What this bill does

• Core relief: Eliminates property taxes on an eligible senior’s owner‑occupied primary home.
• No service cuts: Replaces every waived local dollar with a federal offset so schools and services aren’t defunded.
• Simple proof: Uses Social Security full retirement age (FRA) verification to qualify.
• Automatic renewals: Once approved, seniors only confirm they still live there—no yearly re‑application maze.
• No means‑testing: No income/asset screens that punish lifetime savers.

Who qualifies

• Age: Individuals who have reached Social Security full retirement age (FRA).
• Home status: You legally own and live in the home as your primary residence (183+ days/year).
• Ownership types: Fee simple, joint tenancy, tenancy by the entirety, or life estate.
• Joint owners: If one owner is at FRA and lives there, their share is exempt; states may elect full exemption for mixed‑age couples.

How it works

1. Apply once: Submit a short form with proof of age, ownership, and occupancy (paper or online).
2. Verify fast: With your consent, Social Security confirms FRA status to your local tax office.
3. Tax waived: Your qualifying home’s property tax bill goes to $0 starting next cycle.
4. Local budgets protected: Treasury reimburses your state for the waived amount; the state passes funds to local districts.
5. Annual check‑in: You confirm you still live there. No re‑proving your age.

Guardrails and accountability

• No denial for eligible seniors: Localities receiving offsets cannot deny qualified applicants.
• Penalties for stonewalling: Civil fines for willful denial or delay—paid to the affected senior.
• Independent audits: The GAO audits eligibility and fund flow to prevent fraud or shortfalls.
• Transparency: States certify waived totals; distributions are public and auditable.

Why this matters

• Age in place: Seniors aren’t taxed out of homes they’ve already paid for.
• Neighborhood stability: Lower displacement, fewer tax‑sale foreclosures.
• Healthcare & caregiver relief: Fixed‑income budgets stretch further for medicine, food, and utilities.
• No hidden trade‑offs: Schools, safety, and infrastructure stay funded at 100%.

Frequently asked questions