District of Columbia Code
Subchapter II - Authority and Procedure to Establish Real Property Tax Rates
§ 47–850. Residential property tax relief — Homestead deduction for houses and condominium units

(a) Except as provided in subsection [(a-2)] of this section, for purpose of levying the real property tax during a tax year, the Mayor shall deduct $67,500, increased annually, beginning October 1, 2012, by the cost-of-living adjustment (if the adjustment does not result in a multiple of $50, rounded to the next lowest multiple of $50), from the assessed value of real property which qualifies as a homestead. The deduction shall be apportioned equally between each installment during a tax year and shall not be carried forward or carried back.
(a-1) [Repealed].
(a-2)(1) For purposes of levying the real property tax during a tax year, the Mayor shall deduct from the assessed value of real property that qualifies for the homestead deduction and is owned by a veteran the amount of $445,000; provided, that the:
(A) Veteran has been classified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as having a total and permanent disability as a result of a service-incurred condition or service-aggravated condition or is paid at the 100% disability rating level as a result of unemployability; and
(B) Veteran's household is an eligible household as defined in § 47-863(a)(1A)(A); except, that § 47-863(a)(1A)(A)(iii)(I)(aa) and (II) shall not apply.
(2) The deduction shall be apportioned equally between each installment during a tax year and shall not be carried forward or carried back.
(3)(A) To qualify for and receive the deduction provided pursuant to this subsection, the veteran, or the veteran's legal guardian, attorney-in-fact, or other legal representative, shall complete and file with the District of Columbia Office of Veterans Affairs an application, in a form prescribed by the Mayor, that includes a statement that the veteran meets the requirements set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection, and complies with other requirements as set forth in this section.
(B) The District of Columbia Office of Veterans Affairs shall timely and routinely certify to the Office of Tax and Revenue that the veteran meets the disability requirements for the deduction provided pursuant to this subsection.
(b) To qualify the homestead and receive the deduction, the individual shall complete and file with the Mayor an application in a form prescribed by the Mayor. The Mayor shall include in the application prescribed pursuant to this subsection the voter registration packet developed by the District of Columbia Board of Elections pursuant to § 1-1001.05(a)(20). The individual shall certify, under penalty of perjury, the information provided on the application form and the application form shall be filed in the manner prescribed by the Mayor. The Mayor may require the individual to provide any information which the Mayor considers necessary, including all taxpayer identification numbers of the individual, any other owner, any person with legal or equitable title, and any person in the household of the individual. The Mayor may also require the individual, any other owner, any person with legal or equitable title, and any person in the household of the individual to supply information after the homestead has been granted to determine whether the real property remains a homestead and entitled to the deduction.
(c) If a properly completed and approved application is filed during the period October 1 through March 31 of the tax year, the real property shall receive the deduction for the entire tax year. Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, if a properly completed and approved application is filed during the period April 1 through September 30, the real property shall receive 1/2 of the deduction for the second installment only.
(d) An individual may only claim one lot as a homestead. If a homestead comprises more than one lot, the deduction may only be applied against the estimated market value of one lot and the other lots shall not receive the deduction. Only one person in a household shall be entitled to claim a homestead in the District.
(e) The real property tax bill shall indicate whether the real property is receiving the deduction.
(f) [Repealed].
(g) [Repealed].
[(h)](1) Except for subsection (a) of this section, for the purposes of this section and §§ 47-850.02, 47-850.03, and 47-850.04, the deduction provided pursuant to subsection [(a-2)] of this section shall be deemed a homestead deduction.
(2) Notwithstanding §§ 47-863 and 47-864, a real property receiving the deduction provided pursuant to subsection [(a-2)] of this section shall not receive the credit under § 47-864 or the deduction under § 47-863.
