Homestead Tax Exemption for Claimants 65 Years of Age or Older
Who qualifies
- Age
- 65 or older
- Income
- No income limit.
- Ownership
- Owner-occupied homestead; claimed on the homestead exemption form and continues without refiling while the owner qualifies.
- Residency
- Must own and occupy an Iowa homestead and have attained age 65 by January 1 of the assessment year.
How much it saves
Worked example — a $300,000 home at Iowa's median effective rate (~1.34%):
Your county's rate differs — use the calculator for a figure tuned to where you live.
How to apply
- Application required: Yes
- Deadline: July 1 of the assessment year (Form 54-028). Claimants already receiving the homestead credit before July 1, 2026 are automatically awarded the exemption without further filing if they continue to qualify.
- Renewal: automatic — Continues in successive years without refiling while the owner remains age-eligible and occupies the homestead.
Combining with other exemptions
Stacks on top of the base homestead credit/exemption. An owner receiving the disabled veteran homestead tax credit (which exempts the entire tax) would have no additional benefit from this.
Amount cross-checked against a second official artifact: legis.iowa.gov/docs/ico/chapter/425.pdf.
Informational only — not legal or tax advice. Exemption rules and amounts are summarized from official statutes and state tax-agency sources as of each program's verified date and can change by legislative session. Dollar figures are estimates derived from Census ACS county tax data, not actual bills. Confirm your eligibility and current amounts with your county assessor before relying on anything here.