The Homestead Act of 1862 allowed all citizens who were 21 or who were head of their family to claim 160 acres of land. The Taxpayer Relief Act provides for property tax reduction allocations to be distributed to school districts through a "homestead or farmstead exclusion."How long is my application good for? Indefinitely. Unless, you change your residence, mailing address or sell the property. The Homestead Act of 1862 has been called one of the most important pieces of Legislation in the history of the United States. Disabled applicants must complete form DTE 105E,. You are eligible for the homestead exemption if the trust agreement contains a provision that says you have complete possession of the property. Fill in the oval that corresponds to your filing status on your. Once a semi-arid grassland, the treeless plains became home to thousands of settlers when, in 1862, Congress passed the Homestead Act.