Washington, DC property-tax guide • 2026 official-source update
District of Columbia Homestead Exemption Requirements: 2026 DC Homestead Deduction Guide
Washington, DC officially calls its homeowner benefit the Homestead Deduction, not the homestead exemption. For tax year 2026, an eligible owner-occupied DC residence can receive a $91,950 reduction in assessed value before real property tax is calculated.
At DC’s standard residential rate of $0.85 per $100 of assessed value, the Office of Tax and Revenue states that the 2026 deduction saves $781.58 per year. The benefit can also make the property eligible for DC’s separate Assessment Cap Credit, which generally limits the amount of assessed-value growth subject to tax to 10% per year.
DC’s real property tax year runs from October 1 through September 30. Because August falls in the April 1–September 30 filing period, a properly completed and approved application filed now can receive one-half of the 2026 Homestead Deduction on the second-half tax bill, followed by the full deduction in later tax years while the property continues to qualify.
You do not need to wait for a new tax year to apply. OTR says the application can be submitted on demand.
2026 essentials
DC Homestead Deduction Requirements at a Glance
The basic DC Homestead Deduction is generally for a qualifying residential property that you own, personally occupy, and use as your true principal residence while domiciled in the District. The property may contain up to five dwelling units.
The often-seen $163,500 household-income figure for tax year 2026 applies to DC’s separate Senior Citizen/Disabled Property Owner Tax Relief and disabled-veteran programs—not to the ordinary $91,950 Homestead Deduction.
Search term vs. official program
“DC Homestead Exemption” Is Officially the Homestead Deduction
Homeowners often search for a “District of Columbia homestead exemption,” but OTR’s official terminology is Homestead Deduction.
The distinction matters because this is not a blanket exemption from property taxes. Instead, a specific amount is subtracted from the property’s assessed value before the applicable residential tax rate is calculated.
This simplified illustration does not include assessment-cap credits, senior/disabled relief, special tax classifications or other credits that may alter the final bill.
Core eligibility
District of Columbia Homestead Exemption Requirements
The benefit is not granted simply because a deed lists the property as residential. OTR must receive and approve a Homestead Deduction application.
The DC Code permits qualifying property owned in whole or in part by the individual. Special rules apply to co-ops, certain trusts and community-land-trust arrangements.
The applicant must occupy the property as the qualifying residence rather than merely owning it as an investment.
The property must be the applicant’s genuine principal home—not simply a convenient mailing address or occasional DC residence.
Domicile means DC is your true permanent home, with no fixed intention to abandon it, and the place to which you intend to return after an absence.
The residential property may contain as many as five dwelling units, including the unit occupied by the applicant.
Current DC law defines qualifying homesteads through residential Class 1A or Class 1B property requirements.
DC law says only one person in a household is entitled to claim a homestead in the District.
An individual may claim only one lot as a homestead. If the residence spans more than one lot, the deduction is applied to only one qualifying lot.
Fast self-check
DC Homestead Eligibility Decision Tree
If no, the ordinary owner Homestead Deduction generally does not apply.
Ownership without occupancy is not enough.
DC must be your permanent home rather than a secondary residence.
An owner-occupied duplex, triplex or other qualifying small multifamily can still qualify.
Complete ASD-100 through MyTax.DC.gov and allow OTR to make the official determination.
DC’s tax calendar is unusual
When to File the DC Homestead Deduction
Unlike jurisdictions using a January-to-December property-tax year, the District’s real property tax year runs from October 1 through September 30. The application period determines whether a newly approved applicant receives the full or partial benefit for that tax year.
A properly completed and approved application receives the Homestead Deduction for the entire tax year.
2026 deduction: $91,950A properly completed and approved application receives one-half of the benefit reflected on the second-half bill.
Then full future-year benefit while eligibleAn August applicant who qualifies can still receive the current half-year benefit and establish the full deduction for future tax years. Waiting can unnecessarily delay savings.
