Tax relief and valuation review

Protect your exemption and appeal rights.

A homestead exemption, senior-relief program, or valuation protest can change the amount a homeowner owes—but only if the filing reaches the right local office in the correct window. Use the verified county guidance below as your working checklist, then confirm the current form and deadline with Bon Homme County Department of Equalization.

Relief programs

What the local record says

Homestead filing

The filing guidance for this county is: For the 2026 assessment, the Owner-Occupied Certificate is due March 15, 2026 to the county Director of Equalization; the elderly/disabled assessment-freeze application is due April 1, 2026 to the county Treasurer; the state senior/disabled sales or property-tax refund application is due July 1, 2026. Use the official form or application channel, provide the residence and ownership documentation requested, and keep a copy of the submission.

Open homestead application

Senior citizen tax relief

South Dakota Assessment Freeze for the Elderly and Disabled: for 2026, a qualifying owner-occupied single-family homeowner age 65+ or disabled, resident of South Dakota for five years unless previously qualified, living in the home at least 200 days, and meeting income limits under $56,595 for a single-member household or $66,885 for a multiple-member household may freeze the assessment; the full-and-true-value limit is $514,500 and the annual application is due April 1. A separate state sales/property-tax refund program may apply to qualifying seniors or disabled residents with income limits; 2026 applications are due July 1.

Valuation cap or growth limit

South Dakota has no general county-level cap on individual assessed-value increases: real property is assessed annually at full and true/market value and equalized to 85% for taxation. Property-tax levy growth is generally limited by CPI plus growth for taxing entities, with statutory opt-outs. The elderly/disabled assessment freeze is a program-specific valuation freeze subject to its eligibility and 2026 $514,500 full-and-true-value limit.

Appealing an assessment

Build the objection around evidence and the notice date.

Calendar the window

Use the valuation notice and the county’s published protest guidance to determine the last day to file. Do not assume the payment deadline controls the appeal.

Assemble support

Gather comparable sales, photographs, repair records, appraisal evidence, property characteristics, and any documentation that explains why the assessed value is incorrect.

File and preserve proof

Submit through the official channel, save the confirmation, and attend the board or review hearing if one is scheduled. An appraiser or attorney can help evaluate evidence when the value or stakes are substantial.

The verified protest guidance for this county is: For the 2026 assessment, notices must be mailed by March 1, 2026; written appeal to the local Board of Equalization must be received by March 12, 2026, and appeal to the county or consolidated Board of Equalization must be received by April 7, 2026, under the South Dakota Department of Revenue 2026 appeal guide. If the language is not a specific calendar date, contact the office promptly for the current notice and board-review schedule.