Iowa law provides for a number of credits and exemptions.

The Homestead Tax Credit & Exemption and Military Service Tax Exemption forms can be filed online. Enter your property address, click Search, and you will be taken to your property record page. The forms are available directly under the "Owner Information" section.

Apply Online via Beacon

Available Credits & Exemptions

Credit/Exemption
Time Period
Contact for Eligibility
Filing Deadline
Homestead Tax Credit & Exemption
Time Period: Permanent
Eligibility Contact: Assessor
Deadline: July 1

Any person who owns and occupies his or her home. The owner must occupy the dwelling as a home at least six months out of the year, including July 1st, to qualify for the credit.

In addition to the homestead tax credit, eligible claimants who own the home they live in and are 65 years of age or older on or before January 1st of the assessment year are eligible for a homestead tax exemption.

Apply Online via Beacon

Iowa Code: Chapter 425

Military Service Tax Exemption
Time Period: Permanent
Eligibility Contact: Assessor
Deadline: July 1

Any honorably discharged veteran who served at least 18 months of active duty, less than 18 months but was discharged due to a service-related injury or served during an eligible service period (see form for more details), member or former member of the Reserve Forces or Iowa National Guard who served at least 20 years or was activated for federal duty (not including training) for a minimum of 90 days, or any of the following relatives of a qualified veteran:

  • Spouse
  • Unmarried Widow/Widower
  • Minor Child
  • Widowed Parent

Please note, in order to qualify for the exemption, you must have your DD-214 recorded in Cerro Gordo County.

Apply Online via Beacon

Iowa Code: Chapter 426

Additional Credits & Exemptions

The following credits are available in a fillable PDF format. You may either print the form out and mail it to our office, or save it as a PDF and email it to: mca.apps@cgcounty.org.

Credit/Exemption
Time Period
Contact for Eligibility
Filing Deadline
Family Farm Tax Credit
Time Period: Permanent
Eligibility Contact: Assessor
Deadline: November 1

This is a tax credit on agricultural tracts of land 10 acres or more that are farmed by the owner or immediate family members (this includes brothers/sisters, sons/daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, uncles/aunts, nephews/nieces.) This credit needs to be filed by November 1st at the Assessor's office. It only needs to be filed once unless the ownership or the person actively engaged in farming changes.

Download: Application Form
Iowa Code: Chapter 425A

Disabled Veteran’s Homestead Tax Credit
Time Period: Annual
Eligibility Contact: Local Administrator Veterans Affairs/Assessor
Deadline: July 1

Qualifying individuals are veterans with 100% service-related disability status or a permanent total disability rating based on individual unemployability paid at the 100% disability rate, or a surviving spouse or child receiving dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC).  The applicant must own and occupy the property on July 1st of each year, declare residency in Iowa for income tax purposes, and occupy the property at least six months each year.

Download: Application Form

Forest & Fruit Tree Reservation
Time Period: Permanent
Eligibility Contact: Assessor
Deadline: February 1

A forest occupying at least two acres with 200 trees per acre, or a fruit tree reserve between one and 10 acres with at least 40 apple or 70 other fruit trees per acre.  Neither type of reserve can be used for economic gain other than raising trees, and livestock is not permitted on the reservation.

Download: Application Form

Geothermal Heating & Cooling System Exemption
Time Period: Permanent
Eligibility Contact: Assessor
Deadline: February 1

Value added from installation of a geothermal system on July 1, 2012, or later.

Download: Application Form

Grain Tax Return
Time Period: Annual
Eligibility Contact: Assessor
Deadline: January 1

Must be filed each year between January 1 and 60 days thereafter. 

Download: Application Form
Iowa Code: 428.35

Historic Property Rehabilitation
Time Period: 4/4 Years
Eligibility Contact: State Historical Society/Assessor
Deadline: February 1

Property in Iowa listed on the national register of historic places, a designated historical site, or located in an area of historical significance. 

Download: Application Form
Iowa Code: 427.16

Mobile Home Park Storm Shelter Tax Exemption
Time Period: Permanent
Eligibility Contact: Assessor
Deadline: February 1

A structure constructed as a storm shelter at a manufactured home community or mobile home park.

Download: Application Form

Native Prairie or Wetlands
Time Period: Annual
Eligibility Contact: DNR State Wildlife Biologist/Assessor
Deadline: February 1

The first annual application shall be accompanied by a certificate from the Department of Natural Resources stating that the land is native prairie or protected wetland.

Download: Application Form
Iowa Code: 427.1(23)

Nonprofit and Charitable Organizations Property Tax Exemption
Time Period: Permanent
Eligibility Contact: Assessor
Deadline: February 1

Property used for religious, educational, or charitable purposes.  Property cannot be used for profit and is limited to 320 acres.

Download: Application Form
Iowa Code: 427.1(14)

Pollution Control
Time Period: Permanent
Eligibility Contact: Assessor
Deadline: February 1

The application for pollution control or recycling property shall be accompanied by a certificate from the environmental protection division of the Iowa DNR.

Download: Application Form
Iowa Code: 427.1(19)

Section 42 Reporting Form
Time Period: Annual
Eligibility Contact: Assessor
Deadline: March 1

 A $500 penalty is imposed for failure to notify the assessor when a property is withdrawn from the Section 42 Program. This notification must also be provided by March 1 of the assessment year.

Download: Application Form

Speculative Shell Buildings Property Tax Exemption
Time Period: Annual
Eligibility Contact: Assessor
Deadline: February 1

Construction of shell buildings by community development organizations, not-for-profit cooperative associations, or for-profit entities for speculative purposes.

Download: Application Form