Montana Extends Deadline for Property Tax Relief Applications

Governor and Department of Revenue grant extra time due to high volume of last-minute filings

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Governor Greg Gianforte and the Montana Department of Revenue have announced a deadline extension for property owners to apply for the Homestead and Long-Term Rental Reduced Property Tax Rates. The new deadline is March 20, 2026, an additional three weeks from the original cutoff. This extension is in response to technical issues with the department's online application portal caused by a high volume of last-minute filings.

Why it matters

The Homestead and Long-Term Rental Reduced Property Tax Rates provide significant tax relief for Montana homeowners and landlords. The extension ensures that no one is penalized due to technical difficulties, allowing more residents to claim the lower tax rates.

The details

To qualify for the Homestead Reduced Rate, properties must be the owner's primary residence. For the Long-Term Rental Reduced Rate, properties must be rented to tenants as their residence for at least 28 days at a time for at least seven months of the year. Applicants can apply online at homestead.mt.gov or by mail, with the new deadline of March 20, 2026.

  • The original application deadline was March 1, 2026.
  • The new extended deadline is March 20, 2026.

The players

Greg Gianforte

Governor of Montana.

Brendan Beatty

Director of the Montana Department of Revenue.

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What they’re saying

“Our top priority is delivering permanent and meaningful property tax relief to the hardworking Montanans who call this state home. 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.”

— Greg Gianforte, Governor (The Roundup)

“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. 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.”

— Brendan Beatty, Director, Montana Department of Revenue (The Roundup)

What’s next

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 are encouraged to contact the Department of Revenue's help line or visit their local county property assessment office.

The takeaway

This deadline extension demonstrates the state government's commitment to providing property tax relief and ensuring that all eligible Montanans can claim the lower tax rates, even in the face of technical challenges. It highlights the importance of customer-friendly and responsive government services.