Hawaii Property Tax Relief for Seniors 2026

Every statewide property tax break Hawaii offers older homeowners that we could confirm on an official page: the type of relief, the age and income limits, the amount, how to apply and the deadline.

Hawaii has no state property tax, so each county sets its own relief for seniors. Honolulu raises the home exemption from $120,000 to $160,000 at age 65 (rising to $140,000/$180,000 on July 1, 2027), and Kauai's is $220,000 under 60, $240,000 at 60-69 and $260,000 at 70+. Both counties also limit tax to 3% of household income for qualifying owner-occupants: Honolulu's Real Property Tax Credit for Homeowners (income up to $80,000) and Kauai's Home Preservation Tax Limitation (income up to $200,000). (sources)

Official sources Checked against official sources on November 4, 2026. This page lists only programs confirmed on an official state page; counties and cities may offer more.

The programs
Amounts, how to apply and deadlines
Income tax in retirement
Common questions

Hawaii property tax relief programs for seniors

Hawaii property tax relief for seniors: the programs (checked November 4, 2026)
Program	Type	Age	Income limit	Deadline	Source
Honolulu home exemption, 65 and older amount	Homestead exemption	65 or older. The higher amount applies automatically once proof of age is on file.	None	September 30. An approved claim takes effect in the following tax year.	City and County of Honolulu Real Property Assessment Division: Home Exemption
Honolulu Real Property Tax Credit for Homeowners (ROH § 8-13)	Circuit breaker	No age requirement	Combined total gross income of all titleholders, including nontaxable income such as Social Security and pensions, may not exceed $80,000 for calendar year 2025.	September 30, 2026 (received by 4:30 p.m. or postmarked) for tax year 2027-2028	City and County of Honolulu: Real Property Tax Credit for Homeowners, Tax Year 2027-2028 brochure
Kauai home exemption, age-tiered amounts	Homestead exemption	Ages 60-69 and age 70 and over (higher tiers)	None	September 30 before the tax year claimed	County of Kauai Real Property Assessment: Exemption/Tax Relief Information
Kauai additional income-based home exemption	Homestead exemption	No age requirement	Gross income of all owner-occupants may not exceed 80% of Kauai's median household income for the year. The county does not publish the dollar figure on this page.	September 30, every year	County of Kauai Real Property Assessment: Exemption/Tax Relief Information
Kauai Home Preservation Tax Limitation	Circuit breaker	No age requirement	Combined gross income of all titleholders of $200,000 or less	September 30, every year	County of Kauai Real Property Assessment

Amounts, how to apply and deadlines

Honolulu home exemption, 65 and older amount

Type: Homestead exemption
Age: 65 or older. The higher amount applies automatically once proof of age is on file.
Income limit: None
Amount: $160,000 off the taxable value of an owner-occupied principal residence. The under-65 amount is $120,000. Starting July 1, 2027, the amounts rise to $180,000 for 65 and older and $140,000 under 65.
How to apply: File a home exemption claim with the Honolulu Real Property Assessment Division. Owners who already have the exemption and have not changed ownership or use do not refile.
Deadline: September 30. An approved claim takes effect in the following tax year.
Source: City and County of Honolulu Real Property Assessment Division: Home Exemption

Honolulu Real Property Tax Credit for Homeowners (ROH § 8-13)

Type: Circuit breaker
Age: No age requirement
Income limit: Combined total gross income of all titleholders, including nontaxable income such as Social Security and pensions, may not exceed $80,000 for calendar year 2025.
Amount: A credit equal to the property tax that exceeds 3% of the titleholders' combined gross income, applied to the July 1, 2027 to June 30, 2028 tax year. The tax owed cannot fall below the minimum tax.
How to apply: Apply every year to the Department of Budget and Fiscal Services, Treasury Division, Tax Relief Section. A home exemption must be in effect, and no titleholder may own any other property anywhere.
Deadline: September 30, 2026 (received by 4:30 p.m. or postmarked) for tax year 2027-2028
Source: City and County of Honolulu: Real Property Tax Credit for Homeowners, Tax Year 2027-2028 brochure

