Mont. Code Ann. § 15-6-405 — Homestead Reduced Tax Rate -- Application -- Limitations

15-6-405 .  (Effective January 1, 2026) Homestead reduced tax rate -- application -- limitations. (1) There is a homestead reduced tax rate provided for in 15-6-134 (3)(b)(i) for a principal residence as provided in this section.
(2) (a) Beginning in tax year 2026, the owner of a principal residence may apply to the department to receive the homestead reduced tax rate. The owner of a principal residence who applied for and received the rebate provided for in 15-1-2305 through 15-1-2307 for tax year 2024 automatically qualifies for the homestead reduced tax rate unless subsections (2)(c)(i) through (2)(c)(iii) apply to the principal residence for which the rebate was claimed. The owner of a principal residence who did not receive a rebate under 15-1-2305 through 15-1-2307 , shall apply as provided in this section to receive the homestead reduced tax rate in tax year 2026.
(b) To receive the homestead reduced tax rate for the tax year in which the application is first made, the owner shall apply electronically through the department's website or by mail on a form prescribed by the department between December 1 of the immediately preceding year and March 1. Applications submitted by mail must be postmarked by March 1. Approved applications received electronically or postmarked after March 1 apply to the following tax year.
(c) Once approved, the homestead reduced tax rate remains effective until the end of the tax year in which any of the following events occur:
(i) there is a change in ownership of the property;
(ii) the owner no longer uses the dwelling as a principal residence; or
(iii) the owner applies for a homestead reduced tax rate for a different principal residence.
(d) If a homestead reduced tax rate is terminated pursuant to subsection (2)(c) or 15-6-415 , any remaining property taxes due for the year in which the homestead reduced tax rate is terminated must be based on the tax rate in effect on January 1 of the year in which the homestead reduced tax rate was terminated.
(e) An application for a homestead reduced tax rate must be submitted on a form prescribed by the department and must contain:
(i) a written declaration made under penalty of perjury that the applicant owns and maintains the land and improvements as the principal residence as defined in 15-6-402 . The application must state the penalty provided for in 15-6-415 .
(ii) the geocode or other property identifier of the principal residence for which the applicant is requesting the homestead reduced tax rate;
(iii) the social security number of the applicant; and
(iv) any other information required by the department that is relevant to the applicant's eligibility.
(3) (a) Except as provided in subsection (3)(b), class four residential property owned by an entity is not eligible to receive the homestead reduced tax rate.
(b) The trustee of a grantor revocable trust may apply for a homestead reduced tax rate for a principal residence on behalf of the trust if the dwelling meets the definition of a principal residence for the grantor.
(4) The department shall notify the owner if the homestead reduced tax rate is applied to the property or if the application was denied.