Tax Relief
Tennessee state law provides for property tax relief for low-income elderly and disabled homeowners, as well as disabled veteran homeowners or their surviving spouses. This is a reimbursement program funded by appropriations authorized by the General Assembly. Tax collecting officials, including county trustees, receive applications from taxpayers who may qualify.
Click the topics below to learn more about the Tax Relief program.
Elderly
- You must be 65 on or before 12/31/2023
- You must own your own home and use it as your primary residence.
- Your total, combined 2022 income must not exceed $33,460.*.
Disable
- You must be disabled on or before 12/31/2023.
- You must own your own home and use it as your primary residence.
- Your total, combined 2022 income must not exceed $33,460.*.
Disable Veteran
- You must own your home and use it as your primary residence.
- You must consent to the release of disability and income information from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- You must be rated totally and permanently disabled from a service-connected disability on or before 12/31/2023.
Widow(er) of Disabled Veteran
- You must own your home and use it as your primary residence.
- You must consent to the release of disability and income information from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- You must have been married to the veteran at the time of their death and not have remarried.
- The veteran must have met the disability requirements of the Disabled Veteran category.
*Note: "total, combined income" includes all sources of income from the applicant, their spouse (if married), and anyone listed on the property deed (including the resident remainder of a Life Estate).
Anyone applying for Tax Relief must submit documentation proving they’re eligible for the program. The documents you will need to provide depend on how you qualify for Tax Relief — Elderly, Disabled, Disabled Veteran, Widow(er) of a Disabled Veteran.
To determine which documents you’ll need to provide, follow these two steps:
- Take a look at this handy chart to find your required documentation according to your eligibility classification.
- Then, review the list below the chart for a list of documents we can accept as proof of each requirement.
Elderly(65 or older + income below $33,460) >Elderly(65 or older + income below $33,460)Elderly (65 or older + income below $33,460) needs to provide the following documentation: Ownership, Residency, Age, Income.
- Disabled (disabled + income below $33,460) needs to provide the following documentation: Ownership, Residency, Income.
- Disabled Veteran (100% service-connected disability) needs to provide the following documentation: Ownership, Residency, F-16 Form.
- Disabled Veteran Widow(er) (Surviving spouse of a disabled veteran) needs to provide the following documentation: Ownership, Residency, F-16s Form.
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Proof of Ownership
Proof of Residency
F-16 or F-16s
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Proof of Age
Proof of Income
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Applications
Ready to Apply? Download all of the 2023 program applications:
Completed Applications
Once you’ve completed and signed your applications, submit them to our office (along with the required documentation) using the address or email address below.
Mail / In person
City of Chattanooga
Office of the Treasurer
101 E. 11th St., Room 100
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Email
taxrelief@chattanooga.gov
Need Help?
If you would like help with your forms, you can call us at (423) 643-7274. We’re happy to help you over the phone or to schedule an appointment for in-person assistance. View the 2023-2024 appointment schedule.
Incomplete Applications
Please note, we cannot accept incomplete or unsigned applications. Applications that are not filled out or are missing signatures will not be processed. Instead, they will be returned to you for completion.
Application Deadline
The 2023 application deadline is April 5, 2024. Any applications delivered or postmarked after April 5, 2024 cannot be accepted. By there’s no need to wait — turn your applications in early for quicker processing. Even though the application deadline is April 5, 2024, property taxes are still due by Thursday, February 29, 2024. See the section titled “Payment of Taxes” under More Information for additional details
Tax Relief Amounts
If your 2023 Tax Relief application is approved, the State of Tennessee will reimburse a portion of your 2023 City of Chattanooga property taxes, up to the following amounts, according to your classification and the assessed value of your property
Payment of Taxes
Tax Relief applicants are required to pay the 2023 taxes before their applications can be processed. If an application is approved, the State of Tennessee will reimburse the applicant in the determined amount. You have until April 5, 2024 to submit our Tax Relief application. However, property taxes are due by February 29, 2024. Interest will accrue monthly on any balance that remains after February 29, 2024.
- 2023 Maximum Reimbursement for Elderly and Disabled Classifications: $173.81 2023
- Maximum Reimbursement for Disabled Veterans and their Widow(er)s: $984.38
What does this mean for you? It means that you can pay your taxes without interest by February 29, 2024 or you can pay your taxes with interest by April 5, 2024, but you must pay your 2023 taxes before the application deadline to apply for Tax Relief.
Tax Relief for City & County Taxes
Tax Relief applies to both City and County taxes. So, you only need to submit one application to either the City of Chattanooga or Hamilton County
Still have questions?
- Give us a call at (423) 643-7274 or
- Email our Senior Programs Team at taxrelief@chattanooga.gov or
- Visit our office at Chattanooga City Hall, 101 E. 11th St, Room 100, Chattanooga, TN 37402
City of Chattanooga
Office of the City Treasurer
101 E 11th St, Room 100, Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-7274
taxrelief@chattanooga.gov