New Hampshire's main property-tax break for seniors is set by your town, not by the state, so the exemption amount in Manchester and the exemption in Hanover are almost certainly different numbers. The program is called the Elderly Exemption and it reduces the assessed value of your home before taxes are calculated. The catch is that there is no single statewide figure you can rely on. This guide explains how the program works, what the state law does and does not set and why the only way to know your number is to ask your local tax assessor.
If you are 65 or older and own your home in New Hampshire, the first call you need to make is to your town's assessing office.
In This Guide
- Key Takeaways
- New Hampshire Senior Property Tax Relief at a Glance
- Why There Is No Single Statewide Number
- What State Law Does Set: The Floors
- What Towns Actually Do in Practice
- How the Exemption Works
- Form PA-29 and How to Apply
- Other Property-Tax Relief in New Hampshire
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Next Steps
New Hampshire Senior Property Tax Relief at a Glance
| Feature | State-Law Floor | Typical Town Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Age requirement | 65+ | 65+ (same) |
| Income limit, single | $13,400 | Often $35,000 to $65,000 |
| Income limit, married | $20,400 | Often $35,000 to $65,000 |
| Asset limit | $35,000 (excl. primary residence) | Often $65,000 to $130,000 |
| Exemption amount | Set by each town | Varies by town; amounts often increase at 75 and 80+ |
| How it applies | Reduces assessed value | Same |
| Application form | Form PA-29 | Same |
| Where to file | Local tax assessor | Same |
State law sets the floors listed in the table; municipalities may and commonly do exceed every one of them.
New Hampshire Senior Property Tax Relief: Why There Is No Single Statewide Number
Most states have one set of rules for senior property-tax relief. New Hampshire works differently.
Under RSA 72:39-b, New Hampshire's Elderly Exemption is a local-option program. That means the state legislature authorizes the program and sets minimum requirements, but each of the state's 234 cities and towns votes on its own exemption amounts, income limits and asset limits. A town that passes a higher exemption is not violating state law, it is exercising the discretion the law gives it.
The consequence is that New Hampshire senior property tax relief is a patchwork. A homeowner in one town might receive a $50,000 assessed-value reduction. The same person with the same income living two towns over might receive a $150,000 reduction. Both are operating under RSA 72:39-b; they just happen to live in towns that made different local decisions.
This is not a flaw in the system. It reflects New Hampshire's strong tradition of local governance. But it means you cannot rely on any figure you read online, including anything in this guide, to tell you what your town offers. The only authoritative number is the one from your town's assessing office.
What State Law Does Set: The Floors
RSA 72:39-b establishes minimum floors that every participating municipality must meet. Municipalities cannot set limits more restrictive than these floors:
- Income limit: At least $13,400 for a single applicant or $20,400 for a married couple.
- Asset limit: At least $35,000, excluding the value of the primary residence.
- Age requirement: 65 or older.
- Residency: The home must be the applicant's primary residence.
These are floors, not typical amounts. The $13,400 single-income floor is the minimum a town can require; towns are free to set the limit higher. The $35,000 asset floor is the minimum exclusion; towns can allow more assets and still grant the exemption.
The state law also sets age brackets that many towns use for their exemption amounts: ages 65 to 74, 75 to 79 and 80 and older. A town might grant a $50,000 assessed-value reduction for the 65 to 74 bracket, a $100,000 reduction for 75 to 79 and $150,000 for those 80 and older. Some towns use only one bracket; others use all three. Your town's schedule is the only one that matters for you.
The New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration provides information on the state program and the statutory framework.
What Towns Actually Do in Practice
While no authoritative statewide survey covers every town's current exemption amounts, the pattern is well documented by the New Hampshire DRA and local assessors.
- Income limits are commonly set much higher than the state floor. Many New Hampshire towns set single-applicant income limits in the range of $35,000 to $65,000 and married-couple limits in a similar range.
- Asset limits are commonly set higher as well. Asset limits in the range of $65,000 to $130,000 (excluding the home) are common, compared to the $35,000 state floor.
- Exemption amounts vary widely. Amounts range from a few thousand dollars in assessed-value reduction in some towns to over $300,000 in others, depending on local property values and the town's decision.
- Three-bracket age structure is common. Towns that use the 65 to 74, 75 to 79 and 80+ brackets typically grant larger exemptions for older applicants.
The variability is real. Two neighboring towns in Carroll County or Rockingham County can have very different programs. There is no shortcut to knowing your town's program except contacting your assessing office.
How the Exemption Works
The Elderly Exemption does not produce a refund check. It reduces the assessed value of your home before the tax rate is applied.
