Blind Exemption

The City of Dover offers an exemption for persons who are legally blind as determined by the blind services program, bureau of vocational rehabilitation, department of education. The applicant must be the owner of the property and occupy it as their principle place of abode. Basic requirements are outlined below. Please refer to the application, RSA 72:37 and REV. 414 for full details.

Applications are due by April 15th each year. A response from the Assessing Office is due back to the applicant on or before July 1st. If approved, the exemption will go into effect with the first bill of the new tax year the following December.

EXEMPTION AMOUNT

The exemption amount offered is $166,000. This amount is taken off of the assessed value of the property before the final tax bill is determined.

REQUIREMENTS

  • Applicants are required to submit a copy of a letter indicating that they are registered as legally blind from the NH Department of Education along with the application.
  • The applicant must also be the owner of record of the property claiming the exemption and a resident of Dover on or before April 1st in the year they are applying.
  • The property must be owned by the applicant or jointly or in common with their spouse, either of whom meets the age requirement for the exemption claimed; or owned by the applicant, or the applicant's spouse, either of whom meets the age requirement for the exemption claimed, and when they have been married to each other for at least 5 consecutive years.
  • They property can be owned by the applicant jointly or in common with a person not the applicant's spouse, if the applicant meets the requirements for the exemption claimed.
  • The property must be the applicant’s principle place of abode.
  • If the property is held in trust or if the applicant has a life estate interest in the property, they may still qualify. A PA-33 form will need to be submitted with the application along with a copy of the trust. 

Please call the Assessor's office with any questions. 

2024 Blind Exemption Application