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Taxes

Property tax relief for seniors in Washington

Washington has 2 programs that can lower property taxes for older adults: Property Tax Exemption Program for Senior Citizens and People with Disabilities and Property Tax Deferral Program for Senior Citizens and People with Disabilities. Each one has its own rules and deadline.

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An older woman and her grown daughter go through a folder of papers at the kitchen table

Property Tax Exemption Program for Senior Citizens and People with Disabilities

Washington's senior exemption lowers the property tax on your home if you are 61 or older and your household income is under your county's limit. It also freezes your home's taxable value in the first year you are approved. A 2026 law raises the income limits and makes the exemption larger starting with 2027 taxes.

How to apply

In person
Apply with your county assessor's office. You fill in the state application and a Combined Disposable Income Worksheet, and send proof of age and income.

Who may qualify

Who may qualify for Property Tax Exemption Program for Senior Citizens and People with Disabilities
Age, by December 31 of the year before the taxes are due61 or older (or retired because of a disability, or a veteran with an 80% or higher service-connected rating)
Household income limit for 2027-2029 taxes (Income Threshold 3)Set by county: from $49,000 in Okanogan County to $101,000 in King County
HomeYou may qualify if you own the home by December 31 and live in it more than six months of that year
Income deduction, starting with 2027 taxesYou may subtract a $7,500 standard deduction (another $7,500 for a spouse or domestic partner) instead of listing medical costs

Source: Washington State Department of Revenue (source 1)

What you may get

What Property Tax Exemption Program for Senior Citizens and People with Disabilities pays
Everyone in the program, starting with 2027 taxesNo state school levy and no voter-approved (excess) levies on your home
Income at or under Threshold 1, starting with 2027 taxesAlso no local regular levies on $80,000 or 80% of your home's value, whichever is more
Income at or under Threshold 2, starting with 2027 taxesAlso no local regular levies on $70,000 or 45% of your home's value, whichever is more, up to $200,000 of value
Value freezeYour home's taxable value is frozen at its value in the first year you are approved

Source: Washington State Department of Revenue (source 2)

Dates, renewals and waiting lists

Dates and renewals
Application deadlineDecember 31 of the year before the tax year. Assessors may take late applications, and you can ask for refunds for up to three past years.
RenewalAt least once every six years, when your assessor asks. Report changes in income or residence sooner.

Source: Washington State Department of Revenue (source 4)

How Washington is different

Where Washington's rules differ from the federal rules for Property tax relief for seniors.

  • Freezes your home's taxable value as well as cutting the tax
  • The income limit is set county by county: $49,000 in Okanogan County but $101,000 in King County for 2027-2029 taxes
  • From 2027, people in the program pay no state school levy at all (ESSB 6162, passed in 2026)

Source: Washington State Department of Revenue (source 4)

Good to know

  • Renters: this program is only for people who own and live in their home.
  • If you are already in the program, you don't need to reapply to get the larger 2027 exemption. Your assessor moves you to the right level.
  • Income counts all household income, including Social Security, minus costs such as Medicare premiums, prescriptions and in-home care.
  • Questions about the rules: Department of Revenue Property Tax Division, 360-534-1400.

Source: Washington State Department of Revenue (source 1)

Property Tax Deferral Program for Senior Citizens and People with Disabilities

If you are 60 or older, Washington can pay your property taxes for you and let you repay them later, with 5% simple interest, when you sell the home, move out or die. Your household income must be under your county's deferral limit, and you need enough equity in the home.

How to apply

In person
Apply with your county assessor's office using the state deferral application and a Combined Disposable Income Worksheet.

Who may qualify

Who may qualify for Property Tax Deferral Program for Senior Citizens and People with Disabilities
Age60 or older by December 31 of the year you apply (or retired because of a disability)
Household income limit for 2027-2029 taxes (Deferral Threshold)Set by county: from $54,597 in Okanogan County to $113,512 in King County
HomeYou may qualify if you fully own the home by December 31 of the year before, and lived in it more than six months of that year. Life estates and revocable trusts don't qualify.
EquityYou need enough equity in the home to secure what the state pays

Source: Washington State Department of Revenue (source 1)

What you may get

What Property Tax Deferral Program for Senior Citizens and People with Disabilities pays
What you can deferProperty taxes and special assessments, current and past-due, up to 80% of your equity if your home insurance names the Department of Revenue as loss payee
Interest5% simple interest a year
When it must be repaidWhen the home is sold or transferred, you no longer live there, or you die

Source: Washington State Department of Revenue (source 5)

Dates, renewals and waiting lists

Dates and renewals
Application deadlineAt least 30 days before the taxes are due. Assessors may take late applications.
RenewalEvery year. The assessor sends a renewal notice.

Source: Washington State Department of Revenue (source 5)

How Washington is different

Where Washington's rules differ from the federal rules for Property tax relief for seniors.

  • If you are eligible for the senior exemption, you must apply for it before you can defer
  • Can cover past-due taxes, and can stop a tax foreclosure if you apply within 30 days of the notice
  • Higher income limit than the exemption, set county by county

Source: Washington State Department of Revenue (source 5)

Good to know

  • Renters: this program is only for people who own and live in their home.
  • Washington also has a separate deferral for homeowners of any age with income of $57,000 or less, which defers only the second-half payment due in October. Applications are due by September 1.

Source: Washington State Department of Revenue (source 1)

Free help

Free help with this in Washington

More help in Washington

Property tax relief in another state

Sources

  1. Washington State Department of Revenue, Property tax exemptions and deferrals (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
  2. Washington State Department of Revenue, Changes to property tax relief programs and state school levy (special notice, June 10, 2026) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
  3. Washington State Department of Revenue, Income Thresholds for Senior Citizen and Disabled Persons Property Tax Exemption and Deferral for Tax Years 2027-2029 (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
  4. Washington State Department of Revenue, Property Tax Exemption for Senior Citizens and People with Disabilities (brochure PT0017, 09/23/2024) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
  5. Washington State Department of Revenue, Property Tax Deferral for Senior Citizens and People with Disabilities (brochure) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.

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