Exemption & Credit Programs

The Assessor's office processes many exemption and credit programs.

A property tax exemption is a reduction to a real or motor vehicle property assessment and is administered by the Assessor. Residency and property ownership must be established on or before October 1 assessment date. Except where noted, proof of exemption eligibility must also be provided on or before assessment date.

The Monetary benefits realized by applicants approved for exemptions are dependent upon the mill rate. (For example, a $3,000 property tax assessment exemption in a town having a mill rate of 21.5 equates to a monetary savings of $64.50).

The credits that are processed in our office are:

Rehabilitation Property Tax Deferral, where the town has elected to allow applications for substantial improvements of properties to have their tax increase deferred. The town recognizes improvements to properties also increase the value and tax increase, please click here to access the application and important information on who may qualify.
Renters Rebate, for renter residents who are either over 65 or totally disabled and meet state set income guidelines, you can apply between April 1st and October 1st to receive a rebate check from the State of Connecticut. Click here to see if you may qualify.
Circuit Breaker/Homeowner's Program, for homeowner residents who are either over 65 or totally disabled and meet state set income guidelines, you can apply between February 1st and May 15th to receive a percentage off of your real estate taxes. Click here to see if you may qualify.
Senior Farmers Market Vouchers, this program is a booklet of vouchers to be used at local farmers markets. The program is administered by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, and our office is a distribution site. Click here to see if you may qualify and how to receive your vouchers.

War Time Veterans Exemption

Per the provisions of §12-89, §12-90 and §12-95

How can I qualify for the war time Veteran’s exemption?

As of October 1st the assessment date, you must:

Be a Putnam resident.
Have served in at least 90 days during a time of war or recognized military conflict in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.
Click here for a list of Dates of War recognized

How do I apply?

File your acceptable form of proof of service (Honorable Discharge or DD214) with the Town Clerk. As we have been informed by the Veteran's Administration, there are several copies provided to the Veteran when being discharged, please make sure to file the "Full" copy.

When may I apply?

You may file your proof of service at any time during the year. However, the exemption will be granted on the next Grand List date following your filing date. Example: You file your DD214 with the Town Clerk on May 23, 2021, the exemption will first apply on the October 1, 2021 Grand List.

When do I have to re-apply?

You only have to file your proof of service once for this exemption.

What are the benefits of this program?

A reduction of $1,500 in assessment reduction will be applied to property you own.

Disabled Veterans Exemption

Per the provisions of §12-81(20)

How can I qualify?

As of October 1 of the assessment date, you must:

Be a Putnam resident.
Have a VA disability rating of at least 10%
Have served or are serving in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or Air Force.

How do I apply?

File your acceptable form of proof of service with the Town Clerk and file your VA rating with the Assessor.

When may I apply?

For your exemption to apply to a Grand List your proof of service and current VA rating must be filed by March 31 following the assessment date. Example: To receive this exemption on the October 1, 2021 Grand List you must file your required proofs by March 31, 2022.

When do I have to reapply?

In regards to any Service Connected Disability Rating, the VA determined Disability Letter needs to be submitted to the Assessor's office. Connecticut General Statute 12-95 (20) now requires that the proof be submitted once and only again if the disability rating changes.

What are the benefits of this program?

PA 19-171, increased the exemption by an additional $500, and the following reductions are effective for the 2019 Grand List and going forward:

VA Rating 10% to 25% the reduction is $2,000
VA Rating 26% to 50% the reduction is $2,500
VA Rating 51% to 75% the reduction is $3,000
VA Rating 76% to 100% the reduction is $3,500
VA Rating and 65+ years old reduction is $3,500

Additional Veterans Exemption

Per the provisions of §12-81g(a) and (b)

How can I qualify?

As of October 1 of the assessment date, you must:

Be a Putnam resident.
Be qualified for either the War Time Veterans or the Disabled Veterans exemptions and meet annual income guide lines set by the State of Connecticut for an additional doubling of the exemption.

How do I apply?

Contact the Assessor’s Office for an appointment to complete an application for the additional double exemption. You will need to provide proof of your income from the prior year. Proof includes:

Income Tax Return (signed) in filing an return
Social Security Benefit Statement 1099, sent in January
Statement of Wages and Tips (W-2)

Interest statements (1099) from savings and interest bearing checking accounts, Statements of annuity, pensions, or dividend payments. Statements of veteran pension and veteran disability payments.

A sample copy of this application can be found on this website –see Form M-59.

When may I apply?

