Iowa law provides for a number of credits and exemptions. It is the property owner's responsibility to apply for these as provided by law. It is also the property owner's responsibility to report to the Assessor when he or she is no longer eligible for any credit or exemption previously applied for. Please visit the Assessor's Office to complete applications forms for any credit or exemption being claimed.

Following is a list of several credits and exemptions available in Iowa:

To qualify for the credit, the property owner must be a resident of Iowa and occupy the property on July 1 and for at least six months of every year. New applications for homestead tax credit are to be filed with the Assessor on or before July 1 of the year the credit is first claimed. Once a person qualifies, the credit continues until the property is sold or until the owner no longer qualifies. This credit reduces the value on which taxes are calculated by a maximum of $4,850. (Refer to Code of Iowa, Chapter 425)

This credit may be claimed by any disabled veteran of any military forces of the United States, who acquired homestead property under 38 U.S.C. Sections 21.801 and 21.802 or Sections 2101 or 2102 provided that the veteran's annual income and that of the veteran's spouse do not exceed $35,000. The amount of the credit is a maximum of the entire amount of tax payable on the homestead. (Refer to Code of Iowa, Chapter 425.15)

1. Honorable discharged veteran who served for a minimum aggregate of eighteen months.
2. Honorable discharged veteran who served for fewer than eighteen months because of a service related injury.
3. Honorable discharged former member of Reserve Forces or Iowa National Guard who served at least 20 years.
4. Member of Reserve Forces or Iowa National Guard who have served at least 20 years and continue to serve.
5. Honorable discharged former member of the Armed Forces if any portion of their term of enlistment would have occurred within the Korean Conflict but who opted to serve 5 years in the reserve forces as allowed by Federal law.
6. Honorably discharged veteran who served in an eligible service period (Iowa Code Chapter 35)

Eligible Service Dates:

• WW 1 - April 6, 1917 through Nov 11, 1918
• Occupation of Germany - Nov 12, 1918 through July 11, 1923
• American Expeditionary Forces in Serbia - Nov 12, 1918 through April 30, 1920
• Second Haitian Suppression of Insurrections - 1919 through 1920
• Second Nicaragua Campaign with Marines or Navy - 1926 through 1933
• Yangtze Service with Navy and Marines - 1926 through 1927 and 1930 through 1932
• China Service with Navy and Marines - 1937 through 1939
• WW II - Dec 7, 1941 through Dec 31, 1946
• Korean - June 25, 1950 through Jan 31, 1955
• Vietnam - Feb 28, 1961 through May 7, 1975
• Lebanon on Grenada Service - Aug 24, 1982 through July 31, 1984
• Panama Service - Dec 20, 1989 through Jan 31, 1990
• Persian Gulf - Aug 2, 1990 through Still Open

Application must be made with the Assessor on or before July 1 of the year the exemption is first claimed. The military certificate of satisfactory service, order transferring to inactive status, reserve, retirement, order of separation from service, or honorable discharge must be recorded in the Office of the County Recorder. Members of the Reserve Forces or Iowa National Guard who have served at least 20 years and continue to serve shall record the veteran's retirement points accounting statement issued by the armed forces of the United States, the state adjutant general, or the adjutant general of any other state. The exemption from taxation is $2,778 for WWI veterans and $1,852 for all other service periods. If the qualified veteran does not claim the exemption the spouse, unmarried widow(er), minor child or widowed parent may be eligible to claim the exemption. (Refer to Iowa Code Chapter 426A)

This is a tax credit on agricultural tracts of land 10 acres or more that are farmed by the owner or immediate family members (this includes brothers/sisters, sons/daughters, granchildren, great-grandchildren, uncles/aunts, nephews/nieces.) Beginning July 1, 2001, this tax credit went to a one-time signing. New applications for family farm tax credit are to be filed with the Assessor on or before November 1 of the year the credits is first claimed. Once a person qualifies, the credit continues until the property is sold or until the owner no longer qualifies. Applications are taken in the Assessor's Office. (Refer to Iowa Code Chapter 425A)