(Feb. 28, 1978, D.C. Law 2-45, § 3, 24 DCR 3614; Mar. 3, 1979, D.C. Law 2-130, § 7(b), 25 DCR 2517; Nov. 20, 1979, D.C. Law 3-37, § 6, 26 DCR 1564; Apr. 23, 1980, D.C. Law 3-60, § 2, 27 DCR 987; Mar. 10, 1982, D.C. Law 4-73, § 2, 28 DCR 5276; July 24, 1982, D.C. Law 4-129, §§ 2, 4, 29 DCR 2405; Sept. 23, 1986, D.C. Law 6-153, § 4, 33 DCR 4787; Sept. 29, 1988, D.C. Law 7-161, § 3, 35 DCR 5730; Sept. 20, 1990, D.C. Law 8-160, § 3, 37 DCR 4653; Sept. 27, 1990, D.C. Law 8-172, § 3, 37 DCR 4844; Dec. 10, 1991, D.C. Law 9-53, § 2, 38 DCR 6587; Mar. 7, 1992, D.C. Law 9-56, § 4, 38 DCR 7281; Oct. 7, 1992, D.C. Law 9-177, §§ 5, 7, 39 DCR 5868; Sept. 30, 1993, D.C. Law 10-25, § 106, 40 DCR 5489; June 14, 1994, D.C. Law 10-127, § 3(a), 41 DCR 2050; May 16, 1995, D.C. Law 10-255, § 46, 41 DCR 5193; Sept. 26, 1995, D.C. Law 11-52, § 106, 42 DCR 3684; Apr. 18, 1996, D.C. Law 11-110, § 68, 43 DCR 530; enacted, Apr. 9, 1997, D.C. Law 11-254, § 2, 44 DCR 1575; Oct. 23, 1997, D.C. Law 12-38, § 2, 44 DCR 4852; June 25, 2002, D.C. Law 14-147, § 2(d), 49 DCR 4219; Mar. 13, 2004, D.C. Law 15-105, § 80(b), 51 DCR 881; Apr. 22, 2004, D.C. Law 15-135,§ 2(a), 51 DCR 1843; Dec. 7, 2004, D.C. Law 15-205, § 1162(c), 51 DCR 8441; Oct, 20, 2005, D.C. Law 16-33, § 1082(a), 52 DCR 7503; May 12, 2006, D.C. Law 16-98, § 2(b), 53 DCR 1869; Sept. 18, 2007, D.C. Law 17-20, § 1032(b), 54 DCR 7052; Mar. 3, 2010, D.C. Law 18-111, § 7241(a), 57 DCR 181; Apr. 11, 2019, D.C. Law 22-283, § 2, 66 DCR 1615; June 24, 2020, D.C. Law 23-112, § 6(a), 67 DCR 5066; Nov. 13, 2021, D.C. Law 24-45, § 7172, 68 DCR 010163; Sept. 21, 2022, D.C. Law 24-167, § 7072, 69 DCR 009223; Dec. 13, 2022, D.C. Law 24-194, § 3(b), 69 DCR 012703.)
1981 Ed., § 47-850.
1973 Ed., § 47-659.1.
This section is referenced in § 47-802, § 47-820, § 47-849, § 47-850.02, § 47-850.03, § 47-863, § 47-864, § 47-1806.09, and § 47-3503.
D.C. Law 14-147 rewrote the section.
D.C. Law 15-105, in the section name line, validated a previously made technical correction.
D.C. Law 15-135, in subsec. (a), substituted “$38,000” for “$30,000”.
D.C. Law 15-205 rewrote subsec. (a) which had read as follows: “(a) For purposes of levying the real property tax during a tax year, the Mayor shall deduct $38,000 from the estimated market value of real property which qualifies as a homestead. The deduction shall be apportioned equally between each installment during a tax year and shall not be carried forward or carried back.”
D.C. Law 16-33, in subsec. (a), substituted “$60,000” for “$38,000”, and substituted “assessed value” for “estimated market value”.
D.C. Law 16-98, in subsec. (a), substituted “$63,000, increased annually, beginning October 1, 2007, by the cost-of-living adjustment (if the adjustment does not result in a multiple of $50, rounded to the next lowest multiple of $50),” for “$60,000”.
D.C. Law 17-20, in subsec. (a), substituted “$64,000, increased annually, beginning October 1, 2008, by the cost-of-living adjustment (if the adjustment does not result in a multiple of $50, rounded to the next lowest multiple of $50),” for “$60,000”.
D.C. Law 18-111 rewrote subsec. (a), which had read as follows: “(a)(1) For purposes of levying the real property tax during a tax year, the Mayor shall deduct $64,000, increased annually, beginning October 1, 2008, by the cost-of-living adjustment (if the adjustment does not result in a multiple of $50, rounded to the next lowest multiple of $50), from the assessed value of real property which qualifies as a homestead. The deduction shall be apportioned equally between each installment during a tax year and shall not be carried forward or carried back. (2) This subsection shall apply as of October 1, 2003.”
Applicability of D.C. Law 22-283: § 3 of D.C. Law 22-283 provided that the change made to this section by § 2 of D.C. Law 22-283 is subject to the inclusion of the law’s fiscal effect in an approved budget and financial plan. Therefore that amendment has not been implemented.
