income Threshold 3 for your county (thresholds are set as percentages of county median household income and vary by county; e.g., for King County the 2027-2029 thresholds are $76,000 (T1), $89,000 (T2), and $101,000 (T3)). A standard deduction of $7,500 per applicant (plus $7,500 for a spouse/domestic partner) applies when calculating combined disposable income. · Must own and occupy the residence as a principal place of residence in Washington by December 31 of the assessment year. | Deadline varies — confirm locallyLate filing: up to 3 years back | Official source ↗RCW 84.36.379-84.36.389 (eligibility and exemption levels at RCW 84.36.381; income thresholds at RCW 84.36.383)Senior Citizen and People with Disabilities Exemption from Real Property Taxes (DOR Form 64-0002), with Combined Disposable Income Worksheet (Form 63-0025) |
| Veterans with a Service-Connected Disability (via the Senior Citizen and Disabled Persons Exemption)Veteran | Same tiered benefit as the Senior Citizen and People with Disabilities exemption: exemption of excess/state levies at Income Threshold 3, plus a portion of regular-levy assessed value at Thresholds 2 and 1, with the taxable assessed value frozen at first qualification. | A veteran of the U.S. armed forces entitled to and receiving VA compensation at (A) a combined service-connected evaluation rating of 40% or higher, or (B) a total disability rating for a service-connected disability without regard to evaluation percent. No minimum age applies. · Income: Combined disposable income at or below Income Threshold 3 for the applicant's county (county-median-based; see the senior/disabled exemption entry). · Must own and occupy the residence as a principal place of residence in Washington. | Deadline varies — confirm locallyLate filing: up to 3 years back | Official source ↗RCW 84.36.381(5)Senior Citizen and People with Disabilities Exemption from Real Property Taxes (DOR Form 64-0002) |
| Property Tax Deferral for Senior Citizens and People with DisabilitiesTax Deferral | Deferral (postponement) of payment of current and delinquent property taxes and special assessments on the primary residence. Deferred amounts accrue 5% simple interest and become a lien repaid when the home is sold, the applicant dies, or it ceases to be the primary residence. | Age 60+ · Alternative to the age requirement: retired from regular gainful employment by reason of disability. Surviving spouses/domestic partners age 57+ of a prior participant may qualify. · Income: Combined disposable income at or below the county Deferral Threshold (county-median-based; e.g., $113,512 for King County under the 2027-2029 thresholds). Applicant must also have sufficient equity to secure the state's interest. · Must own and occupy the residence as a principal place of residence in Washington and carry adequate fire/casualty insurance. | Deadline varies — confirm locally | Official source ↗Chapter 84.38 RCW (qualifications at RCW 84.38.030)Deferral Application for Senior Citizens and People with Disabilities (DOR Form 64-0011), with Combined Disposable Income Worksheet |
| Property Tax Deferral for Homeowners with Limited IncomeTax Deferral | Deferral of up to 50% of special assessments and/or real property taxes each year. Total amount deferred may not exceed 40% of the claimant's equity in the residence. Deferred amounts accrue interest and become a lien repaid on sale, death, or when the home is no longer the primary residence. | Income: Combined disposable income of $57,000 or less in the preceding calendar year (fixed statutory amount, not county-based). · Must own and occupy the residence as a principal place of residence as of January 1. No deferral is allowed for taxes in the first five calendar years the person owns the residence (i.e., 5+ years of ownership required). | Deadline varies — confirm locally | Official source ↗Chapter 84.37 RCW (qualifications at RCW 84.37.030)Deferral Application for Homeowners with Limited Income (DOR Form 64-0105) |
| Property Tax Assistance Program (Grant) for Widows or Widowers of VeteransVeteran | A grant (not a loan; does not have to be repaid) toward property taxes on the primary residence. Assistance exempts the first $100,000 to $200,000 of assessed value depending on the applicant's income within Income Threshold 3, based on income, residence value, and local levy rates. | Age 62+ · Alternative to the age requirement: retired from regular gainful employment by reason of disability. The applicant must not have remarried. · Income: Combined disposable income at or below Income Threshold 3, defined for this program as the greater of the prior year's threshold or 70% of county median household income. · Must own and occupy the residence (may include one accessory dwelling unit and up to one acre of land) as the primary residence; must own the home by December 31 of the year prior to the assistance year. The deceased veteran must have died from a service-connected disability, been VA-rated 100% disabled for 10 years before death, been a former POW rated 100% disabled for at least one year before death, or died in active duty/active training status. | Deadline varies — confirm locally | Official source ↗Chapter 84.39 RCW (qualifications at RCW 84.39.010)Property Tax Assistance Claim for Widows/Widowers of Veterans (DOR Form 63-0023) |
Missed a deadline? You may still be able to file — and get money back.
