Kentucky senior property tax relief works through a single, straightforward program: the Homestead Exemption cuts $49,100 from your home's assessed value before property taxes are calculated. You need to be 65 by January 1 of the tax year, there's no income limit, and you file once with your county Property Valuation Administrator. This guide explains who qualifies, how much you save, and exactly how to claim it.
In This Guide
- Key Takeaways
- The Homestead Exemption
- Who Qualifies
- How Much You Save
- Kentucky Senior Property Tax Relief at a Glance
- How to Apply
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Next Steps
The Homestead Exemption: The Core of Kentucky Senior Property Tax Relief
Kentucky's Homestead Exemption reduces the assessed value of your primary residence by $49,100 before your property-tax rate is applied. That's not $49,100 off your tax bill, it's $49,100 off the value that gets taxed. Your actual savings depend on the local tax rate.
The exemption amount adjusts every two years under state law. It was $46,350 in 2023-2024. For 2025-2026, the Kentucky Department of Revenue set it at $49,100. The next adjustment will be for 2027-2028.
This is the primary Kentucky senior property tax relief program. There is no statewide circuit-breaker or income-based property-tax credit; the Homestead Exemption is the main tool.
Who Qualifies
You qualify if you meet all of the following:
- You are at least 65 years old as of January 1 of the tax year (totally disabled homeowners also qualify, regardless of age)
- The home is your primary residence on January 1 of the tax year
- You own the home
No income limit applies. A senior with $150,000 in annual retirement income qualifies the same as one living on Social Security alone.
One detail to get right: the January 1 date is firm. Turn 65 on January 2? You don't qualify for that tax year, you'll qualify starting the following year. Same rule applies to primary-residence status: if the home isn't your primary residence on January 1, you don't qualify for that year's exemption.
How Much You Save
The savings depend on the local tax rate applied to the $49,100 reduction. Kentucky sets tax rates in dollars per $100 of assessed value.
Here's how the math works:
- $49,100 exemption reduction × local tax rate = annual tax savings
- At a state rate of $0.122 per $100 assessed value, the exemption saves roughly $60 from the state portion alone
- County and local rates add on top of that
Total combined rates vary significantly across Kentucky's 120 counties. Your county PVA or tax bill will show your local rate. At a combined rate of $0.80 per $100, the $49,100 exemption saves about $393 per year.
Kentucky Senior Property Tax Relief at a Glance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Exemption amount (2025-2026) | $49,100 off assessed value |
| Prior period amount (2023-2024) | $46,350 |
| Next adjustment | 2027-2028 |
| Age requirement | 65 as of January 1 of the tax year |
| Also qualifies | Totally disabled homeowners (any age) |
| Income limit | None |
| Primary-residence requirement | Yes, must be primary home on January 1 |
| Application form | Form 62A350 |
| Where to file | County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) |
| Filing deadline | December 31 |
| Refile annually? | No, age-based applicants generally file once |
How to Apply
The application goes to your county Property Valuation Administrator, not a state office. Each of Kentucky's 120 counties has its own PVA office.
Steps:
- Find your county PVA. Search "[Your County] Kentucky Property Valuation Administrator" or visit the Kentucky Department of Revenue homestead page for contact information.
- Get Form 62A350. Your county PVA office provides this form.
- File by December 31 of the year you first become eligible.
- Bring documentation: proof of age (driver's license, birth certificate), proof that the property is your primary residence, and proof of ownership. For disability-based eligibility, bring documentation of the disability determination.
- Done, generally. Age-based applicants typically don't refile. The exemption carries forward each year as long as you continue to own and occupy the home as your primary residence.
One exception: disability-based filers may need to update documentation in subsequent years. Ask your county PVA what's required in your case.
What changes do you need to report? If you move, sell, or the home is no longer your primary residence on January 1, notify your county PVA. The exemption doesn't transfer to a new property automatically.
If property taxes are one piece of a larger financial picture for care, our guide on how to pay for senior care covers Medicaid, VA benefits, and home-equity options together.
Not sure if your county PVA has your exemption on file? Chat with Brevy's care navigator to sort through your options.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Kentucky's Homestead Exemption has no income limit. Any homeowner who meets the age and primary-residence requirements qualifies, regardless of income.
No. You must be 65 as of January 1 of the tax year. If you turn 65 after January 1, your first eligible year is the following year. File by December 31 of that year.
Every two years. The Kentucky Department of Revenue adjusts the amount for inflation on a two-year cycle. The 2025-2026 amount is $49,100; the next adjustment applies to 2027-2028.
Generally, no. Age-based applicants file once, and the exemption carries forward. Confirm with your county PVA that your exemption is on file, and notify them if your primary-residence status changes.
The exemption applies to the property, not the individual, as long as at least one qualifying owner meets the age or disability requirement and the home is a primary residence. Check with your county PVA for how co-ownership affects the application in your county.
The Homestead Exemption applies to the residential portion of properties used as a primary residence. For farm properties, the exemption typically covers only the portion assessed as a residence. Ask your county PVA to clarify how your property's assessment is structured.
Next Steps
One form, one office, one filing. Here's how to get this done.
- Confirm your eligibility. You need to be 65 by January 1 of the current tax year, own the home, and use it as your primary residence on that date.
- Contact your county PVA to get Form 62A350 and confirm what documentation they need.
- File by December 31 of the year you first become eligible.
- Check that the exemption is already on file if you've been in your home for years, some homeowners turned 65 without realizing they had to apply.
If you're weighing whether to stay in your home or access its equity for care, our guides on selling or renting your home for care and reverse mortgages for senior care walk through the options.
Learn More
- Senior Property Tax Relief by State
- How to Pay for Senior Care
- Selling or Renting Your Home for Care
- Reverse Mortgage for Senior Care
Find personalized help applying for Kentucky senior property tax relief at brevy.com.
The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.