Madison County Tax Assessor: Disability Exemption and Homestead
The Madison County Tax Assessor grants the State’s full exemption to a permanently and totally disabled owner, with no income limit, on a VA benefits letter, a Social Security award or two physician forms, by December 31. One of its own pages wrongly puts the disabled owner under the $12,000 income test, and none mentions the October 2026 end of annual verification for VA permanent and total veterans.
Also called: Tax Assessor, H-3, homestead, property tax, PT-PA, permanent and total, Huntsville, Cliff Mann, December 31.
The exemption is the State's; see the Alabama principal residence entry. In Madison County it is claimed from the Tax Assessor, Madison County Service Center, 1918 Memorial Parkway NW, Huntsville 35801 (256-532-3350, [email protected]).
What the Assessor says. Homestead type H-3 (disabled): "Taxpayer is permanently and totally disabled-exempt from all ad valorem taxes. There is no income limitation." The owner must own and occupy the single-family home as the primary residence on October 1, and the deadline is December 31; the exemption then applies to the following year's taxes. Proof of disability may be an award letter from Social Security, "benefits verification letter from the VA", or two PT-PA physician forms, which the Assessor links. The deed and a driver's licence showing the property address, issued by October 1, are also required.
Where its pages disagree with each other and with the law. The Assessor's "Save on Taxes" page says an owner "retired due to total and permanent disability" may be entitled to additional exemptions "based on your income", which must be $12,000 or less. That describes the H-2 and age 65 routes. The full disability exemption under section 40-9-21 has no income limit, as the Assessor's own homestead page says; a disabled veteran over $12,000 should not be put off by the shorter page.
The VA letter. Section 40-9-21 needs permanent and total disability. A VA benefits letter that shows only a percentage may not be enough; ask VA for a letter that states the permanent and total finding.
What is new and not on the pages. From October 1, 2026, Act 2026-598 (section 40-9-21.1(b)(2)) releases a veteran whom VA has found permanently and totally disabled from claiming again or verifying again every year, and Act 2026-268 (section 40-9-21.3) lets a 100 percent permanent and total veteran get a tentative certificate from the Assessor before buying, within 20 days, so the tax is left out of the mortgage debt-to-income ratio. The Assessor's pages mention neither.
For service members. A homeowner with an active duty military ID need not change an out-of-state driver's licence to get the homestead; a homeowner's insurance declaration covering October 1 and a utility set date letter from Huntsville Utilities are enough.
Thresholds
Thresholds for Madison County Tax Assessor: Disability Exemption and Homestead
Gate
Rule
Permanent and total disability, no income limit
Alabama uses its own permanent and total test, proved by a VA or Social Security letter or two physician forms. The rating filter cannot test it.
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Disclaimer
VetTOC is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Information is for reference only and is not an eligibility determination. Verify with VA, the relevant state or territory, or an accredited VSO.