AARP: Property Tax Relief deadlines are approaching

AARP Wyoming is alerting the public that the end of May holds important deadlines for those who wish to apply for the Property Tax Relief in Wyoming. On May 1, AARP Wyoming hosted a TeleTown Hall and webinar on property tax relief with Wyoming Department of Revenue Director Brenda Henson, who offered a short overview and deadline for each of the state’s property tax relief programs. AARP Wyoming has broken the call up by exemption and posted video explainers at facebook.com/aarpwy, or simply click below under the program name to learn what relief you may qualify for.

Property Tax Refund Program 

To see the Wyoming Department of Revenue Explaining the Refund, click here.

The deadline for applying for the Property Tax Refund is June 2. To apply for the refund program, click here. 

The Property Tax Refund program allows for eligible residents to ask for a refund on their previous year’s property taxes. There are some requirements, including the need to have been a Wyoming resident for the last five years, and occupying the residence you are asking for a refund on for at least nine months out of the year. 

There is a means test for this program – your household income is equal to or less than 145% of the median household income for the county in which you reside. You may apply for a refund if you have real estate (other than your own home), bank accounts, investments (not including retirement), that do not exceed $163,019. For many counties in Wyoming, that means a household income of $109,981 or less, though some counties’ household income is much more, including Campbell ($133,139), Converse ($115,754), Crook ($112,897), Laramie ($111,331), Lincoln ($129,529), Sublette ($116,841), Sweetwater ($111,650), Teton County ($192,459), Uinta ($117,856), and Weston ($111,447) Counties.

Because this program is funded by the state, there is no negative impact to counties, schools, or other taxing entities in the State.

Long-Term Homeowners Exemption

To see the Wyoming Department of Revenue Explaining the Exemption, click here.

The Long-Term Homeowners Exemption was passed in the 2024 Legislative Session but goes into effect for the first time in 2025. This exemption allows those who fill out an application with their local assessor to exempt half of the value of their property tax on a primary residence if they have paid residential property tax in Wyoming for 25 years or more and are age 65 or older. The exemption is required to go through your local assessor, a list of whom can be found here. The deadline for this program is May 27. This exemption will have negative financial impacts to counties, cities, schools, and other taxing entities in Wyoming. The full impacts of this exemption won’t be known until later this summer.

Impacts of Senate File 69

To see the Wyoming Department of Revenue Explaining the Impacts of SF69, click here.

In the 2025 Legislative Session, the Wyoming Legislature passed Senate File 69, which allows for a 25% exemption on the first $1 million in value of a primary residence and the associated land. There is no need to apply for this exemption. It will simply show up on your assessment fee schedule. For 2026, owner-occupied homes will be eligible for this exemption, but homeowners will have to notify the county assessor the home is owner-occupied. That process is still being developed.

Veterans Exemption

To see the Wyoming Department of Revenue Explaining the Exemption, Click here.

The State’s Veteran’s Exemption has been doubled from $3,000 to $6,000 over the past two years, which is substantial. A new exemption for the surviving spouse or parents of Gold Star veterans will take effect on July 1, 2025. 

To see Director Henson’s presentation in its entirety click here. For more information, contact Tom Lacock at AARP Wyoming by writing to tlacock@aarp.org or calling 307-432-5802.