Kauai home exemption, age-tiered amounts

Type: Homestead exemption
Age: Ages 60-69 and age 70 and over (higher tiers)
Income limit: None
Amount: $240,000 at ages 60-69 and $260,000 at age 70 and over. The base amount under age 60 is $220,000.
How to apply: File Form P-3 with the Kauai Real Property Assessment Division. The owner must occupy the home at least 271 days a year, hold a Hawaii driver's license or ID, and file a full-year resident Hawaii N-11 return.
Deadline: September 30 before the tax year claimed
Source: County of Kauai Real Property Assessment: Exemption/Tax Relief Information

Kauai additional income-based home exemption

Type: Homestead exemption
Age: No age requirement
Income limit: Gross income of all owner-occupants may not exceed 80% of Kauai's median household income for the year. The county does not publish the dollar figure on this page.
Amount: An additional $120,000 exemption, a 50% cut in the refuse fee, and a minimum tax of $75 instead of $150
How to apply: Apply every year; qualification uses federal and Hawaii gross income from the year before the application. An approved home exemption is required.
Deadline: September 30, every year
Source: County of Kauai Real Property Assessment: Exemption/Tax Relief Information

Kauai Home Preservation Tax Limitation

Type: Circuit breaker
Age: No age requirement
Income limit: Combined gross income of all titleholders of $200,000 or less
Amount: Property tax is computed at 3% of the combined gross income of all titleholders. Kauai's Exemption/Tax Relief page states the tax is the higher of 3% of combined gross income or $500.
How to apply: Apply every year to the Kauai Real Property Assessment Division. The owner-occupant must have had a home exemption in effect for at least 10 years, own no other property, and have a net taxable value of $1,000,000 or more.
Deadline: September 30, every year
Source: County of Kauai Real Property Assessment

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Hawaii income tax in retirement

Property tax relief is one half of a state’s cost to retirees; the other is income tax on pensions, IRA withdrawals and Social Security. See Hawaii state income tax for retirees, which states tax retirement income and which states tax Social Security.

Common questions

What property tax relief can seniors get in Hawaii?

Honolulu home exemption, 65 and older amount: homestead exemption; Honolulu Real Property Tax Credit for Homeowners (ROH § 8-13): circuit breaker; Kauai home exemption, age-tiered amounts: homestead exemption; Kauai additional income-based home exemption: homestead exemption; Kauai Home Preservation Tax Limitation: circuit breaker (realproperty.honolulu.gov, honolulu.gov, kauai.gov, kauai.gov).

At what age do Hawaii seniors qualify for property tax relief?

Honolulu home exemption, 65 and older amount: 65 or older. The higher amount applies automatically once proof of age is on file.; Honolulu Real Property Tax Credit for Homeowners (ROH § 8-13): No age requirement; Kauai home exemption, age-tiered amounts: Ages 60-69 and age 70 and over (higher tiers); Kauai additional income-based home exemption: No age requirement; Kauai Home Preservation Tax Limitation: No age requirement.

Is there an income limit for Hawaii senior property tax relief?

Honolulu home exemption, 65 and older amount: None; Honolulu Real Property Tax Credit for Homeowners (ROH § 8-13): Combined total gross income of all titleholders, including nontaxable income such as Social Security and pensions, may not exceed $80,000 for calendar year 2025.; Kauai home exemption, age-tiered amounts: None; Kauai additional income-based home exemption: Gross income of all owner-occupants may not exceed 80% of Kauai's median household income for the year. The county does not publish the dollar figure on this page.; Kauai Home Preservation Tax Limitation: Combined gross income of all titleholders of $200,000 or less.

What is the deadline to apply in Hawaii?

Honolulu home exemption, 65 and older amount: September 30. An approved claim takes effect in the following tax year.; Honolulu Real Property Tax Credit for Homeowners (ROH § 8-13): September 30, 2026 (received by 4:30 p.m. or postmarked) for tax year 2027-2028; Kauai home exemption, age-tiered amounts: September 30 before the tax year claimed; Kauai additional income-based home exemption: September 30, every year; Kauai Home Preservation Tax Limitation: September 30, every year.

Sources

Every row above is copied from the official page linked beside it. Benefits change with new laws and local decisions, so confirm the amount and the deadline with the office that runs the program before you apply. QuantCalc is calculation software, not legal, tax or benefits advice. Last updated November 4, 2026.

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