The Affidavit for Homeowner’s Principal Residence Exemption allows you to claim an exemption from some school operating taxes. For your homestead to be eligible, you must own and occupy your property as your principal residence and have filed a homestead exemption affidavit by June 1st, for the summer tax levy, and November 1st, for the winter tax levy. Once filed and granted, it is valid for as long as you own and occupy the property as your principal residence.
Homestead is that portion of a dwelling that is subject to ad valorem (according to value) taxes and is owned and occupied as a principal residence by an owner. Homestead also includes all of an owner's unoccupied property classified as residential that is adjoining or contiguous to the dwelling subject to ad valorem taxes and that is owned and occupied as a principal residence by the owner.
Principal residence is the one place where a person has his or her true fixed and permanent home to which, whenever absent, he or she intends to return and that shall continue as a principal residence until another principal residence is established.
Forms
Homeowner’s Principal Residence Exemption AffidavitRequest to Rescind/Withdraw Homeowner's Principal Residence Exemption
The Affidavit for Homeowner’s Principal Residence Exemption allows you to claim an exemption from some school operating taxes. For your homestead to be eligible, you must own and occupy your property as your principal residence and have filed a homestead exemption affidavit by June 1st, for the summer tax levy, and November 1st, for the winter tax levy. Once filed and granted, it is valid for as long as you own and occupy the property as your principal residence.Conditional Rescission Principal Residence Exemption
This form enables a person who has established a new principal residence to retain a Principal Residence Exemption (PRE) on property previously exempt as the owner's principal residence. The conditional rescission allows an owner to receive a PRE on his or her current property and on previously exempted property simultaneously if certain criteria are met. An owner may receive the PRE on the previous principal residence for up to three years if that property is not occupied, is for sale, is not leased, and is not used for any business or commercial purpose.Principal Residence Exemption Military Affidavit
A person with an established Principal Residence Exemption (PRE) to retain that PRE while on active duty in the United States armed forces if the principal residence is rented or leased. Property that currently qualifies as a principal residence continues to qualify for three years after any portion of the dwelling or unit included in, or constituting the principal residence, is rented or leased to another person and is used as a residence. All of the following conditions must be satisfied:
Changes to the Homestead Exemption as Required by Public Act 140
Public Act 140 of 2003, signed by Governor Granholm on July 31, 2003, with an effective date of January 1, 2004, provides that the word “Homestead” be removed from the exemption statutes and is replaced by the words “Principal Residence.” While Public Act 140 of 2003 uses the words “Principal Residence,” the exemption will be known as the “Homeowner’s Principal Residence Exemption” so that a renter does not mistakenly file for the exemption.
If you purchased your homestead after June 1st or November 1st this year, to claim the homestead exemption, if you have not already done so, you are required to file an affidavit on or before June 1st or November 1st next year.