To qualify for the homeowners' exemption, the home must have been the principal residence of the owner as of January 1 of that tax year. Maximize property tax benefits tailored to your location.To claim the exemption, the homeowner must make a one-time filing with the county assessor where the property is located. The homestead tax exemption applies to property taxes. The claim form, BOE-266, Claim for Homeowners' Property Tax Exemption, is available from the county assessor. How to fill out the Homestead and Other Exemptions in Virginia? Domiciliary Residents: Individuals whose state of legal residence in the technical sense is Virginia are domiciliary residents. Print, fill out and sign the forms. Protection under homestead laws is typically limited to "natural persons" who reside in the applicable jurisdiction. A homestead exemption can block the forced sale of a primary residence and provide tax relief for surviving spouses.