2026 Homestead Reduced Tax Rate FAQs

The Homestead Reduced Rate lowers property taxes for homeowners who occupy their Montana home as their principal residence for at least seven months per year. This classification carries a reduced tax rate compared to standard Class 4 residential property.

For a general explanation of how these changes can affect your property tax bill, see the Property Tax Explainer.

No. Agricultural and forest designations are separate property use classifications with different standards and income requirements.

To qualify for the Homestead Reduced Rate, all the following must be true:

• The property is your principal residence for at least seven months each year,
• You or your revocable grantor trust own the property,
• You are current on all property tax payments, and
• This is the only residence you will claim a Homestead Reduced Rate for.

Only revocable grantor trusts qualify if the occupant is the grantor and uses the home as their principal residence.

Homes owned by other entities like irrevocable trusts or LLCs do not qualify for the Homestead Reduced Rate. However, those properties may qualify for the Long-Term Rental Reduced Rate if they meet the requirements of and enroll in that program.

The property qualifies for the Homestead Reduced Rate as long as one of the owners meets the qualifications.

No. You must be current on your property taxes to be eligible for the Homestead Reduced Rate.

“Current” means:

• All past property taxes are paid.
• For 2025 taxes, you must have paid in full or made the first-half payment.

Generally, no. You can only have one principal residence.

Yes, but how it is applied depends on the property’s prior enrollment status:

• If the home was already enrolled for a reduced tax rate (homestead or long-term rental) before your purchase, that reduced rate will remain in place for 2026, and your tax bill will reflect the reduced rate. You will need to enroll your property for the homestead reduced rate for it to continue beyond the end of the year.
• If the home was not previously enrolled, the property will be taxed at the flat rate of 1.9% for 2026, but you can claim a refund of the difference between the flat rate and the homestead rate between January 1, 2027, and May 31, 2027. You will also need to enroll your property for the homestead reduced rate for it to apply in 2027.

Go to Homestead.mt.gov. You can:

• Enroll your property for the Homestead Reduced Rate,
• Check your enrollment with the Homestead Enrollment Verification Tool using your property’s geocode, and
• Update ownership or address information.

You do not need to enroll if you received a property tax rebate in 2025 and still own and live in the same home for at least 7 months in 2026. You don’t need to take any further action; you’re already enrolled for the reduced tax rate.

You can verify your enrollment here: Verification Page.

You must enroll if:

• You no longer use the dwelling that qualified for the 2025 rebate as your principal residence,
• You moved,
• The property was sold or transferred, or
• Ownership has changed since you received the rebate.

You will also need to enroll if you did not get a property tax rebate in 2025 or you recently bought or built a new home.

You must enroll between December 1, 2025 and March 20, 2026 to qualify for 2026.

If you recently purchased or built a home, did not receive the 2025 rebate, or no longer own or use the dwelling that qualified for the 2025 rebate, you must enroll during this period.

View our enrollment page to enroll online or download an application to submit by mail.

The Department of Revenue’s Call Center at 406-444-6900 and local Department of Revenue offices can assist with documentation or eligibility questions. You can find your local office here: Local County Field Office Contact Info.

Yes. If the home you purchased already has the Homestead Reduced Rate, you’ll get that rate for the rest of the year. To keep it for the following year, you must enroll as the new owner during the December 1 to March 20 enrollment period.

If the home was not enrolled for the Homestead Reduced Rate, and it is purchased before March 1, you can enroll the home for the current tax year by March 1. If you do not timely enroll or you purchase your new home after March 20, your home will be taxed at the standard Class 4 residential rate for the rest of the year, then you can enroll for the Homestead Reduced Rate during the December 1 to March 20 enrollment period for the next year.

You will need to enroll your newly-built home for the Homestead Reduced Rate through Homestead.mt.gov.

To enroll a new home, you must submit a 2026 Montana Application for a Reduced Property Tax Rate on a Principal Residence (Homestead) by March 20, 2026 to receive the reduced rate for 2026. If your new home is not built by March 20, 2026, you may apply for the Homestead Reduced Rate for 2027.

Yes. If both individuals are listed as owners of the property and each occupies a separate home on the property as their principal residence, each owner may submit a homestead application for the home they occupy.

When submitting your applications, please include a brief written explanation clarifying that there are two separate dwellings on the property. This will help prevent the applications from being mistakenly flagged as duplicates for a single residence.

Yes. You may apply for:

• The homestead reduced tax rate on the residence you occupy as your principal home; and
• The long-term rental reduced tax rate on the second residence, provided it meets all the requirements of a long-term rental.

Be sure to submit the appropriate application for each residence and confirm that both meet the eligibility requirements.

Yes, if there is infrastructure or improvements located on the adjacent lot that are used in connection with your residence. For example, the adjoining lot may qualify if the septic field, garage, or driveway associated with the primary residence is located on the lot.

To request the reduced tax rate, you must submit an application with the geocode of the adjoining lot and provide an explanation describing why the lot is integral to your homestead.

The Homestead Reduced Rate only applies to the portion of your property used as your principal residence.

For properties listed under one geocode that include multiple dwellings—such as a duplex, two homes, or a home with an accessory dwelling unit (ADU)—the remaining dwellings do not automatically receive a reduced rate.

If the other dwellings qualify for the Long-term Rental Reduced Rate, you may enroll each of them between December 1, 2025, and March 20, 2026. Use our enrollment portal to apply.

If the cabin is not the principal residence of one of the current owners, it will not qualify for the Homestead Reduced Rate.

If you rent the cabin for periods of 28 days or more for at least 7 months of the year to tenants who occupy the cabin as a residence, it may qualify for the Long-term Rental Reduced Rate. For more information see Homestead.MT.Gov and the 2026 Long-term Rental Reduced Rate FAQs.

You can find your property’s geocode using one of the following methods:

• Go to the Montana Cadastral website and use the address search option, entering the address of your principal residence. A map of your property and related information will be generated, including your geocode.
• Use the owner search option at the Montana Cadastral website by entering the county where your residence is located from the dropdown menu and your name. All of the properties in your name will be shown and an associated address. You can click on the address associated with your principal residence property. A map of the property and related information will be generated, including your geocode.
• Visit property.mt.gov and enter your name or property address in the search field. Select your property to view details, including improvement information and geocode.

If you need additional help, visit or call your local Property Assessment Division field office.

Go to Homestead.mt.gov to enroll, verify, or update your information.