Who can get it and how can I apply?

Seniors in Delaware may be eligible for tax credits to lower their regular school property tax burden. Delaware’s property tax deduction is available to homeowners age 65 and older. Eligible homeowners can receive a tax credit of up to $500.

Property Tax Deduction in Delaware: Who Can Get It?

Delaware offers a tax credit for school property taxes (formally known as Senior School Property Tax Relief) to homeowners age 65 and older. The deduction amount is 50% of the beneficiary’s tax liability or $500, whichever is less. The credit only applies to property taxes on the recipient’s primary residence.

To qualify for the property tax deduction in Delaware, homeowners must be 65 years of age or older by June 30 of the year they apply. Additionally, the property you are applying for must be your primary residence.

There is also a 10-year residency requirement for new applicants. That means anyone who established a legal address in Delaware after January 1, 2018 must have had a legal address in the state for at least 10 years to qualify for the tax credit.

People who established a legal address in the state after December 31, 2012, but before January 1, 2018, must have had a legal address in the state for at least three years to qualify for the credit. People who established their legal address before January 1, 2013, may receive the tax credit in the following tax year.

How to apply?

Seniors must complete an application for credit consideration and submit it to their county of residence by April 30. Delaware’s property tax credit application is available online at the Treasury Department website.

Applicants must provide a copy of their driver’s license or other official state identification to complete the application. Applicants must also state whether they are the sole owner of the property.

More than one person can claim the credit for the same property if they meet the requirements. However, only one full credit is allowed per attribute. This means that the co-owners who share the bond are based on their ownership interest in the property.

The credit amount will be automatically deducted from the applicant’s property tax bill before it is mailed by the county.

Beneficiaries do not need to reapply for the credit each year. However, homeowners must pay their property tax bill in full by the end of each tax year to qualify for the property tax deduction for the following year.

For more information about the Senior School Property Tax Relief Program, visit the State Treasury website or call Sussex County (802-855-7871), New Castle County (302-395-5520), or Kent County (302-744-2341). Please contact us.