The most important non-deed requirement
What “Domicile” Means for the DC Homestead Deduction
OTR defines domicile as an individual’s true permanent home or habitation, without a fixed or definite intent to abandon it, and the place to which the person presently intends to return after any absence.
Merely owning a DC residence, receiving mail there or staying there periodically does not, by itself, establish the domicile required for homestead.
OTR specifically identifies DC identification as an action supporting District domicile.
Registering vehicles in the District helps align official residence records.
Registering to vote in the District is another significant domicile indicator.
OTR says District returns should use the residence for which homestead is sought.
Your federal filing address should also be consistent with the claimed permanent home.
The property must genuinely function as the applicant’s principal residence.
If your driver’s license, vehicle registration, voter registration and tax-return address point to different residences, OTR may need additional information to decide where you are actually domiciled.
Active-duty military members
OTR’s ASD-100 instructions direct active-duty military applicants using DC as their legal residence to provide DD Form 2058, State of Legal Residence Certificate, showing that the District has been declared to the applicable military finance office as the person’s domicile.
Members of Congress and congressional aides
OTR’s published ASD-100 instructions warn that members of Congress are generally not treated as DC domiciliaries merely because they live in the District while serving. Congressional aides retaining domicile and voting residence in a member’s home state can face a similar issue. Applicants in this situation should obtain a fact-specific OTR determination.
Not limited to detached houses
What Types of DC Property Can Qualify?
Standard owner-occupied residential property can qualify.
Common DC row houses can qualify when used as the owner’s principal residence.
A qualifying owner-occupied condominium unit can receive homestead.
The owner can occupy one unit while the property remains within the five-unit limit.
OTR permits qualifying owner-occupied residential property containing no more than five units.
The shareholder applies through the cooperative management or representative.
Specific transfer and continued-residence conditions apply.
DC law can deem a qualifying land-lease occupant to be the owner for homestead purposes.
The applicant must occupy the property as the principal DC residence.
A DC owner does not automatically lose basic eligibility merely because the building contains another residential unit. The important rule is that the applicant occupies the qualifying property as the principal residence and the property contains no more than five dwelling units.
Title structure can change the answer
Trusts, LLCs, Co-Ownership and Community Land Trusts
Revocable trust
OTR states that property transferred to a trust can continue qualifying when:
The property qualified for Homestead before the transfer.
The property is transferred to a revocable trust.
The transfer is not made for money or other consideration.
The applicant/transferor/trustor continues using the property as the principal residence before and after transfer.
Special-needs trust
Current DC law also expressly recognizes certain property owned by the trustee of an irrevocable special-needs trust for a qualifying beneficiary who is deemed the owner under DC’s real-property statutes.
Community land trust
DC Code § 47-850 provides an unusual rule that many general homestead guides miss: an individual occupying real property under a qualifying land lease with a community land trust is deemed the owner for purposes of applying for the Homestead Deduction.
LLC or other business-entity title
OTR’s ASD-100 instructions state that property generally cannot receive the Homestead Deduction when the record owner is a corporation, LLC or other business entity, subject to limited exceptions described in those instructions. If you are considering transferring a homesteaded residence into an LLC, confirm the tax effect with OTR before changing title.
Different application workflow
DC Cooperative Homestead Deduction Requirements
A cooperative resident does not normally follow exactly the same administrative path as a deeded house or condominium owner because the cooperative owns the building while the resident holds shares or another membership interest.
Provide it to the cooperative management company or authorized representative.
The unit must be your true principal residence.
The shareholder/member must actually use the unit as the primary residence.
An applicant occupying two co-op units cannot claim two homestead benefits.
Only one person in the household can qualify for the co-op homestead benefit.
OTR’s cooperative rules prohibit another comparable property benefit in another jurisdiction.
OTR sends annual cooperative Homestead Reconfirmation materials to eligible management companies or representatives. If you live in a co-op, ask management whether your unit is included in the current certification before filing a duplicate request directly with OTR.
Do this before opening ASD-100
Find the Property Address and Square-Suffix-Lot Number
DC property tax records commonly use an SSL — Square, Suffix and Lot identifier. The MyTax application allows the homeowner to locate the property by address or SSL.
