Tax Relief and Exemption Programs

1. Overview

Please Note: All applications are accepted IN PERSON ONLY! Please visit the Assessor’s Office at City Hall, 550 Main Street in Hartford, room 108 to apply. Walk-ins are welcome Mon-Wed & Fri 8:15am – 2pm and until 7pm on Thursdays. 

2. Elderly / Disabled Benefits

State of Connecticut Homeowners Program

Any taxpayer who is 65 years old by the end of the 2022 calendar year or Totally Disabled (and can provide a TPQY Form from Social Security), owns and occupies a 1-4 family home in the City of Hartford and meets certain income guidelines, may be eligible for elderly/disabled tax relief benefits under the State of Connecticut Homeowners’ Tax Relief Program. The benefit received by the taxpayer is reimbursed by the State of Connecticut to the City. The income guidelines for this year are Single $40,300 Married $49,100. Income is all income (adjusted gross, including rental income, plus Social Security and any other income). You must present proof of income and file between February 1st and May 15th. To continue the program a biennial filing must be made.

City of Hartford Elderly Tax Relief Program

Any taxpayer who is 65 years of age or older by the end of the 2022 calendar year, owns and occupies a home in the City of Hartford and meets certain income guidelines, may be eligible for a $750.00 tax credit ($1,500 for four family homes). This tax credit would be in addition to any other elderly homeowner tax relief benefits he/she may presently be receiving under existing State of Connecticut programs. Applicants must have first applied for benefits under existing State tax credit law. The income limits for this year are Single $62,600 or Married $71,550. You must present proof of income and file between February 1st and May 15th. To continue the program biennial filing must be made. The 1-4 family property must be your primary residence.

2023 Application Process

Please apply in person at the Assessor’s Office, room 108 in City Hall before May 15, 2023. Walk-ins welcome and the office is open Mon-Wed & Fri 8:15am – 2pm and until 7pm Thursdays.

The qualifying income limit for the State of Connecticut Elderly Homeowners/Totally Disabled Tax Relief Program is $40,300 for a single person and $49,100 for a married couple.

The proposed qualifying income limit for the City of Hartford Elderly Homeowners Tax Relief Program is $55,950 for a single person and $71,550 for a married couple.  City Council will set an income limit in the coming weeks.

You must be 65 years of age prior to December 31, 2022 or declared totally disabled by the Social Security Administration to qualify.

You must own a 1-4 family home and it must be your primary residence to qualify.

Proof of taxable and non-taxable income for 2022 is required at time of application. Please bring with you a copy of your Federal Income Tax Return for 2022, (if any), Social Security Form SSA – 1099 for 2022, Rent Receipts, Pension, Bank Interest, and any other forms of income for 2022.

Application is required every 2 years to maintain this tax credit.   

For more information please call the Assessor’s Office @ 860-757-9640 or email assessment@hartford.gov

3. Veteran’s Exemption

To be eligible for this exemption a veteran must have served during an active period of war for at least 90 days, (except if the war, campaign or other operation lasted less than ninety days), received an honorable discharge, and have his/her discharge (form dd-214) on file with the Town Clerk prior to October 1. Note: If you are entitled to a disability pension as determined by the VA, whether you served during an active period of war or not, you are eligible for a disabled Veteran’s Exemption. You must file your percentage of disability rating (Form 20 5455) with the Assessor. A portion of this exemption is reimbursed by the State of Connecticut to the City of Hartford.

Additional Veteran’s Exemption Income Limit

Any veteran who is eligible for the veteran’s exemption previously mentioned, and whose adjusted gross income falls below State mandated limits, is eligible for twice the regular exemption. For the October 1, 2023 Grand List, income limits are as Follows:

Single Veteran $40,300 Married Veteran $49,100. This includes all income, both taxable and non-taxable, except Veteran's disability payments.

Additional Veterans Exemption Income limit for the Totally Disabled

Single Totally Disabled $18,000 Married Totally Disabled $21,000 Totally disabled veterans do not include social Security in their income. This exemption is reimbursed by the State of Connecticut to the City of Hartford.

Veteran Leased Vehicle

The Veteran Leased Vehicle Exemption allows a veteran to apply an exemption to a leased motor vehicle that the veteran does not own.  Apply For Exemption(PDF, 161KB)

4. Connecticut Resident Active Duty/In-Service Exemption

A member of the armed forces who is currently on active duty is eligible to have one passenger motor vehicle exempt from property tax. To qualify, the individual must submit this application(PDF, 175KB) annually by December 31st from his/her commanding officer stating that the individual is on active duty. The exemption is not reimbursed by the State. 

5. Disability Exemption

An individual who receives a disability pension from the Social Security Administration and has been determined to be permanently and totally disabled is eligible for a $1,000 assessment exemption. To qualify you must file a copy of your award Letter that states disability, with this application(PDF, 6KB) prior to the October 1st on which the exemption is to be first applied. 

If the individual has not been engaged in employment covered by Social Security, he/she must provide proof of eligibility for permanent total disability under any federal, state or local government retirement or disability plan, including the Railroad Retirement Act and any government-related teacher’s retirement plan, determined by the secretary of the Office of Policy and Management to contain requirements in respect to qualification for such permanent total disability benefit which are comparable to such requirement under Social Security. This exemption is reimbursed by the State to the City of Hartford.

6. Blind Exemption

Any individual that presents a certificate of legal blindness from a qualified medical practitioner is eligible for a $3,000 exemption. A certificate of legal blindness must be provided prior to the October 1st on which the exemption is to be first applied. This exemption is not reimbursed by the State.

7. Handicapped Equipped Vehicles

Any owner of a motor vehicle that has been specially equipped to accommodate a handicapped driver or passenger may be eligible for a handicapped exemption. This exemption would include, but it not limited to, vehicles equipped with hand controls for the brake or accelerator and a wheelchair lift. To be eligible for this exemption, this application(PDF, 119KB) along with receipt/documentation of the modifications, must be submitted and be approved by the Assessor. This exemption eliminates the motor vehicle tax in full.

8. Commercial Motor Vehicles

Certain new commercial motor vehicles used to transport freight for hire and in excess of 26,000 pounds are eligible for a five-year exemption on their assessment. This application(PDF, 55KB) along with all required supporting documentation must be filed with the Assessor’s Office. §12-81(74) 

9. Manufacturing Facilities

Manufacturing facilities in a distressed municipality or a targeted investment community (Hartford is included) are eligible for exemptions if they are substantially renovated or expanded or in an enterprise zone. This exemption is subject to approval of the commissioner of Economic and Community Development and would allow for an 80% reduction in the assessment for a period of five years. New machinery and equipment that is installed in a manufacturing facility or as part of a technological upgrade is entitled to a 100% exemption for five years subject to the same approval.

10. Blighted Assessment Deferral Program

Reduction In Assessment For Rehabilitated Structures.  The assessment deferral program for blighted properties was created by an act of the legislature (P.A. 97-320) and adopted by ordinance of the Hartford City Council in April of 1998.  Essentially it is a program designed to give a reduction in the annual assessment for a blighted building that is rehabilitated.

 Blighted Assessment Deferral Application(PDF, 400KB)