Tax Relief for Homesteads and Long-term Rentals

Tax Relief for Homesteads and Long-term Rentals

Tax Relief for Homesteads and Long-term Rentals The enrollment portal is now open for 2027 tax year applications. See if you qualify today Below is a summary of changes to Montana's Property laws for "homesteads" and long-term rentals. To qualify you must be enrolled. Verify Enrollment Check the status of your application or verify whether your property is enrolled to receive the reduced tax rate on a homestead or long-term rental property. Verify Your Enrollment Enroll Online The application period for the Homestead and Long-term rental reduced tax rate for the 2027 tax year is May 4, 2026 - March 1, 2027. Enroll Online What Qualifies as a Homestead or Long-term Rental? Homesteads (Principal Residences) Qualifying Criteria: You live in the property for at least 7 months of the year. You are current on payment of the property taxes. Eligible Ownership: The property must be owned by an individual, a couple, or a grantor revocable trust. Ineligible Ownership: Properties owned by a corporate entity—except for grantor revocable trusts—are ineligible for the homestead reduced rate. This includes properties owned by a limited liability company, partnership, corporation, or irrevocable trust. Long-term Rentals Qualifying Criteria: The property is rented to tenants for 28+ days at a time. The property is rented for 7+ months of the year. The property rented is the tenant's residence. You are current on payment of the property taxes. Eligible Ownership: Property owned by an LLC, corporation, or irrevocable trust does qualify for the long-term rental reduced tax rate. Property owned by an individual, couple, or grantor revocable trust also qualifies. Eligible property types include: Single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums Manufactured/mobile homes (including up to 1 acre of land) OBYs with living space and 1-acre homesite Homes located on agricultural or forest land Multi-family properties such as duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes etc. Special Note for Principal Residences (Homesteads) that include rental units. While the portion of value associated with your principal residence may be automatically enrolled to receive the homestead reduced tax rate because you received a 2025 tax rebate, you will still need to individually enroll any other dwellings on the property as long-term rentals in order to receive the reduced rates on that portion of the property's value as well. Tax Rates for Homesteads and Long-term Rentals In 2026, tiered tax rates will apply to homesteads and long-term rentals. 2026 Property Tax Rates by Assessed Value The reduced tax rate follows a tiered (incremental) structure. Each portion of your property’s market value is taxed at the rate listed for that bracket — not the total value. For Tax Year 2026: 0.76% on the first $378,000 of market value 0.90% on the portion between $378,001 and $756,000 1.10% on the portion between $756,001 and $1,511,999 1.90% on any portion over $1,512,000 or greater Tax Rates for Agricultural and Forest Land Properties Non-qualified Agricultural Land Parcels Land: 14.35% flat rate If the parcel has a primary residence or long-term rental: home + 1-acre homesite taxed at tiered residential rate If it's a second home or short-term rental: home + 1-acre homesite taxed at 1.90% flat rate Qualified Agricultural Land Parcels Automatically qualified if 160+ acres; smaller parcels require proof of agricultural use and income Land: 2.05% flat rate Residence rules: Primary residence or long-term rental: taxed at tiered rate Second home or short-term rental: taxed at 1.35% flat rate Forest Land Parcels Land: 0.37% flat rate If a dwelling exists: Primary residence or long-term rental: taxed at tiered rate Second home or short-term rental: taxed at 1.90% flat rate Homestead Resources Frequently Asked Questions Not sure where to start? Our FAQs cover the most common questions about homesteads and long-term rental properties. Homestead FAQs Long-term Rental FAQs Geocode Search Using Cadastral to Find Your Geocode (PDF, 945 KB) Was Your Application Denied? Request an Informal Review