Q: What is the Homestead Exemption?
A: The homestead exemption is a tax exemption on the first $75,000 of the value of a person’s home. This exemption applies to all homeowners. The value of your home is exempt up to $75,000 from state and parish property taxes.
Q: How do I get my Homestead Exemption?
A: After your closing, your closing agent will file your act of sale in the Conveyance Office of the Parish Clerk of Court. A short time later you will receive a recorded copy of your title along with the recordation numbers, the Conveyance Office Book and Page number (known as the C.O.B. and Folio) and the instrument number. After you receive the recorded copy of your sale, bring it and the C.O.B. and Folio number to the Parish Assessors Office and file for your homestead exemption. You must own and occupy the property to qualify for the homestead exemption.
Q: Must I file for the Homestead Exemption every year?
A: After you obtain the Homestead Exemption, each year thereafter you will receive a renewal card in the mail. If you own and occupy that same property as your residence, you should return the card to your Assessorís Office and your homestead exemption will automatically be renewed. If you sell your home and move to another location, you must again appear in person at the Assessor’s Office to file a new homestead exemption for your new home.
Q: What is the basis of your assessment?
A: The Louisiana Constitution establishes the assessment on your home (and on all other residential property) at 10% of the fair market value of that property. The fair market value will often be the sales price of your new home, particularly if you purchased your home recently.
Q: How do I contact my Assessor about applying for the Homestead Exemption?
The procedure for filing your Homestead exemption differs from Parish to Parish. Click on below listed Parishes for additional information.
Orleans Parish:
Currently Orleans Parish has 7 districts with their own respective district assessor. Every assessor requires different documentation from you in order to complete the application for your exemption, so it is a good idea to call your district assessor to see what is required of you in your particular district. Renewal is quite simple and is handled once a year through the mail. The contact information for each of the Orleans Parish Assessors is listed below:
First District Assessor
Honorable Darren G. Mire
Phone: (504) 658-1310
Fax: (504) 658-1312
Second District Assessor
Honorable Claude Mauberret
Phone: (504) 658-1320
Fax: (504) 658-1321
Third District Assessor
Honorable Erroll G. Williams
Phone: (504) 658-1330
Fourth District Assessor
Honorable Dr. Betty Jefferson
Phone: (504) 658-1340
Fax: (504) 658-1345
Fifth District Assessor
Honorable Thomas Arnold
Phone: (504) 658-1350
Fax: (504) 658-1351
Sixth District Assessor
Honorable Nancy J. Marshall
Phone: (504) 658-1360, (504) 593-0602
Fax: (504) 658-1368, (504) 566ñ1201
Seventh District Assessor
Honorable Henry F. Heaton
Phone: (504) 658-1370
Fax: (504) 658-1375
Jefferson Parish:
There are only two places in which you can file for your homestead exemption in Jefferson Parish and both of them require that you file in person, bringing with you a recorded copy of the act of sale.
Here are the locations:
New Gretna Courthouse
200 Derbigny Street, Suite 1100
Gretna, LA 70053
(504) 362-4100
Yenni Building
1221 Elmwood Park Blvd. Suite 901
Harahan, LA 70123
(504) 736-6370
St. Tammany Parish:
You can download and print the Homestead Exemption application for St. Tammany Parish here: http://www.stassessor.org/homestead.pdf
The St. Tammany Assessor website is also useful to answer questions specific to filing in that Parish or you can go to the Assessorís office in person.
Covington Office
St. Tammany Parish Justice Center
701 N. Columbia Street
(985) 809-8180
Slidell Office
61134 North Military Rd.
(985) 646-1990