Tax breaks available

Ballot initiative could bring changes, however

Weston County homeowners have several opportunities to reduce their property taxes in 2027, but a proposed statewide ballot initiative could change how some exemptions are applied.

Weston County Assessor Kara Lenardson said residents should familiarize themselves with the exemptions currently available and the application requirements, particularly with the possibility of additional changes following the Nov. 3 general election.

Two existing programs provide property tax relief for qualifying homeowners. A third exemption is available to eligible veterans, while the state’s property tax refund program will not be funded for 2027.

Meanwhile, Wyoming voters will decide whether to approve Proposition 1, a citizen-sponsored initiative that would provide a 50% property tax exemption on qualifying primary residential structures.

Homeowner property 

tax exemption

Under Senate File 69, passed by the Wyoming Legislature in 2025, eligible homeowners may receive a 25% exemption on the first $1 million of the fair market value of their primary residence and associated improved land.

To qualify, the property must be a single-family residential structure occupied by its owner for at least eight months of the year.

The exemption applies to qualifying homes, including houses, manufactured homes, townhouses and condominiums, along with associated improved land.

The filing period for the 2027 exemption began Oct. 1 and continues through March 1, 2027. Homeowners must apply each year to continue receiving the exemption.

Applicants must complete the Wyoming Residential Owner-Occupied Affidavit, available online at ptd.wyo.gov/ownerocc or through the county assessor’s office. The application requires the county, property address or property account number. Residents who need assistance can contact the assessor’s office.

Homeowners receiving the long-term homeowner exemption cannot also receive the standard 25% exemption on the same property during the same tax year.

Long-term homeowner exemption

Wyoming’s long-term homeowner exemption, established through House Bill 3 in 2024, provides a larger tax reduction for qualifying older residents.

The exemption reduces the taxable value of a qualifying primary residence and associated improved residential land by 50%, applying to the first $3 million of fair market value. The exemption can include up to 35 acres of associated improved land.

To qualify, the homeowner or the homeowner’s spouse must be at least 65 years old at the time of application and have paid residential property taxes in Wyoming for at least 25 years. 

Those years do not have to be consecutive. The homeowner must also occupy the residence for at least eight months of the year. For homeowners who sell one primary residence and purchase another in Wyoming, the months spent occupying both residences may be combined to meet the residency requirement.

Surviving spouses of qualifying homeowners may also remain eligible under provisions of state law.

New applicants must complete the Wyoming Long-Term Homeowners Affidavit through the county assessor’s office.

Homeowners who received the exemption in 2026 and have experienced no changes in ownership or residency may renew by contacting the assessor’s office and confirming they continue to qualify.

The renewal can be completed by telephone, mail or another communication method accepted by the assessor’s office.

The filing and renewal deadline is March 1, 2027.

Veterans exemption

Eligible veterans may also qualify for a property tax exemption. Under Wyoming’s veterans exemption program, qualifying applicants can receive an exemption of $6,000 in assessed value, which can be applied toward property taxes, vehicle registration fees or a combination of both. According to information provided by the Weston County Assessor’s Office, the exemption represents an approximate savings of $400 when applied to property taxes or $180 when applied to vehicle registration.

The actual savings depend on the applicable tax rates and how the exemption is used.

Veterans must meet eligibility requirements and apply for the exemption. The application deadline is May 25, 2027.

Residents seeking information about eligibility or the application process should contact the assessor’s office.

Property tax refund program not funded

While several exemptions remain available, homeowners who previously benefited from Wyoming’s property tax refund program will not have that option in 2027.

According to the Weston County Assessor’s Office, the property tax refund program is not funded for 2027.

The distinction between an exemption and a refund is important.

A property tax exemption reduces the taxable value of qualifying property before taxes are calculated. A refund program, on the other hand, provides reimbursement to eligible taxpayers who have already paid their property taxes.

Homeowners who previously received refunds should not assume that those payments will be available for the upcoming tax year.

Proposition 1 could 

change exemptions

Adding to the uncertainty surrounding property taxes is Proposition 1, officially known as the People’s Initiative to Limit Property Tax in Wyoming through a Homeowner’s Property Exemption.

The measure will appear on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.

If approved, the initiative would exempt 50% of the assessed value of a qualifying homeowner’s primary residential structure from property taxation.

Unlike the existing 25% homeowner exemption, which includes associated improved land, Proposition 1 would apply only to the residential dwelling. Land would not be included.

The initiative also establishes different residency requirements. A homeowner would need to have lived in Wyoming for at least one year and occupied the qualifying primary residence for at least six months during the previous tax year.

The measure would require an initial sworn application to be filed with the county assessor by the fourth Monday in May, with annual confirmation of eligibility in subsequent years.

However, questions remain about how the proposed exemption would interact with existing property tax relief programs.

Lenardson said it is still unclear how passage of Proposition 1 would affect the current 25% homeowner exemption.

“I doubt if the Legislature is going to allow there to be stacked exemptions,” Lenardson said.

Stacking exemptions would mean allowing a homeowner to claim more than one property tax exemption on the same property, potentially reducing the taxable value beyond what either exemption would provide individually.

Although the existing long-term homeowner exemption cannot be combined with the proposed initiative exemption, the effect on the standard 25% exemption remains a question for homeowners.

The ballot proposal itself limits the number of exemptions available under the initiative, but how it will be implemented alongside existing state programs remains an issue.

Lenardson also said passage of Proposition 1 would bring a new application process for homeowners seeking the exemption.

That means residents should not assume that an application submitted for one of the current exemptions would automatically qualify them for the proposed program.

If approved, Proposition 1 could first apply to the 2027 tax year, with the resulting changes reflected in property taxes collected in 2028.

The initiative could be amended by the Legislature but could not be repealed during its first two years.

What homeowners 

should do now

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Proposition 1, the existing homeowner exemptions remain available, and residents should pay attention to the filing deadlines. Homeowners applying for either the standard 25% exemption or the long-term homeowner exemption have until March 1, 2027, to complete the application or renewal process.

Eligible veterans have until May 25, 2027, to apply for the veterans exemption.

The outcome of the November election could introduce additional requirements, making it important for homeowners to stay informed about any changes.

Residents with questions about eligibility, filing deadlines, renewals or the possible effects of Proposition 1 can contact the Weston County Assessor’s Office at (307) 746-4633 or by email at assessor@westongov.com.

Additional information about homeowner exemptions is available through the Wyoming Department
of Revenue at ptd.wyo.gov/ownerocc.