HB 94 allows disabled veterans and their unremarried surviving spouses to prequalify for the disabled veteran property tax homestead exclusion. This means individuals can apply to determine their eligibility for the tax benefit before they purchase a permanent residence. Applicants submit a prequalification form with their disability certification, and the county assessor must notify them of their eligibility within 30 days. The bill aims to help taxpayers and lenders account for this tax relief when making home purchase decisions. After prequalification, a separate application for the exclusion is still required once a permanent residence is acquired.
HB 59 would increase the income eligibility limit for North Carolina's elderly or disabled property tax homestead exclusion from $25,000 to $48,000 for taxable years beginning July 1, 2026. This change would directly affect homeowners aged 65 or older, or those who are totally and permanently disabled, who meet other criteria (like being a North Carolina resident and owning their home as a permanent residence). The bill modifies the existing rule that currently limits eligibility to those with incomes under $25,000, raising the threshold to $48,000 while maintaining the exclusion amount as the greater of $25,000 or 50% of the home's appraised value. The change aims to expand access to this property tax relief for qualifying low-to-moderate income homeowners. (Note: The bill was withdrawn in June 2025 and has not become law.)
SB 109, the Veterans Appreciation Act, increases property tax relief for disabled veterans in North Carolina by expanding the homestead exclusion to cover the value increase from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) housing grants. It directly affects disabled veterans who receive VA housing grants for service-connected disabilities, allowing them to exclude up to $45,000 of their home’s appraised value plus grant-funded improvements from property taxes. The bill adds a prequalification process, letting veterans apply in advance of purchasing a home to confirm eligibility, with county assessors required to notify applicants within 30 days. This change takes effect for property taxes on homes owned after July 1, 2025.
HB 39 excludes motor vehicles owned by veterans with a 100% disability rating certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs from North Carolina property tax. It amends state tax law to add these vehicles as a designated exempt class under G.S. 105-275. The exclusion applies to vehicles registered on or after January 1, 2026. This policy directly affects eligible disabled veterans who own motor vehicles, reducing their property tax burden. The bill does not change eligibility criteria or tax rates for other vehicle classes.
HB 115 exempts properly licensed child care facilities from property tax if they are used exclusively for child care. It applies to facilities operating under North Carolina's child care licensing rules (Chapter 110) and excludes both the building and necessary adjacent land from taxation. Partial exemptions are allowed if only part of a facility serves child care, but facilities on probation or with suspended licenses lose the exemption. The tax exemption takes effect for property taxes due on or after July 1, 2026.
SB 128, the Heroes Homestead Act, increases the property tax exemption for disabled veterans in North Carolina from $45,000 to $76,500 of a home's appraised value. This change directly affects qualifying disabled veterans who own and occupy their primary residence, providing greater tax relief on their homes. The bill amends North Carolina's property tax law to set the new exclusion amount, effective for taxes due on or after July 1, 2026. It does not apply to other property tax relief programs.
This bill increases North Carolina's income limit for the property tax homestead exclusion for elderly or disabled homeowners from $25,000 to $48,000, effective for taxes due in 2025. It applies to qualifying homeowners whose income would otherwise disqualify them from the exclusion. The new limit will automatically adjust annually based on Social Security cost-of-living adjustments, rounded to the nearest $100. This change directly affects low-to-moderate-income elderly or disabled homeowners seeking property tax relief.
SB 143 expands North Carolina's property tax exemption for disabled veterans by increasing the excluded value from the previous amount to $45,000 of a home's appraised value. It applies to veterans who own and occupy their permanent residence as their primary home, excluding this amount from property taxes. The bill prohibits qualifying veterans from using this exemption alongside other property tax relief programs. This change takes effect for property taxes due on or after July 1, 2025.
SB 159 creates a property tax relief program for North Carolina seniors aged 65+ who own and occupy their primary residence for at least five consecutive years. It allows qualifying owners to defer taxes on increases in their home's appraised value above the "qualifying value" (the value when first applying for relief), freezing tax increases on appreciation. The deferral ends if the owner sells the home, dies (unless inherited by a spouse or co-owner who continues living there), or stops using it as a primary residence. This program applies to taxes for 2026 and beyond, with applications accepted through June 1 each year.
SB 178 modifies how self-storage facilities are taxed in North Carolina by changing the property assessment standard. It excludes "business intangible value" (such as future profits or brand value) from the taxable assessment, requiring counties to base taxes only on the land and depreciated improvements. This directly affects self-storage facility owners, as their property taxes will now be calculated differently starting in 2026. The bill updates existing tax law to align with a specific definition of self-storage facilities from state code.
