Complete the Homestead Declaration form. The form must be printed legibly in black ink.A tax exemption essentially lowers the amount of property tax that you have to pay on your home. A homestead exemption can benefit homeowners if one spouse in a twoincome household dies. 1. Complete the Homestead Declaration Form. A homestead exemption basically protects you from creditors as far as protects your equity in the house. So, a homestead exemption is a legal provision designed to protect the value in a principal dwelling place.