Best for a homeowner who does not yet know the property’s SSL.
Best when you already have the square, suffix and lot from a tax or property record.
Use OTR’s property database to review assessment and other property information.
Your latest tax bill should indicate whether Homestead or Senior/Disabled relief is being received.
Prepare before filing
Information to Gather for a DC Homestead Application
The exact online questions can vary with the applicant’s circumstances. Preparing the following information before starting reduces the chance of an incomplete filing.
Property information
- DC property address
- Square, Suffix and Lot when available
- Current ownership information
- Date you acquired or began occupying the residence
Applicant information
- Legal name
- Taxpayer identification information requested by OTR
- Contact information
- Other owners where applicable
Residence evidence
- DC driver’s license or ID information
- DC vehicle registration where applicable
- DC voter-registration information
- District and federal tax-return address
Special title documents
- Trust documents when title has been transferred to a trust
- Co-op ownership or membership information
- Land-lease documentation for qualifying community-land-trust property
Additional relief documents
- Age information
- Household income information
- Statement of Income when required
- Disability documentation where applicable
Special military documentation
- DD Form 2058 when applicable to an active-duty domicile claim
- VA disability evidence for the separate Disabled Veterans’ Homestead Deduction
Exact official workflow
How to Apply for the DC Homestead Deduction on MyTax.DC.gov
OTR’s current procedure allows the Homestead Deduction and Senior/Disabled Tax Relief application to be filed online without logging in to a MyTax account.
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1
Open MyTax.DC.gov
Go directly to the District’s official tax portal rather than a commercial homestead-filing website.
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2
Find the Real Property section
Choose View More Options or use Search Real Property by Address or SSL.
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3
Search for your property
Enter the property address or Square-Suffix-Lot information.
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4
Open the property result
Click the applicable property/SSL hyperlink returned by the search.
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5
Open Applications and Actions
This area contains the available benefit applications associated with the property.
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6
Select ASD-100
Choose the option labeled Submit an Application for Homestead Deduction (Including Senior Citizen/Disabled Tax Relief): ASD-100.
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7
Complete the ownership and domicile questions
Answer based on your actual principal residence, title and household circumstances.
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8
Add Senior/Disabled information only when applicable
The same online process accommodates the separate Senior Citizen/Disabled Property Owner Tax Relief.
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9
Review before submitting
Check the property, owner information and all eligibility certifications carefully.
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10
Save the confirmation number
OTR says you will receive a submission confirmation number and an email containing an image of the submitted application.
OTR’s current Real Property Tax Forms page says a paper ASD-100 can still be used only after requesting and receiving an e-mandate waiver. Call 202-727-4829 if electronic filing is not feasible.
2026 direct tax effect
How Much Does the DC Homestead Deduction Save?
The 2026 Homestead Deduction reduces qualifying assessed value by $91,950. OTR publishes an annual tax saving of $781.58.
| Approved filing period | Current-year deduction treatment | Approximate saving at $0.85 rate | Future years |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 1–March 31 | Full $91,950 | $781.58 | Full benefit while eligible |
| April 1–September 30 | Half benefit on second-half bill | $390.79 | Full benefit while eligible |
The $390.79 half-year amount is a mathematical illustration using one-half of the standard $781.58 annual saving. Actual bills can be affected by property classification, split residential rates, assessment caps and other credits.
Interactive estimate
2026 DC Homestead Deduction Savings Calculator
Enter the assessed value before the Homestead Deduction and select the applicable filing period. The calculator uses the standard Class 1 residential rate of $0.85 per $100.
It does not model the Class 1B high-value split rate, Assessment Cap Credit, Senior/Disabled Tax Relief, disabled-veteran deduction, other tax credits, supplemental assessments or special circumstances.
A second benefit many homeowners overlook
DC Homestead Deduction and the 10% Assessment Cap Credit
Receiving the $91,950 deduction is only part of the long-term value of DC homestead. Qualifying homestead property can also receive the Assessment Cap Credit.
