‘You can’t have them both’: Fremont County Assessor addresses ‘confusion’ about new property tax exemptions

(Lander, WY) – Fremont County Assessor Tara Berg took a few minutes this week to review the new tax exemptions available to property owners in the state, citing “a lot of confusion” among local residents about which exemptions to apply for.

Wyoming property owners can only receive one of the following exemptions, Berg explained: either the 50 percent property tax exemption for long-term homeowners, or the 25 percent property tax exemption for all local homeowners – not both.

“If you are applying for the long-term homeowners (exemption) and received it last year, do not apply for the 25 percent,” she said during a Fremont County Commission meeting Tuesday. “I’ve got a lot of people that have done that, (because) they’re confused – and I understand that. …  It is confusing.

“You can have 25 percent or 50, but you can’t have them both.”

To help clear up the confusion, Berg said she decided to send a letter to everyone who received the long-term homeowners’ exemption last year, accompanied by an affidavit they can sign to renew their application for this year.

Her “postage budget took a little bit of a hit,” but Berg said the strategy has “worked well,” with more than 200 affidavits already returned to her office.

To be eligible for the long-term homeowners’ exemption, property owners must be 65 years of age or older, have paid taxes in the state for the last 25 years, and live at the property as their primary residence for at least eight months of the year, according to information available on the Assessor’s website.

Property owners who just became eligible for the long-term homeowner’s exemption this year can obtain an application through the Assessor’s office, Berg said in a Facebook post last week.

25 percent

People who don’t meet the requirements for the long-term homeowners exemption can still receive the 25 percent property tax exemption, Berg said, but this year they have to apply for it through the Department of Revenue website.

“Last year the 25 percent exemption (was) automatically applied,” she explained. “This year they have to apply and say it’s their primary residence for eight months out of the year.”

A handout is available in her office to “direct people” through the online application, Berg said, and anyone who has questions about the process can call her office at (307) 332-1188 for help.

For more information about legislative changes that will affect property tax exemptions and programs, click here.