Most homeowners are eligible for this exemption if they own and occupy their property as their principal place of residence. A property tax exemption is like a discount applied to your EAV.If you qualify for an exemption, it allows you to lower your EAV. To qualify for the Illinois homestead exemption, you must live in the state for at least 730 days. The General Homestead Exemption is granted automatically in most cases. (d) A person who will be 65 years of age during the current assessment year shall be eligible to apply for the homestead exemption during that assessment year. Homeowners eligible for this exemption this year must be disabled or become disabled during the 2023 tax year. In bankruptcy, a homestead exemption protects equity in your home. Property tax exemptions are savings that contribute to lowering a homeowner's property tax bill. The most common is the Homeowner Exemption.