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 7072 of Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2022 (D.C. Act 24-470, July 13, 2022, 69 DCR 008707).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(b) of Homestead and Senior Citizen Real Property Tax Emergency Act of 2001 (D.C. Act 14-21, March 16, 2001, 48 DCR 2703).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see §§ 2(d), 3 of Homestead and Senior Citizen Real Property Tax Emergency Act of 2001 (D.C. Act 14-190, November 29, 2001, 48 DCR 11219).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(d) of Homestead and Senior Citizen Real Property Tax Legislative Review Emergency Act of 2001 (D.C. Act 14-226, January 8, 2002, 49 DCR 668).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(c) of Owner-Occupant Residential Tax Credit and Homestead Deduction Clarification Emergency Act of 2004 (D.C. Act 15-374, February 24, 2004, 51 DCR 2618).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 1162(c) of Fiscal Year 2005 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2004 (D.C. Act 15-486, August 2, 2004, 51 DCR 8236).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 1162(c) of Fiscal Year 2005 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2004 (D.C. Act 15-594, October 26, 2004, 51 DCR 11725).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see §§ 1082(a), 1083 of Fiscal Year 2006 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2005 (D.C. Act 16-168, July 26, 2005, 52 DCR 7667).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 1032(b) of Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2007 (D.C. Act 17-74, July 25, 2007, 54 DCR 7549).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 7111(a) of Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-187, August 26, 2009, 56 DCR 7374).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 7241(a) of Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Support Second Emergency Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-207, October 15, 2009, 56 DCR 8234).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 7241(a) of Fiscal Year Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-260, January 4, 2010, 57 DCR 345).
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 2(b) of Homestead and Senior Citizen Real Property Tax Temporary Act of 2001 (D.C. Law 14-4, June 13, 2001, law notification 48 DCR 5912).
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 2(d) of Homestead and Senior Citizen Real Property Tax Temporary Act of 2001 (D.C. Law 14-92, March 19, 2002, law notification 49 DCR 2997).
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 2(c) of Owner-Occupant Residential Tax Credit and Homestead Deductions Temporary Act of 2004 (D.C. Law 15-159, May 18, 2004, law notification 51 DCR 5699).
Short title of subtitle O of title I of Law 16-33: Section 1081 of D.C. Law 16-33 provided that subtitle O of title I of the act may be cited as the Real Property Tax Relief Act of 2005.
Short title: Section 7241 of D.C. Law 18-111 provided that subtitle V of title VII of the act may be cited as the “Revenue Enhancement Act of 2009”.
Pursuant to the Office of the Chief Financial Officer’s “Notice of Public Interest” published in the April 18, 1997, issue of the District of Columbia Register ( 44 DCR 2345) the Office of Tax and Revenue assumed all of the duties and functions previously performed by the Department of Finance and Revenue, as set forth in Commissioner’s Order 69-96, dated March 7, 1969. This action was made effective January 22, 1997, nunc pro tunc.
Effectiveness and expiration of D.C. Law 16-98: Section 4 of D.C. Law 16-98 required that “this act shall take effect subject to the inclusion of its fiscal effect in an approved budget and financial plan; provided, that this act shall expire on October 1, 2006 if its fiscal effect has not been included in an approved budget and financial plan or in the Fiscal Year 2007 Budget Request Act of 2006.”
The Budget Director of the Council of the District of Columbia has determined, as of November 2, 2007, that the fiscal effect of Law 16-98 had not been included in an approved budget and financial plan by October 1, 2006. Therefore, the amendments made to this section by Law 16-98, have expired as if never in effect.
Section 6(b) of D.C. Law 6-153 provided that §§ 4 and 5 of this act shall take effect January 1, 1987.
Section 1083 of D.C. Law 16-33 provided that § 1082(a)(1), (b), (d)(1), and (d)(2)(B) shall apply for taxable years beginning after September 30, 2005.
Applicability of D.C. Law 16-98: Section 3(a) of D.C. Law 16-98 provided: “(a) Section 2(a), (b), and (c) shall apply as of October 1, 2006.”
Mayor authorized to issue rules: See Historical and Statutory Notes following § 47-813.
Section 6 of D.C. Law 9-56 provided that the Mayor shall, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, issue rules to implement the provisions of the act.
Definitions applicable: The definitions in § 47-803 apply to this section.
Section 3 of D.C. Law 14-147 provided that section 2 shall apply as of October 1, 2001, except insofar as the retroactive application results in an increase of tax to the real property or owner thereof.
Section 3 of Law 15-135 provided that § 2(a), (b), and (c)(3) of the act shall apply as of October 1, 2003.

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