You must file with the county or city where your home is located. Each county has different applications and required documents.To qualify for the Illinois homestead exemption, you must live in the state for at least 730 days. Douglas County has additional exemptions. Homestead exemptions provide a significant reduction in annual property taxes and are available to individuals who own and reside in a home in DeKalb County. Additionally, the Georgia Constitution allows counties to enact local homestead exemptions. Social Security Number. Statutory property tax rates do not vary with property value in the United States. A number of schools systems, particularly in the Atlanta area, provide a. 100 percent homestead exemption from school property taxes for the elderly.