OTR says the ordinary cap generally prevents a property from being taxed on more than a 10% annual increase in assessed value.
OTR explains that the Assessment Cap Credit appears as a credit against the property-tax bill. It does not reduce the assessed value displayed on the assessment notice or tax roll.
A purchaser may receive the seller’s cap credit only for the half of the tax year in which the property was purchased when that credit was already in effect. OTR says the new owner’s own cap credit generally becomes available within approximately one year after OTR receives the new owner’s Homestead Deduction application.
Potentially much larger relief
2026 DC Senior Citizen or Disabled Property Owner Tax Relief
A homeowner who is at least 65 or meets DC’s disability criteria may qualify for a separate benefit that reduces the qualifying property owner’s real property tax by 50%.
The $163,500 test includes federal adjusted gross income of people residing in the household, but OTR excludes tenants paying fair-market rent under a written lease.
Disability documentation
OTR’s published instructions direct a disabled applicant to provide evidence such as:
- A Social Security Administration certification of permanent and total disability; or
- Evidence of qualifying SSI, SSD, federal, District or railroad-retirement disability payments.
The two conditions are alternative qualification routes for the same Senior Citizen/Disabled Property Owner Tax Relief program.
Beyond the 50% reduction
DC Senior Assessment Cap Credit: 2% Limit
A property receiving both the Homestead Deduction and qualifying Senior Citizen/Disabled Property Owner Tax Relief can also qualify automatically for the Senior Assessment Cap Credit.
10% assessment cap
The property generally may not be taxed on more than a 10% annual assessed-value increase.
2% assessment cap
OTR’s senior assessment cap generally restricts the taxable assessed-value increase to 2%.
OTR says the senior cap is automatically applied when the property is receiving both Homestead Deduction and Senior/Disabled Property Owner Tax Relief.
Do not confuse with ordinary homestead
DC Disabled Veterans’ $445,000 Homestead Deduction
DC provides a separate, substantially larger homestead deduction for certain totally and permanently disabled veterans.
The veteran must generally have a VA classification of total and permanent disability resulting from a service-incurred or service-aggravated condition, or be paid at the 100% disability rating level because of unemployability.
OTR states that a property receiving the Disabled Veterans’ Homestead Deduction is not eligible at the same time for the ordinary Homestead Deduction, Senior Citizen/Disabled Tax Relief or the Assessment Cap Credit.
Effective October 1, 2025, DC also provides a potential $445,000 assessed-value deduction for an eligible surviving spouse or domestic partner of a qualifying deceased disabled veteran, subject to the applicable requirements.
A frequent homebuyer mistake
Buying a DC Home: The Seller’s Homestead Is Not Your Homestead
If you bought the property and now use it as your principal DC residence, submit your own Homestead Deduction application. This is also important for establishing your own future Assessment Cap Credit.
After approval
Do You Have to Reapply Every Year?
Ordinarily, no. DC law establishes a one-time filing system. The approved application continues into succeeding tax years while the property remains eligible.
OTR conducts eligibility audits and may request information after approval to confirm that the property continues to qualify.
Your continuing legal responsibility
When You Must Cancel the DC Homestead Deduction
If the property stops qualifying, the owner or authorized representative must notify OTR and submit the cancellation within 30 days of the eligibility change.
The property is no longer your principal residence.
Your permanent home moves outside the District.
A title transfer can affect eligibility and should be reviewed.
The residence no longer satisfies the applicable homestead requirements.
How to cancel online
- Open MyTax.DC.gov.
- Select Search Real Property by Address or SSL.
- Open the property’s SSL hyperlink.
- Select Applications and Actions.
- Choose Submit a Cancellation of Homestead/Disabled Veterans Homestead or Senior/Disabled Tax Relief: ASD-105.
- Complete and submit the cancellation.
OTR warns that additional taxes, interest and penalties can be imposed when the office later determines that a property improperly continued receiving the benefit.
