Gov. Greg Gianforte and the Montana Department of Revenue announced an extension for property owners applying for the Homestead and Long-Term Rental Reduced Property Tax Rates, moving the deadline to March 20, 2026.
The extension comes in response to intermittent technical issues with the department’s online application portal, which officials said were caused by a high volume of last-minute filings.
“Our top priority is delivering permanent and meaningful property tax relief to the hardworking Montanans who call this state home,” Gianforte said in a statement. “State government should be customer-friendly and responsive. Because of the overwhelming number of Montanans utilizing the portal to claim the lower tax rates, we are extending the deadline to ensure that no one is penalized by a technical glitch. I appreciate the work of Montana Department of Revenue staff in assisting Montanans who are claiming the lower rates.”
Under the revised timeline, all electronic applications must be submitted at homestead.mt.gov by midnight on March 20, 2026. Paper applications sent by mail must be postmarked on or before that same date.
Department of Revenue Director Beatty said the surge in filings created extenuating circumstances warranting the extension.
“Our priority is to ensure that no Montanan is penalized due to technical difficulties with our filing systems given the magnitude of last-minute applications,” Beatty said. “We believe this has created extenuating circumstances that allow us to waive the application deadline until March 20. This extension provides homeowners and property managers an additional three weeks to ensure their information is submitted accurately.”
Who Qualifies
Applications remain open for homeowners seeking the Homestead Reduced Rate as well as property owners who qualify for the Long-Term Rental Reduced Rate. To be eligible for the long-term rental classification, properties must be rented to tenants as their primary residence for periods of 28 days or longer for at least seven months of the year.
Applicants will need to provide the property’s physical address, geocode, owner information, and details regarding rental income and expenses.
Officials said the fastest and easiest way to apply is through the online portal.
Impact of the Reform
In November, Gianforte announced that nearly 80% of Montana homes would see a property tax cut under the reforms, while about 10% would see taxes remain flat. According to the governor’s office, the average savings for homeowners who experienced a tax cut exceeded $500, not including the additional property tax rebate of up to $400 available to eligible homeowners.
Last year, more than 235,000 Montana homeowners claimed and received a property tax rebate. Homeowners who claimed and received a rebate in 2025 may be automatically enrolled in the Homestead Rate for 2026, provided they did not move or change ownership during the year.
Montanans can verify their enrollment status or submit an application by visiting homestead.mt.gov.
By DNU Staff