A homestead is defined as the actual residence of a natural person, who is a citizen of Oklahoma, who can provide record of actual ownership of the residence, and who is domiciled at the residence. In plain English, if you are an Oklahoma citizen and own the house you live in, that is your homestead. Oklahoma law allows for Oklahoma citizens to apply for a homestead exemption of $1,000.00 on the assessed valuation of their homestead for Ad Valorem Taxes. There is a special homestead exemption that assists our totally disabled veteran (A veteran with a 100% permanent disability certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs) population.
Since January 1, 2006, the Oklahoma Constitution has allowed for totally disabled veterans, or their surviving spouse, to claim an exemption for the full amount of the fair cash value of their homestead. To apply for this exemption, a disabled veteran must prove that they meet the following requirements:
1. They have been honorably discharged from a branch of the Armed Forces or the Oklahoma National Guard;
2. They are a resident of Oklahoma, which may be proven by documentation such as a driver’s license;
3. They have been found to have 100% permanent disability;
4. The disability was sustained either through military action or accident, or from a disease contracted during active service;
5. The disability has been certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs;
6. They can provide to the county assessor an original benefits award letter for qualification specific to this homestead exemption issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; and
7. They qualify for the homestead exemption.
Once the exemption has been granted, qualifying individuals do not need to reapply unless they experience a status change (e.g., material improvement in medical condition). However, if you relocate to a new homestead, a new Disabled Veteran Application will need to be filed. It is important to note that this exemption is not retroactive and cannot be applied to prior tax years.