Several programs here accept late applications for prior years. If approved, your County Assessorcan reduce a bill you haven't paid or refund taxes you already paid on the exempted amount.
- ↻Property Tax Exemption for Senior Citizens, People with Disabilities, and Veterans with Disabilities: late applications accepted up to 3 years back — Apply through your county assessor; the exemption may be claimed for prior years within the retroactive lookback. Renewal required periodically (generally every six years, or when income/status changes).
- ↻Veterans with a Service-Connected Disability (via the Senior Citizen and Disabled Persons Exemption): late applications accepted up to 3 years back — Filed with the county assessor on the same application as the senior/disabled exemption (DOR Form 64-0002). May be claimed retroactively.
For veterans
In most states a higher VA disability rating unlocks a larger — often total — property tax exemption.
Trusted Resources
Trusted tools to help you claim what you've earned
VA Claims Academy
A 100% VA disability rating unlocks full property tax exemptions in most states. VA Claims Academy helps veterans pursue the rating increases they may be owed.
Visit VA Claims Academy →*
* Affiliate disclosure: GovSifter may earn a commission from links above. This does not affect program listings or editorial content.
For seniors
Planning ahead protects your exemption and your home.
Trusted Resources
Trusted tools to help you claim what you've earned
CareSifter — Find trusted senior care
Property tax relief is one piece of aging in place affordably. CareSifter helps families compare in-home care, assisted living, and senior services.
Explore CareSifter →*Trust & Will — Estate planning made simple
Keeping a homestead exemption in the family often depends on how the home is titled. Trust & Will makes wills, trusts, and transfer-on-death deeds affordable and online.
Start with Trust & Will →*
* Affiliate disclosure: GovSifter may earn a commission from links above. This does not affect program listings or editorial content.
Washington property tax relief FAQ
What property tax exemptions are available in Washington?
Washington offers 5 main property tax relief programs: Property Tax Exemption for Senior Citizens, People with Disabilities, and Veterans with Disabilities, Veterans with a Service-Connected Disability (via the Senior Citizen and Disabled Persons Exemption), Property Tax Deferral for Senior Citizens and People with Disabilities, Property Tax Deferral for Homeowners with Limited Income, Property Tax Assistance Program (Grant) for Widows or Widowers of Veterans. Each is administered through your County Assessor.
How do I apply for a property tax exemption in Washington?
You apply through your County Assessor — for free. Most exemptions require a one-time application by the deadline; check each program for its form and cutoff date. You never need to pay a third party to file.
I missed the Washington exemption deadline — can I still file?
Possibly. Property Tax Exemption for Senior Citizens, People with Disabilities, and Veterans with Disabilities accepts late applications up to 3 years back; Veterans with a Service-Connected Disability (via the Senior Citizen and Disabled Persons Exemption) accepts late applications up to 3 years back. If approved, you may receive a reduced bill or a refund of taxes paid on the exempted value.
Is filing for a Washington property tax exemption free?
Yes. Filing is always free through your County Assessor. Letters offering to file your homestead exemption for a fee are private solicitations, not government notices.
Compare Washington to other states by relief type
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