Iowa’s Homestead Exemption for 65 and Older: 4 Rules Homeowners Miss When Filing

Iowa’s 65-and-older homestead exemption comes with a safety certification on the application that many filers skim past.

It’s not the only item that’s easy to miss.

Here are the rules Iowa homeowners 65 and older miss when filing for the homestead exemption.

Note: This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Assessment rules and exemption amounts are subject to change, so confirm the current details with your city or county assessor.

How Much the Iowa Homestead Exemption for 65 and Older Takes Off

An exemption shrinks the value you pay tax on, while a credit takes dollars off the bill.

Iowa’s 65-and-older exemption is the first kind, so it comes off your home’s taxable value, not your tax bill.

The amount has been $6,500 since assessment year 2024.

The exemption now sits on top of a second one.

Since assessment year 2026, Iowa has given every qualifying homestead an exemption of 10% of its taxable value, capped at $20,000.

A 2026 law replaced the old homestead credit with that exemption.

It reaches back to assessment year 2026, so you’ll see it on the tax bills due in September 2027 and March 2028.

The $20,000 cap will rise with inflation starting in assessment year 2027.

The order matters.

Assessors apply the exemptions in a set sequence.

The 10% comes first, then the $6,500, then any military service exemption you qualify for.

Because the 10% comes first, it’s figured on your home’s taxable value, before the $6,500 comes off.

1. January 1 Age Cutoff

Iowa’s homestead exemption for 65 and older tests your age on January 1 of the year you apply, not on the day you file.

Turn 65 on January 1, and you qualify for that year.

A birthday one day later means waiting a full year.

There’s no grace period.

If you were born in December 1961, you qualify for assessment year 2027.

If you were born in February 1962, you wait until assessment year 2028.

Until your birthday counts, you can still claim the regular homestead exemption.

2. July 1 Filing Deadline

Iowa’s 65-and-older exemption has to be claimed on or before July 1 of the year you first want it, with your application either filed or postmarked by then.

Send it on July 2, and the claim counts for the following year.

That delay costs you a full year of the exemption.

The deadline applies to your first claim, and it comes after the age test.

You pass the age test on January 1, and you have until July 1 to file.

Six months, give or take.

3. Alarm Certification

Iowa's 65-and-older exemption comes with a safety certification on the application.

Many filers skim past it.

You certify that your home has a smoke detector that meets state requirements.

If your home has a fuel-fired heater or appliance, a fireplace, or an attached garage, you certify a carbon monoxide alarm too.

Each certification gives you two choices: The alarm is already installed, or you'll install it within 30 days of filing.

You sign the whole application under penalties of perjury, so the boxes you check matter.

Check your ceilings before you sign.

4. Regular Homestead Claim

The 65-and-older exemption is an add-on, so your home has to qualify for the regular homestead exemption first.

You have to live in the home on July 1 and for at least six months of that calendar year.

Your spouse's time in the home counts toward that test, too.

The form also has you declare Iowa residency for income tax purposes.

You can't have filed a homestead claim on another property.

The form makes room for a stay in a nursing home, extended-care facility or hospital, as long as the home is maintained and not rented.

Active duty in the military is another allowed absence.

If you already have a homestead exemption, turning 65 may not add the extra $6,500 automatically.

Don't assume.

Jasper County's assessor tells owners with a homestead on file to fill out the form again.

Those owners enter a birth date and check the box that attests to being 65 or older.

Ask your assessor whether the office handles it the same way.

Where to File Your Homestead Application

Your homestead application goes to your city or county assessor.

Unsure who your assessor is?

The state form points you to the assessors' association, which lists contact information for every city and county assessor.

The Iowa Department of Revenue posts the state form, numbered 54-028.

Boone County's assessor takes applications online, but Marshall County says many forms must be completed in the assessor's office.

If your county isn't online, call the assessor's office and ask how it takes applications.

Questions about the form can also go to the Iowa Department of Revenue's property tax staff at 515-281-3114.

For a look at another state's age-65 milestone, see our piece on South Carolina.

What Happens After Your Claim Is Approved

Once your assessor allows the exemption, the claim carries forward year after year without more filing.

That holds as long as you still qualify.

If you were already getting the old homestead credit, the Iowa Department of Revenue says you don't need to refile to get the new 10% exemption.

You owe your assessor written notice when you sell the home or stop using it as your homestead.

A buyer who wants the exemption has to file a new application.

Selling ends it.

Planning a move after you sell? See what happens to an Arizona senior freeze when a homeowner moves.

FAQ

Two dates anchor Iowa's 65-and-older exemption: January 1 and July 1.

How old do you have to be to get Iowa's homestead exemption for 65 and older?

You have to be 65 or older on January 1 of the year you apply. A birthday after that date means you wait until the next assessment year.

How much is the Iowa homestead exemption for seniors?

Owners 65 and older can exempt $6,500 of taxable value. That comes after the 10% homestead exemption, which is capped at $20,000.

When is the deadline to file for the Iowa homestead exemption?

File with your city or county assessor, or postmark your application, by July 1 of the year you first claim it. A later filing counts as a claim for the following year.

Do you have to reapply for the homestead exemption every year?

No. Once your assessor allows the claim, it continues without more filing as long as you qualify. You do have to tell your assessor in writing if you sell the home or stop using it as your homestead.

Can you also claim the military service exemption?

Yes, if you qualify.