On October 25, 2026, the Snohomish County Assessor's online queue showed 2,077 senior exemption applications waiting for review1. Each application needs proof of income and a copy of the owner's signed ID, sent by mail or brought in person2.
The Snohomish County senior property tax exemption cuts the tax on the home you live in if you meet age or disability rules and an income limit. That limit is $75,000 for taxes due in 2026. For taxes due in 2027, a new state law lifts it to $91,0003,4.
One date can't wait: the last day to claim a refund on 2023 taxes is October 31, 20265. This guide covers who qualifies, how to apply, and how to use the Assessor's records to confirm your home is still in your name. Our deed theft guide explains the crime itself, so this page sticks to Snohomish County's forms and offices.
Do you qualify for the Snohomish County senior property tax exemption?
You likely qualify for taxes due in 2026 if one of the first two lines fits you and the last three are true. The county uses 2025 as the income year. The Assessor checks each claim and can audit it later2.
- Age or disability: You were 61 or older by December 31, 2025, or you are younger and unable to work because of a disability.
- Service or loss: You are a veteran with a VA service-connected rating of 80% or more, or a VA total disability rating7. Or your late spouse or domestic partner had the exemption, and you were 57 or older in the year they died.
- Ownership: You owned the home on December 31, 2025, as an owner on the deed or through a life estate or a lease for life.
- Living there: It was your main home for at least six months of 2025, and you still own and live in it.
- Income: Your 2025 household income, after allowed costs, was $75,000 or less.
Household income here has a special meaning. The state calls it combined disposable income: your income plus your spouse's or domestic partner's, plus any co-owner who lives with you, minus allowed costs6.
The 2026 form has 16 deduction lines, such as nursing home, home health care, prescription drug and Medicare premium costs. The IRS standard deduction does not count2.
The exemption covers the house and up to five acres, depending on zoning2. A life estate is the right to live in a home for the rest of your life.
Over the limit? Look at Washington's deferral programs. A deferral lets you put off paying the tax until later.
The senior deferral is open at 60 or with a disability, and its Snohomish income limit is $79,578 for taxes due in 2026 and $101,355 for 2027 to 20297,8,3.
The catch: deferred tax grows at 5% simple interest. You repay it when the home is sold, when you die, or when it stops being your main home7.
How much higher are the income limits for 2027 taxes?
Each Snohomish County tier rises by $14,000 to $16,000 for taxes due in 2027, 2028 and 2029. The new limits come from Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6162, which the governor signed on March 23, 20263,4.
Each Snohomish County income tier rises $14,000 to $16,000 for 2027 taxes
Most income after allowed costs for each exemption tier, by the tax year it applies to
Show the numbers
| Tier 1, taxes due 2024 to 2026 | $54,000 |
|---|---|
| Tier 1, taxes due 2027 to 2029 | $68,000 |
| Tier 2, taxes due 2024 to 2026 | $64,000 |
| Tier 2, taxes due 2027 to 2029 | $79,000 |
| Tier 3, taxes due 2024 to 2026 | $75,000 |
| Tier 3, taxes due 2027 to 2029 | $91,000 |
Source: Washington Department of Revenue income thresholds for tax years 2024 to 2026 and 2027 to 20298,3. Snohomish County column only.
The tiers decide how much comes off your bill. An excess levy is an extra tax voters approve, such as a local school levy. The state school levy is the state property tax for K-12 schools, and it has two parts2,4.
In every tier, the value used is frozen at your home's assessed value in the year you first qualify, unless its market value is lower27.
| Tier | Taxes due in 2026 (2025 income) | Taxes due 2027 to 2029 |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Up to $54,000: excess levies, Part 2 of the state school levy, and $60,000 or 60% off the taxed value, whichever is more | Up to $68,000: excess levies, the whole state school levy, and $80,000 or 80% off the value taxed by regular levies, whichever is more |
| Tier 2 | Up to $64,000: excess levies, Part 2, and $50,000 or 35% off the taxed value, whichever is more, capped at $70,000 | Up to $79,000: excess levies, the whole state school levy, and $70,000 or 45% off, whichever is more, capped at $200,000 |
| Tier 3 | Up to $75,000: excess levies and Part 2 of the state school levy | Up to $91,000: excess levies and the whole state school levy |
Three more changes start with 2027 taxes4,6,9:
- Standard deduction: You may subtract $7,500, plus $7,500 for a spouse or domestic partner, instead of listing medical and care costs.
- Veterans: The VA rating needed drops from 80% to 40%.
- Rent from a room: Up to $6,000 of rent from a room in your home can be deducted.
The county had not posted a 2027 packet when we checked on October 25, 20265. Snohomish's new $91,000 top limit sits between Pierce County's $85,000 and King County's $101,0003.
How do you apply with the Snohomish County Assessor?
Mail or bring a paper application to the Assessor's Exemption Department in Everett, with proof of income and a copy of a signed ID. The packet says to return it by mail or in person, and incomplete files are sent back2.
- Download the packet for the tax year you want from the Assessor's Forms & Publications page. The 2026 packet uses 2025 income; older packets are for refunds5.
