Homeowners can apply for the second property tax refund in Montana until October 1
This story is an excerpt from the MT informationa weekly newsletter with original reports and analysis published every Friday.
Montana homeowners have until Oct. 1 to apply for the second of two rounds of property tax refunds approved by the Montana Legislature last year, potentially allowing them to get up to $675 back on their 2023 tax bill.
Gov. Greg Gianforte has touted the tax breaks as a short-term measure to offset the dramatic increase in property taxes last year. Residential taxes rose an average of 21 percent across the state, according to an MTFP analysis. Both Democrats and Republicans have said they plan to pass some form of longer-term tax relief when the House meets again next year.
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Republicans and Democrats put forward proposals to reduce property taxes
Candidates from across Montana’s political spectrum expect the increase in residential property taxes in 2023 to be top of mind for many voters when they head to the polls in November. As a result, Republican and Democratic caucuses are proposing various strategies to provide property tax relief to homeowners as candidates compete for the support of frustrated voters this year.
According to the state’s Department of Revenue, the rebates are available for homes, condos and mobile homes that were occupied by their owners for at least seven months in the last year. Only one rebate per household is allowed, and homes held through a corporation or some type of trust are not eligible. Additionally, lawmakers have not approved rebates for renters, even though a landlord’s tax bill is typically rolled into rent payments.
For more information about the discounts and how to apply, visit the State Tax Authority’s website.
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