If OTR says no
How to Appeal a DC Homestead Deduction Denial
OTR’s current Real Property Tax Forms page states that the appeal must be submitted within 45 days of the decision-letter date.
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1
Open MyTax.DC.gov
No account login is required for the published benefit-appeal workflow.
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2
Search the property
Use the address or SSL and open the property hyperlink.
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3
Choose Applications and Actions
Look for the Appeal Applications section.
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4
Select Submit a Benefit Appeal Application
Follow the questions and attach the evidence supporting eligibility.
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5
Save the confirmation number
Retain proof that the appeal was filed inside the 45-day period.
Read OTR’s denial notice closely. A domicile dispute requires different evidence from an ownership, trust, occupancy or household-information problem.
Programs many homeowners miss
Other DC Property-Tax Benefits Worth Checking
Trash Credit
Certain condominium, cooperative and homeowners-association units paying for private garbage service instead of District collection may qualify.
Schedule H Property Tax Credit
Eligible DC homeowners and renters may claim a separate individual-income-tax credit. OTR’s current guidance uses different income limits depending on whether the taxpayer is under or over age 70.
Lower-Income Long-Term Homeowner Credit
A homeowner who has owned and occupied the property as the principal residence for at least seven consecutive years, receives Homestead and satisfies the annual income rules may qualify for a separate credit.
Low-Income Senior Tax Deferral
A qualifying senior may defer property taxes instead of paying the entire bill immediately. This is a deferral—not a permanent exemption—and interest may apply.
Each credit, deduction and deferral has its own eligibility rules. Some programs can stack; others are mutually exclusive. Check the current OTR instructions for the specific benefit.
Cash-flow option for qualifying seniors
DC Low-Income Senior Property Tax Deferral
This program is separate from Homestead and from the 50% Senior Citizen Tax Relief. It allows an eligible senior to postpone qualifying property-tax payments.
OTR currently describes both a 6% interest senior deferral and a narrower 0% option for some homeowners age 75 or older who satisfy additional long-term District residence and income requirements.
In-person and telephone help
DC Office of Tax and Revenue Customer Service Center
1101 4th Street, SW
Suite W270
Washington, DC 20024
Main Customer Service:
202-727-4TAX (4829)
E-Services Support:
202-759-1946
Call Center:
8:15 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Walk-In:
9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
TTY: 711
OTR describes the Customer Service Center as conveniently located next to the Waterfront Metro station on the Green Line. OTR’s 2025 reopening notice says appointments are preferred for the walk-in center, so scheduling ahead can reduce unnecessary waiting for a complicated homestead case.
Having the Square-Suffix-Lot identifier, application confirmation number and any OTR decision notice makes it easier for staff to locate the correct real-property account.
Problems homeowners actually encounter
DC Homestead Deduction Troubleshooting
Submit your own ASD-100. The seller’s existing treatment is not your permanent benefit.
Owner occupancy can still qualify when the residential property contains no more than five units, subject to the remaining requirements.
Review OTR’s revocable-trust conditions and provide the appropriate trust information.
Submit ASD-105 within the required 30-day cancellation period.
An approved April–September filing receives the half-year benefit for the current tax year and full future-year benefit while eligible.
Distinguish the property’s displayed assessment from the separate Assessment Cap Credit appearing on the tax bill.
The 50% Senior Citizen Tax Relief is a separate qualification and requires an additional senior/disabled application component and income test.
Preserve the 45-day appeal deadline shown in OTR’s current filing guidance.
DC law permits the Homestead Deduction on only one lot.
Work through the cooperative management company or representative rather than treating the unit exactly like individually deeded real estate.
Contact OTR about an e-mandate waiver so the agency can mail a paper ASD-100.
Check both Senior/Disabled Property Owner Tax Relief and, if applicable, the separate disabled-veteran program rather than stopping at basic homestead.
Pre-submission check
DC Homestead Deduction Application Checklist
I actually occupy the DC property.
The property is my genuine principal residence.
I consider DC my permanent domicile.