For the additional double exemption to apply to a Grand List you must apply between February 1 and October 1 of the Grand List year.

When do I have to reapply?

To continue this additional double exemption you must complete an application and be approved every two years.

What are the benefits of this program?

This exemption is based on the other Veterans or Veterans with Disability exemptions you already are receiving. An additional reduction in assessment will be applied to property owned based on the following:

War Time Veteran is $2,000 if income guide lines are met.
VA Rating 10% to 25% is $4,000 if income guide lines are met.
VA Rating 26% to 50% is $5,000 if income guide lines are met.
VA Rating 51% to 75% is $6,000 if income guide lines are met.
VA Rating 76% to 100% is $7,000 if income guide lines are met.
VA Rating and age 65 is $7,000 if income guide lines are met.

Blind Exemption

Per the provisions of §12-81(17)

How can I qualify?

As of October 1st assessment date you must:

Be a Putnam resident.
Have total and permanent loss of sight in both eyes or reduction of vision to meet statute definition found in §12-92.

How do I apply?

Submit an application provided by the Assessor’s Office along with acceptable documentation of proof of blindness (i.e. certification by a qualified medical doctor).

When may I apply?

You may apply at any time during the year. However, the exemption will be granted the next Grand List date. Example: Exemption application filed May 23, 2020, the exemption will first apply on the October 1, 2020 Grand List.

When do I have to re-apply?

You only have to apply once for this exemption.

What are the benefits of this program?

A reduction of $3,000 in assessment will be applied to property you own.

Totally Disabled Exemption

Per the provisions of State Statute §12-81(55)

How can I qualify?

As of October 1st, the assessment date, you must:

Be a Putnam resident.
Be receiving permanent disability benefits from Social Security Administration government retirement/disability plan with similar requirements to the Social Security Administration.

How do I apply?

Submit an application provided by the Assessor’s Office along with acceptable documentation of proof of total disability to the Assessor.

Applications may be down loaded from this site – see Form D-1.

When may I apply?

You may apply at any time during the year. However, the exemption will be granted for the next Grand List filed by the Assessor following your application date. Example: An exemption application filed May 23, 2020, the exemption will first apply on the October 2020 Grand List.

When do I have to reapply?

You only have to apply once for this exemption.

What are the benefits of this program?

A reduction of $1,000 in assessment will be applied to property you own.

Business Exemption

Real Estate Programs

Public Act 490

Public Act 490 is §12-107a – 107f of the Connecticut General Statutes. It was implemented to promote agriculture, and to keep Connecticut’s forested lands undeveloped. It is a preferential treatment for lands. It is a lower assessment on the land used as farm land, forest land or open space.

Penalty

There is a penalty for not keeping land under 490 for ten years. A conveyance tax will be due if the land is sold or the use changes within ten years.

Applications

The application period for Public Act 490 is annually from September 1st through October 31 for farm and open space classification, and October 1st for forest classification. Applications may be downloaded from this website - see Forms M-29, M-39 and M-30.

Requirements for Classification

Farm:

Property must be in Putnam
Property must be used for agriculture on October 1.
There is no specific acreage of land required under this classification, however, the Assessor must consider the actual use, acreage, portions used agriculturally, productivity, income derived from farming, and equipment used when determining land as farmland.
Farmland is valued upon the acreage and uses.
490 remains on the property for as long as it is owned by the same entity.
A conveyance tax is due if property is sold or the use changes, and is calculated from the date of ownership.

Forest:

Property must be in Putnam.
Requirement are at least 25 acres, of which two or more parcels must be at least 10 acres each.
Application process is two steps:
1. Application must be submitted to the State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Forestry Division. The application must include three sets of maps with acreage delineated for forest land, and be no larger than 17”x 22”. It must include a written report by a certified forester. It must be signed by all legal owners of the property. It must also be signed by the Assessor, agreeing to the amount of acreage located in Putnam.
2. After receiving a State of Connecticut Forest Certificate, a 490 application (see Form M-39 on this website) must be received by the Assessor by October 1.
490 remains on the property for as long as it is owned by the same entity.
A conveyance tax is due if property is sold or the use changes, land is calculated from the date of ownership.

Open Space:

Property must be in Putnam.
Open Space requires at least 5 acres of vacant land to qualify. (If the property has a dwelling on it, the requirement is 7 acres of land.)
490 remains on the property for as long as it is owned by the same entity.
A conveyance tax is due if property is sold or the use changes, and is calculated from the date of application, not the date of ownership.