Nashville residents over 65 have until April 5 to apply for property tax relief programs

Seventy-four percent of Nashville residents over the age of 65 own their home, but nearly one in four of them are cost burdened.

The Metro Trustee’s office offers two chances for them to get support: One is the tax relief program and the other is a freeze on property taxes. 

The two programs require proof of age, ownership and evidence the property is the primary residence. The tax relief program also requires a death certificate for the deceased spouse.

Click here to apply and see the full list of requirements for the tax freeze program.

This program has come in handy for people on fixed incomes, especially after the roughly 34% tax increase in 2020 and now with rising inflation. 

Donelson resident Evelyn Cutler has gotten help in the last four years. “The only thing that’s really remained steady is this tax freeze program,” she says. “And that helps me to figure out what I’m paying monthly on the mortgage.”

She says money is tight with rising costs and much needed house repairs so she checks each year to ensure she’s enrolled. 

“Tax freeze and tax relief are important tools that can help make owning a home more affordable if you meet the income limits for those programs,” Age Well executive director Grace Smith says. “We also need other tools in the toolbox, so we need to expand home repair and modification programs that can help an older homeowner, say, put on a new roof or replace a HVAC unit. Those are expensive items to be able to afford.”

Smith says her organization has been advocating for the city to create a home-sharing program. It would allow older adults to rent out a room to someone looking for cheaper rent. This will help the older adult bring in more income and get help around the house.

Participants enrolled in the programs are required to complete, sign and return the voucher each year. The annual deadline to apply is April 5. The trustee’s office offers registration assistance here.