I hold a qualifying ownership interest.
The property contains no more than five dwelling units.
I have checked whether a trust, co-op or other title arrangement changes the application process.
My DC license/ID and other domicile records are consistent where applicable.
I have the property address or SSL ready.
I checked whether Senior/Disabled Tax Relief applies.
I checked whether a disabled-veteran benefit applies instead.
I will save the MyTax submission confirmation number.
I understand that I must cancel the benefit within 30 days if eligibility ends.
Frequently asked questions
District of Columbia Homestead Exemption FAQs
How much is the DC Homestead Deduction for 2026?
The Office of Tax and Revenue states that the Homestead Deduction is $91,950 for tax year 2026. This amount is deducted from the qualifying property’s assessed value before tax is calculated.
How much does the 2026 DC Homestead Deduction save?
OTR publishes a standard annual property-tax saving of $781.58 for the $91,950 Homestead Deduction.
Is the DC Homestead Deduction only for seniors?
No. There is no age requirement for the ordinary Homestead Deduction. Senior Citizen/Disabled Property Owner Tax Relief is a separate program.
Is there an income limit for the basic DC Homestead Deduction?
OTR does not impose an income limit on the ordinary Homestead Deduction. Income limits apply to certain additional benefits such as Senior/Disabled Property Owner Tax Relief and the Disabled Veterans’ Homestead Deduction.
What are the main District of Columbia homestead exemption requirements?
An application must be filed with OTR, the applicant must hold a qualifying ownership interest, occupy the residential property, use it as the principal residence, be domiciled in DC and satisfy the applicable residential-property rules. The property can contain no more than five dwelling units.
What does domicile mean for DC homestead?
OTR defines domicile as the person’s true permanent home, with no fixed intention of abandoning it, and the place to which the person intends to return after an absence.
How can I prove DC domicile?
OTR identifies actions such as obtaining a DC driver’s license or identification card, registering a vehicle in the District, registering to vote in DC and using the residence on District and federal income-tax returns.
Can I get DC homestead if my home has a rental unit?
Potentially. OTR allows qualifying owner-occupied residential property containing no more than five dwelling units. The applicant must still occupy the property as the principal residence and satisfy the other requirements.
Can a duplex qualify for DC Homestead Deduction?
Yes, a qualifying owner-occupied duplex can potentially receive the Homestead Deduction because the program permits residential property containing up to five dwelling units.
Can a condo qualify for the DC Homestead Deduction?
Yes. A qualifying owner-occupied condominium used as the applicant’s principal DC residence can receive the Homestead Deduction.
Can a DC co-op resident get homestead?
Yes, when the cooperative requirements are satisfied. The shareholder or member generally submits the application through the cooperative management company or authorized representative, and the benefit is administered through the cooperative.
Can property in a revocable trust keep the DC Homestead Deduction?
Potentially. OTR states that an already qualifying property can continue receiving homestead when transferred to a revocable trust without consideration and the applicant continues using it as the principal residence before and after the transfer.
Can an irrevocable special-needs trust qualify?
Current DC law contains a specific provision recognizing certain real property held in an irrevocable special-needs trust for a beneficiary who is deemed to be the owner under the applicable statute.
Can a community land trust homeowner get the DC Homestead Deduction?
Current DC law says an individual occupying qualifying real property under a land lease with a community land trust can be deemed the owner for purposes of applying for the Homestead Deduction.
Can an LLC-owned DC home receive homestead?
OTR’s ASD-100 instructions state that property owned of record by an LLC, corporation or other business entity generally does not qualify, subject to limited exceptions. Confirm the effect with OTR before transferring a homesteaded residence to a business entity.
Can two people in the same household each claim DC homestead?
DC Code provides that only one person in a household is entitled to claim a homestead in the District.
Can I claim the Homestead Deduction on two lots?
No. DC law says an individual may claim only one lot as a homestead. If the homestead comprises more than one lot, the deduction is applied to only one.
What happens if I apply between October 1 and March 31?
