Add How do I get a Homeowner's Exemption? New property owners will usually receive an exemption application within 90 days of recording a deed. If you acquired the property more than 90 days ago and have not received an application, please call 714-834-3821 for an application.
To be eligible for SCHE, you must be 65 or older, earn no more than $58,399 for the last calendar year, and the property must be your primary residence. The exemption must be renewed every two years. Learn more and get answers to frequently asked questions.
You must live in the home to qualify for the tax break. Some states exempt a certain percentage of a home's value from property taxes, while other states exempt a set dollar amount. If your state uses a percentage method, the exemption will be more valuable to homeowners with more valuable homes.
First-time Homestead Exemption applicants and persons applying for the Homestead Assessment Difference (Portability) can file online.
If you own and occupy property in Orange County and the property is your permanent residence as of January 1, applying for a Homestead exemption could reduce the assessed value of your Homestead property by up to $50,000, resulting in a tax savings of approximately $750 annually.
The Homestead Act, enacted during the Civil War in 1862, provided that any adult citizen, or intended citizen, who had never borne arms against the U.S. government could claim 160 acres of surveyed government land. Claimants were required to live on and “improve” their plot by cultivating the land.