NEW ORLEANS – Assessor Erroll G. Williams is reminding property owners in Orleans Parish to apply for or make sure their Homestead Exemption, or special assessment due to age, disability or military service, is up to date before Friday, November 20, 2015.
The Homestead Exemption or any other special assessment should have been noted on the Property Assessment letter property owners received from the Assessor’s Office in July or August.
“If you are due a Homestead Exemption or special assessment, there is still time to apply for it before the City of New Orleans calculates your 2016 property tax bill,” said Assessor Williams.
Every homeowner in Orleans Parish is able to claim an exemption from property taxes for the first $75,000 of value of their “domicile” or the home they occupy as their primary residence. The Homestead Exemption is permanent for as long as the individual owns and resides at that property in Orleans Parish.
Once you successfully apply for the Homestead Exemption, you do not need to reapply as long as your domicile remains the same.
To claim a Homestead Exemption, property owners must appear in person at the Assessor’s Office and present the following:
• Proof of ownership (act of sale or warranty deed)
• A valid Louisiana State ID/Driver’s License (address must correspond to property address on application)
• A recent unpaid Entergy bill for that property, with service location and mailing address being the same, showing standard residential usage
• A landline telephone bill or cable bill (Direct, Dish or Cox)
Homeowners who are 65 years of age or older, have a permanent disability, or are the documented surviving spouse of a member of the armed forces of the Louisiana National Guard killed in action, missing in action, or a prisoner of war, may qualify for a Special Assessment Level (SAL). The SAL places a freeze on the property’s assessed value, even though the appraised value may continue to fluctuate with the market.
SALs are permanent except for the disability freeze, which must be applied for annually.
To claim a Homestead Exemption for a 100 percent Disabled Veteran, the following must be presented:
• Proof of ownership (Act of Sale or Warranty Deed)
• Proof owner qualified for the current year’s Homestead Exemption
• A valid Louisiana Driver’s License or Louisiana State I.D. (address must correspond to property’s address on application)
• A current unpaid Entergy bill for the property, with service location and mailing address being the same, showing standard residential usage
• A letter from the Veterans Administration (VA) which states the veteran owner is 100 percent disabled
To qualify for an age-freeze, the homeowner must be at least 65 by August 1st in the year preceding the year the freeze goes into effect. Once successfully gained, this SAL is permanent and you do not need to reapply for it on an annual basis. Age-related abatements or “freezes” must be documented by:
• A valid Louisiana Driver’s License or Louisiana State I.D. (address must correspond to property’s address on application)
• Proof of annual income: 1040 adjusted gross income of prior year’s income tax return
Disability SAL must be reapplied for annually. The Orleans Parish Assessor is asking the Louisiana Legislature to make this exemption permanent, but this approval has not been granted as of Summer, 2014. This special assessment is not to be confused with the 100 percent Veterans Disability. Disability-related abatements or “freezes” must be documented by:
• A valid Louisiana Driver’s License or Louisiana State I.D. (address must correspond to property’s address on application)
• A letter from a federal or state agency confirming the total disability, or
• A service-connected disability of 50 percent or more with a Veterans Administration (VA) letter of determination or notice of award
• Proof of annual income: 1040 adjusted gross income of prior year’s income tax return.
Property owners may visit either the East or West bank offices at City Hall, 1300 Perdido St., Fourth Floor, or on the Algiers Courthouse, 225 Morgan St., weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
