State of Montana Newsroom
Governor Gianforte, Department of Revenue Extend Application Deadline for Property Tax Relief
Montanans to claim lower rate by March 20
HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte and Montana Department of Revenue (DOR) Director Brendan Beatty today announced an extension for property owners to apply for the Homestead and Long-Term Rental Reduced Property Tax Rates. The new deadline is March 20, 2026.
This extension is a direct response to intermittent technical issues with the department’s online application portal 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,” Gov. Gianforte said. “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.”
With the new deadline, all electronic applications must be submitted at homestead.mt.gov by midnight on March 20, 2026. Physical applications sent by mail must be postmarked on or before that same day.
“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,” said DOR Director Beatty. “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.”
Applications are also being accepted for properties that qualify for the Long-Term Rental Reduced Rate. To qualify, properties must be rented to tenants as their 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 on rental income and expenses.
The easiest and quickest way to claim the lower rates is online at homestead.mt.gov.
In November, Gov. Gianforte announced that nearly 80% of homes will see a tax cut from the reforms, with about 10% seeing property taxes remain flat. The average savings for homeowners who saw a tax cut was more than $500, not including the up to $400 property tax rebate available to eligible homeowners.
Last year, more than 235,000 Montana homeowners claimed and received a property tax rebate. Montana homeowners who claimed and received a property tax rebate in 2025 may be automatically enrolled in the Homestead Rate for 2026, provided the homeowner did not move or change ownership in 2025.
Montanans can verify enrollment or apply for the Homestead Reduced Rate and Long-Term Rental Reduced Rate by visiting homestead.mt.gov.
Taxpayers experiencing continued technical issues or seeking assistance with their application are encouraged to contact the Department of Revenue’s help line at (406) 444-6900 or visit their local county property assessment office.
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