Exemption Information

  Senior Citizen/Disabled Persons Exemption

You may qualify for this program if:

You are 61 by December 31st during the year the claim is filed, or are retired from gainful, regular employment due to a disability (proof of disability is required).

You are the owner/buyer or have a life estate in the property, and it is your primary residence.

Your combined gross income is $35,000 or less.
 

Currently, the levels of exemption are:

      0-$25,000        Exempt from regular property taxes on the greater of $60,000 or 60% of your valuation. 100% exempt from all excess levies and your valuation is frozen from future                market increases.

$25,001-$30,000      Exempt from regular property taxes on the greater of $50,000 or 50% of the valuation plus exemption from all excess levies and one retains frozen     value status.

$30,001-$35,000      Exempt from 100% of excess levies and retains a senior frozen value.          

Tax Deferral Program

The deferral program postpones payment of your taxes. On your behalf, the Department of Revenue pays the deferred taxes to the county where you live. The amount of the postponed taxes plus eight-percent interest, becomes a lien in favor of the state, on your property, until the total amount is repaid. You may qualify if you are at least 60 years old or physically disabled, with an annual income of $40,000 or less.

  For more information on these exemption programs contact:    Ila Mae Thompson @ 509-427-3720  

Residential Improvement Exemption (new construction)

Certain improvements to your home may make you eligible for a three-year property tax exemption on that improvement. Washington State law provides that the Assessor may grant an improvement exemption on up to 30% of the current assessed value of your home.

At the end of the three-year exemption period, the value of your improvement will be added to the value of your home and the exemption will end.

Please keep in mind that the exemption applies only to new improvements. The assessed value of your home may fluctuate, just as other property in the county changes during that three-year period.

Swimming pools, golf greens, fences, outbuildings and improvements which would not be common to, or normally recognized as components of a dwelling unit, are NOT eligible for exemption under this program.

The exemption cannot be granted on the same dwelling more than once in a five-year period, calculated from the date the exemption first affected the assessment roll. 

For more information on this exemption contact:    Gabe Spencer at 509-427-3721

Destroyed Property

Property Subject to Reduction and Who May Apply

Any real or personal property that has been placed upon the assessment roll as of January 1 of the assessment year in which the property was destroyed, in whole or in part, or is in an area that has been declared a disaster area by the Governor and has been reduced in value by more than 20 percent may apply. Either the Assessor may take action on his/her own authority or the taxpayer may file a claim. No relief shall be given to any person who is convicted of arson with regard to the property for which relief is sought.

For more information on this exemption contact:    Leslie Moore @ 509-427-3723