Here is how the math works. Suppose your home is assessed at $250,000 and your town grants a $75,000 Elderly Exemption. The taxable value drops to $175,000. Your town's tax rate, expressed in dollars per $1,000 of assessed value, is then applied to $175,000 instead of $250,000. If your town's combined tax rate is $20 per $1,000, the full-value bill would be $5,000. With the exemption applied, it drops to $3,500. The $1,500 difference is the actual tax savings from the exemption.
The dollar savings depend on your town's tax rate. The same $75,000 exemption is worth more in a high-tax town than in a low-tax one.
The exemption is not a permanent fix. Your assessed value continues to fluctuate with local assessments and the exemption reduces it proportionally. If your town reassesses properties upward, your bill can still go up even with the exemption in place.
Form PA-29 and How to Apply
The application for the Elderly Exemption is Form PA-29, the Permanent Application for Property Tax Credit/Exemption. You file it with your local tax assessor, not with any state office.
Despite being called a "permanent application," you may need to provide updated income and asset information each year. Ask your assessor whether your town requires annual renewal or only re-application when your circumstances change significantly.
What to bring when you apply:
- Proof of age (driver's license, passport, or birth certificate)
- Income documentation for the prior calendar year: Social Security award letter, pension statements, tax return, bank statements and any other income sources
- Documentation of assets, excluding the primary residence
- Proof of ownership and occupancy
The assessor's office can tell you exactly what documentation your town requires. Requirements vary.
Deadlines. Each town sets its own application deadline, which typically aligns with the local property-tax assessment calendar. Contact your assessing office immediately to find out the deadline for the current year. Missing it means waiting until the following year.
Form PA-29 is available from the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration and from your local assessing office.
Other Property-Tax Relief in New Hampshire
The Elderly Exemption is the main tool for New Hampshire senior property tax relief, but it is not the only one.
- Disabled exemption. Homeowners who are permanently and totally disabled can qualify for a similar assessed-value reduction under RSA 72:37-b. Like the Elderly Exemption, the amounts are locally determined.
- Veteran's credit. New Hampshire offers a property-tax credit for qualifying veterans and surviving spouses, also administered locally through Form PA-29.
- Low and moderate income homeowner property tax relief. The state also administers a Low and Moderate Income Homeowner Property Tax Relief program with state-set income thresholds. This is applied for with the NH DRA directly, not through your town. Contact the NH DRA for current eligibility.
- Property tax deferral. Some New Hampshire towns offer a property-tax deferral program for seniors who need to defer taxes until sale of the home.
Contact your assessing office to ask about all available programs. The office handles most of these and can identify which ones you might qualify for.
If managing property taxes is part of a larger question about affording care, our guide to how to pay for senior care addresses the full financial picture, including Medicaid, VA benefits and home equity options.
Not sure what your town offers? Get guidance on next steps at brevy.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Call your town or city assessing office directly. There is no statewide directory of each town's current exemption amounts. Your local assessor has the current figures and can tell you whether you qualify.
That is the state-law minimum floor, the lowest threshold a town is permitted to use. Most New Hampshire towns set their actual income limits significantly higher, often $35,000 to $65,000 or more. Do not assume you are ineligible based on the state floor; check with your town.
No. Under state law, the primary residence is excluded from the asset calculation. The asset floor of $35,000 applies to other assets (savings, investments, and similar assets), not to your home's value.
That depends on your town. Some towns treat the Form PA-29 as a one-time application that remains in effect; others require annual income and asset updates. Ask your assessing office when you first apply.
The age requirement applies to the applicant. If you are 65 or older and you own and occupy the home, you can apply. Both spouses' income typically counts toward the income limit, however. Confirm with your assessing office.
RSA 72:39-b requires towns to have voted to adopt the exemption. Most New Hampshire towns have adopted it, but participation is not universal. Ask your assessing office whether your town participates.
Next Steps
- Call your local tax assessing office first. Get your town's specific income limit, asset limit and exemption amounts before doing anything else.
- Find out the deadline. Each town sets its own deadline, which may be sooner than you expect.
- Gather your documentation. You need proof of age, prior-year income from all sources and a summary of assets other than your home.
- File Form PA-29 with your assessing office by the town's deadline.
- Ask about other programs at the same time: the disabled exemption, the Low and Moderate Income Homeowner relief and any deferral options your town offers.
If you are considering selling your home or using home equity to fund care, our guides on selling or renting your home for care and reverse mortgages for senior care cover those decisions directly.
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 with New Hampshire 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.