- Copy your income papers. Send your full 2025 federal return and everything used to prepare it, such as Social Security, pension, W-2 and 1099 forms. No return? Send those statements alone2.
- Add proof of each cost you subtract, such as invoices from an adult family home or pharmacy receipts.
- Copy an ID that shows your signature, such as a driver's license. If the home is in a trust, include the complete trust document.
- Sign and send it to Snohomish County Assessor, Exemption Department, 3000 Rockefeller Ave, M/S 510, Everett, WA 98201. You can also hand it in on a weekday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- Track it with the "Link to status tool" on the Assessor's home page. It shows a queue number, the date your application arrived and its status1,11.
Once approved, report any change, such as moving out, and expect a renewal form at least once every six years28.
Free help is available. The Exemption Division answers questions at 425-388-354010. LISC Puget Sound lists in-person help, by appointment, at Volunteers of America Western Washington centers in Arlington, Lake Stevens and Sky Valley12.
Can you still get a refund for past years?
Yes, for up to three earlier years, and each year has an end date printed on its packet. If you qualify, the Treasurer adjusts the tax and refunds the overpayment to whoever paid it2,5.
- Oct. 31, 2026Last day for a refund on 2023 taxes, based on 2022 income
- Oct. 31, 2027Last day for 2024 taxes (2023 income)
- Oct. 31, 2028Last day for 2025 taxes (2024 income)
- Oct. 31, 2029Last day for 2026 taxes (2025 income)
Use a separate packet for each year. Refund questions go to the Treasurer at 425-388-3366, option 32.
What should you check in the Snohomish County Assessor property search?
Look up your parcel and read three parts: Party Information, Transfer History and the exemption lines. The free search takes a parcel number or a street address10,14. A parcel number is the county's ID for your piece of land, printed on your tax statement2.
- Party Information should list you as owner, with each owner's share.
- Transfer History lists past sales and transfers: date, price, document number, grantor (the person handing over the property), grantee (the person receiving it) and deed type. A line you don't recognize is worth a call to Recording.
- Value History shows an "Exemption Amount Regular" line once an exemption is in place, and Active Exemptions names it. The site warns that exemptions "may not display for all assessment years"14.
The Assessor's record is a summary. The deed itself is with Snohomish County Recording, "a division of the Auditor's Office" that acts as the county's recorder of deeds29. A deed is the signed paper that transfers a home, and recording puts it in the public record.
Most documents recorded since July 1976 are online. Since March 2, 2026, the search needs a free account. You can search by name (last name first) or by the first ten digits of the parcel ID, or call 425-388-3483 for help15.
How do you get an email when a document is recorded on your home?
Sign up for the county's free Recorded Document Notification System. It emails you each time a document is recorded with Snohomish County Recording under your registered name or parcel number16. Many counties offer something similar; our map of free county alerts lists them.
- Open the registration page and choose Personal or Business.
- Enter your name exactly as it appears in records, your email and your parcel number.
- Confirm within minutes. Look for an email titled "Recording Activity Notification Verification Creation from Snohomish County" and click its link. Check your spam folder17.
- Add a profile for each version of your name, such as one with a middle initial or a former last name.
"While fraudulent recording of property documents is rare, this system will provide our customers with an option to monitor recorded document activity in their name or with their property."
- It writes after the fact. An alert comes once a document is already on record.
- It is email only, with no texts or calls.
- It matches what you typed. A name spelled another way may slip past.
- It makes no promises. The county says it "does not guarantee, or claim to guarantee, protection against fraud"16.
- Your sign-up may be public. The form says your details may fall under the state's public records law.
If an alert shows a document you never signed, the Auditor's advice at launch was to seek legal advice18. Our guide to a fraudulent deed filed on your home lists the first steps.
What property scams have Snohomish County owners seen?
Strangers with papers claiming homes, and fake county letters threatening seizure, both reported by Seattle news outlets. Fraudulent recording is rare, the county Auditor said in 202318. Our search of news and court reports from 2016 to 2026 found no forged deed recorded on a Snohomish County home.
A paper at your door is not your county record. The Assessor's search and the recorded documents search show what is really on file.
Washington law treats a fake filing as a felony. Knowingly offering a false or forged document for recording in any public office is a class C felony21. An owner can also ask Snohomish County Superior Court to clear a false claim in a quiet title action, a lawsuit that settles who owns a property22.
A 2026 bill, HB 2298, would have let county auditors run a voluntary title protection program. It stalled in the House Rules Committee in February23.
Who do you call in Snohomish County?
