It involves completing a form and submitting it to the county recorder's office. To qualify, you must live in the home as your primary residence.First and foremost you must complete a statespecific homestead declaration. This legally protects you from many little-known situations. Application deadline date is September 1st of the current year. Any person eighteen years of age or over, married or single, who resides within this state may hold as a homestead exempt from execution and forced sale. A homestead exemption can benefit homeowners if one spouse in a twoincome household dies. The Department recognizes three categories of property tax exemption: General. Restricted, and Individual. No. Arizona's homestead exemption laws protect property in the case of bankruptcy, but they don't save homeowners on property taxes.