Union County Property Tax Exemptions
Reduce your taxable value and lower your annual bill. Discover eligibility rules, 2026 deadlines, and filing steps for homestead, senior, and veteran exemptions.
Official Office Contact
Union County Building Department
Property tax exemption filing support
Mailing Address
La Grande, OR, OR
Office Hours
Mon-Fri: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Property tax exemptions are the most effective way to permanently lower your annual bill. By removing part of your home's value from taxation, you pay less even if local rates increase. Below are the primary exemptions available to Union County residents.
Find Your Union County Exemptions
Answer these short questions to see which property tax relief programs you qualify for.
Your Exemption Analysis Results
Based on your answers, here is what you should check:
You may not qualify for standard exemptions.
Make sure you own the home and it is your primary residence. Investigate agricultural or local options with the assessor.
Required Documentation to File:
Homestead Exemption
Primary Residence Protection
The Homestead Exemption is the most common property tax relief in Union County. It removes a portion of your home's value from taxation for school and county purposes.
Eligibility
Must own and occupy the property as your primary residence on January 1st of the tax year.
Benefit
Typically reduces taxable value by $25,000–$40,000 depending on state law and taxing unit.
Renewal
Usually automatic once granted, unless you move or the title changes.
Exemption Savings Estimator
Estimate how much money you can save on your tax bill using the county's average rate of 0.83%.
Select Exemptions to Apply:
Your actual savings depend on overlapping taxing units (city, school, county) and specific local exemption caps.
Senior Citizen Exemption
Ages 65 and Older
Homeowners in Union County who are 65 or older qualify for additional exemptions and, in many states, a tax freeze on school district taxes.
- Age Requirement: Must turn 65 during the tax year. Some states allow prospective filing before your birthday.
- Proof Needed: Birth certificate or state-issued ID required for first-time filing.
- Tax Freeze: In many states, the school district tax portion of your bill is frozen at the value it was when you turned 65.
Veteran Exemptions
Disabled Veterans & Surviving Spouses
Union County offers substantial relief to veterans with service-connected disabilities.
100% Disability Rating
Veterans with a 100% permanent and total disability rating often qualify for a complete property tax exemption on their primary residence.
Partial disabilities (10%–90%) qualify for tiered exemptions that reduce assessed value by specific dollar amounts.
Disability Exemption
Persons with Qualifying Disabilities
Homeowners under 65 who are disabled as defined by Social Security Act may qualify for the same over-65 exemption amount, including a school tax freeze.
💡 Tip
You can qualify for either the over-65 or the disability exemption, but not both simultaneously on school district taxes. Apply for whichever provides the greater benefit.
Oregon State-Level Property Tax Relief Programs
Statutory Relief & Exemptions
Farm Use Value
Preferential treatment: Farm use is based on income for each class of land. Values are also subject to measure 50 limitations which restrict value increases to no more than 3% in a given year.. Penalty: If farmland loses its special assessment, it will be assessed at the lesser of its market value or maximum assessed value and the owner may be assessed an additional tax. The additional tax may be deferred if the land is changed from one special assessment to another. The additional tax is based on the difference between the tax paid and the tax that would have been paid if the land had not received the farm-use special assessment. This tax difference is based on the number of years the land received a farm-use assessment, up to a maximum of 10 years. If the land is located within an urban growth boundary, the maximum is 5 years.. Sources imported from Lincoln Institute agricultural treatment dataset.
Eligible land uses: Agricultural/Farmland, Forest Land/Timber Production, Other Land Uses. Eligibility: Plot/Land Size, Income Production, Prerequisite Designation or Certification, Prior Year's Land Use, Multi-Year Commitment. Plot criteria: To qualify under this program, forest land must be no less than 2 acres. Western Oregon Forestland may be valued as farmland if the land is no more than 2,000 acres.. Income criteria: Land not in an exclusive farm use zone must meet income criteria in at least 3 out of the 5 previous years. On property less than 6.5 acres, gross income from farm use must be at least $650. Land more than 6.5 acres but less than 30 acres must produce a gross income of at least $100 per acre. For property 30 or more acres, gross farm income must be at least $3,000. Land leased for farming may have additional income requirements.
Oregon Property Tax Deferral
Filing Document Checklist Generator
Select the programs you are filing for to create a custom list of supporting documents.
Your Filing Checklist:
Application Checklist
Prepare these documents before contacting the Union County Assessor. Missing documents are the #1 cause of application delays.
Completed Application Form
Download from the county appraisal district website.
State Driver's License or ID
Address on ID must exactly match the property address.
Address mismatch is the #1 reason applications are rejected
Proof of Age (if 65+ or disability)
Birth certificate, Social Security award letter, or medical certification.
VA Disability Letter (if veteran)
Official letter from the VA showing disability percentage.
Deed or Title
Proof you own and occupy the property as your primary residence.
Exemption FAQs
Deadlines generally fall between March 1 and April 30. Check with the official Union County assessor's portal for the exact 2026 local date.
In most cases once a general homestead exemption is granted in Union County it automatically renews. You must notify the chief appraiser if your entitlement changes — for example if you move or rent out the home.
Yes. Many homeowners qualify for multiple exemptions simultaneously — for example homestead + senior + veteran. Each further reduces your taxable value. Apply for all you qualify for.
Applications must be filed with the Union County Assessor or Appraisal District — NOT the tax collector's office. The assessor's portal link is in the sidebar.
Texas Exemption Filing Window
Filing year is . Late homestead filings in Texas may be accepted up to 2 years after the delinquency date.
Filing Office
File with the Union County Assessor or Appraisal District — not the tax collector.
Open Official PortalOffice Location
Main Office
Oregon
💡 Stacking Exemptions
Many homeowners qualify for multiple exemptions. A homestead ($25,000–$40,000) plus a senior exemption ($10,000+) can reduce your taxable value by $35,000–$50,000+, saving hundreds of dollars annually.