A properly completed and approved application filed during that period receives the Homestead Deduction for the entire tax year.
What happens if I apply between April 1 and September 30?
OTR says an approved application receives one-half of the benefit reflected on the second-half tax bill and then receives the full deduction in future tax years while eligibility continues.
Can I apply for DC Homestead Deduction in August 2026?
Yes. August falls within the April 1–September 30 period. A qualifying approved applicant can receive the applicable half-year benefit for tax year 2026 and full future-year treatment while eligible.
Do I need a MyTax DC account to file the Homestead Deduction?
No login is required for the workflow published by OTR. From MyTax.DC.gov, search the property by address or SSL and choose the ASD-100 Homestead Deduction application under Applications and Actions.
What is an SSL number in DC property records?
SSL means Square, Suffix and Lot. It is a property identifier used in DC real-property records and can be used to locate the property in MyTax and other OTR systems.
Do I have to reapply for DC homestead every year?
Generally no. DC uses a one-time filing system, and an approved application carries forward while the property continues to qualify. OTR can conduct audits and request updated eligibility information.
What is the DC Homestead Assessment Cap Credit?
The Assessment Cap Credit is a separate benefit associated with qualifying homestead property. OTR says it generally prevents the property from being taxed on more than a 10% annual increase in assessed value.
Does the 10% assessment cap reduce the assessed value shown on my notice?
No. OTR says the cap appears as an automatic credit against the real property tax bill rather than reducing the assessed value shown on the assessment notice or tax roll.
What is the DC senior property-tax benefit for 2026?
A qualifying senior or disabled property owner can receive a 50% reduction in property tax. For tax year 2026, the qualifying owner must generally own at least 50% of the property and the 2024 total household federal adjusted gross income must be less than $163,500.
What is the DC senior assessment cap?
A property receiving both Homestead Deduction and qualifying Senior or Disabled Property Owner Tax Relief generally receives an automatic 2% assessment cap credit rather than the ordinary 10% cap.
How much is the DC Disabled Veterans’ Homestead Deduction?
The current special deduction is $445,000 of assessed value for a qualifying disabled veteran, subject to disability, ownership, residence, domicile and household-income requirements.
Can I receive the $445,000 veteran deduction and ordinary homestead together?
No. OTR states that property receiving the Disabled Veterans’ Homestead Deduction cannot simultaneously receive the ordinary Homestead Deduction, Senior Citizen/Disabled Property Owner Tax Relief or Assessment Cap Credit.
How quickly must I cancel homestead after moving out?
The owner or authorized representative must submit a cancellation within 30 days after the property becomes ineligible.
What is the deadline to appeal a denied DC Homestead Deduction?
OTR’s current Real Property Tax Forms page states that a benefit appeal must be submitted within 45 days of the date of the OTR decision letter.
Where can I get in-person DC homestead help?
The OTR Customer Service Center is at 1101 4th Street SW, Suite W270, Washington, DC 20024. Current published walk-in hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the main customer-service number is 202-727-4829.
Primary-source research
Official Sources Used for This DC Homestead Guide
This article prioritizes current Office of Tax and Revenue instructions, current DC Code provisions and official MyTax resources rather than third-party property-tax filing websites.
This article was reviewed against current official District sources on August 23, 2026. The standard Homestead Deduction is $91,950 for tax year 2026 and OTR publishes a corresponding standard annual saving of $781.58.
Annual deduction amounts, income thresholds, tax rates, application screens, benefit limits and agency procedures can change. Tax-year-specific figures should be rechecked before a consequential filing or property-tax calculation.
Independent Property-Tax Guide: This website is an independent informational resource. It is not operated by, affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, MyTax.DC.gov, Council of the District of Columbia, Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs or another DC government agency.
This guide explains publicly available DC Homestead Deduction requirements and related property-tax programs. It does not make an eligibility determination and is not legal, financial or tax advice. Domicile, ownership, trust terms, cooperative status, household composition, property classification and other facts can change the result. Verify a consequential filing question with the District agency responsible for the benefit.