Call the Assessor about the exemption, the Treasurer about refunds and Recording about a document you don't recognize. Phone numbers and sign-up pages on this page were checked on October 25, 2026.
| Office | Call about | How to reach it |
|---|---|---|
| Assessor, Exemption Division | Who qualifies, forms, application status | 425-388-3540. assessor@snoco.org. 3000 Rockefeller Ave., M/S 510, Everett |
| Treasurer | Refunds and corrected tax bills | 425-388-3366 (option 3 for exemption refunds) |
| Snohomish County Recording | Recorded documents, copies, the email alert | 425-388-3483. recording@snoco.gov |
| Sheriff's Office | Reporting identity theft | Its identity theft page says to call 911 to file a report |
| Prosecuting Attorney | Criminal cases | 425-388-3333 |
| CLEAR*Sr, Northwest Justice Project | Free legal help for people 60 and over | 1-888-387-7111 |
Sources for the table: Assessor10, Treasurer2, Recording15, Sheriff24, Prosecutor25 and Northwest Justice Project26. Under 60 and low income? The CLEAR line is 1-888-201-1014.
Frequently asked questions
How does a senior reduce their property tax in Snohomish County?
Apply to the Assessor for the senior and disabled person exemption, using the packet for the tax year you want. If your income is too high, a deferral can postpone the tax instead. Both start with the Assessor's Exemption Division at 425-388-3540.
Can I get a property tax discount as a senior citizen in Washington?
Yes, if you meet the age or disability rule and your county's income limit. Washington has an exemption for people 61 and older and two deferral programs. Limits differ by county, so check the state's table for yours.
What is the new exemption for seniors?
The 2026 law, ESSB 6162, changes the existing exemption starting with 2027 taxes. It raises the income limits, removes the whole state school levy for everyone who qualifies, and adds a $7,500 standard deduction. In Snohomish County the top limit becomes $91,000.
Does property tax go down for seniors?
Not by itself. You have to apply, and a renewal is needed at least every six years. Once you qualify, the county taxes your home on the lower of its value when you qualified (the frozen value) or its current market value.
How can I get a property fraud alert in Washington State?
Each county runs its own, if it has one. In Snohomish County it is the free Recorded Document Notification System from the Auditor's Recording division. Our state-by-state map of county alerts shows where others exist.
How can I find property records in Snohomish County by name?
Use the recorded documents search with a free account and type the name last name first. The Assessor's property search works by parcel number or address instead. Recording staff can also search for you at 425-388-3483.
Get the packet for your year
Pick the packet that matches the tax year you want, gather your income papers and mail it to the Exemption Department. While you are on the county site, add the free recording alert for your name and parcel.
Open the Assessor's forms pageSources
- Senior Exemption Application Queue (status tool), Snohomish County Assessor, checked October 25, 2026
- Senior Citizens and People with Disabilities Property Tax Exemption Application for Property Taxes Due in 2026 (PDF), Snohomish County Assessor, 2026
- Income Thresholds for Senior Citizen and Disabled Persons Property Tax Exemption and Deferral for Tax Years 2027-2029, Washington Department of Revenue, checked October 25, 2026
- Final Bill Report, ESSB 6162, Washington State Senate, 2026; signing date from the bill summary
- Forms & Publications and the 2023 application packet (refund window "expires 10-31-2026"), Snohomish County Assessor, checked October 25, 2026
- RCW 84.36.383, Residences: definitions, Washington State Legislature, as amended in 2026
- Property tax exemptions and deferrals, Washington Department of Revenue, checked October 25, 2026
- Income Thresholds for Tax Years 2024-2026 (PDF), Washington Department of Revenue, posted by Snohomish County, 2023
- Engrossed House Bill 1106, Session Law (veteran rating), Washington State Legislature, 2025
- Property Tax Exemptions, Snohomish County Assessor, checked October 25, 2026
- Assessor home page, Snohomish County, checked October 25, 2026
- Property Tax Relief for Seniors, LISC Puget Sound, checked October 25, 2026
- FAQs: The Assessment Process, Snohomish County, checked October 25, 2026
- Property Account Summary, parcel 00439171600000 (county courthouse), Snohomish County Assessor Property Search, checked October 25, 2026
- Search Recorded Documents, Snohomish County Recording, checked October 25, 2026
- Recorded Document Notification System Registration, Snohomish County Recording, checked October 25, 2026
- Recorded Document Notification System, Snohomish County Recording, checked October 25, 2026
- Snohomish County Recording launches recorded document notification system, My Edmonds News, December 1, 2023
- Snohomish County officials warn about home repossession scam, KOMO News, November 30, 2020
- Snohomish County officials warn of scam threatening property seizure, MyNorthwest (KIRO Newsradio), November 15, 2022
- RCW 40.16.030, Offering false instrument for filing or record, Washington State Legislature, checked October 25, 2026
- RCW 7.28.010, Who may maintain actions: service on nonresident defendant, Washington State Legislature, checked October 25, 2026
- HB 2298, 2025-26, Washington State Legislature, status checked October 25, 2026
- Identity Theft, Snohomish County Sheriff's Office, checked October 25, 2026
- Prosecutor, Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney, checked October 25, 2026
- Get Legal Help, Northwest Justice Project, checked October 25, 2026
- RCW 84.36.381, Residences: property tax exemptions, qualifications, Washington State Legislature, as amended in 2026
- RCW 84.36.385, Residences: claim for exemption, forms, change of status, Washington State Legislature, checked October 25, 2026
- Official Records Search terms of use, Snohomish County Recording, checked October 25, 2026
