During a presentation to the Windham Town Council on Jan. 13, Windham Town Assessor Josh Houde shared details about three different programs aimed at easing property tax burdens for residents.
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| Josh Houde serves as Windham Town Assessor and in that role he is responsible for the valuation of all taxable property in Windham, both real estate and personal property and oversees tax relief programs offered by the town. FILE PHOTO |
As far as local tax relief impact goes, Houde told the council that in 2025, 305 Windham residents applied for tax relief and received $205,000 in the total provided.
“Almost all received the $700 maximum,” Houde said.
According to Houde, one of the tax relief programs, the Maine State Property Tax Fairness Credit, provides up to $2,000 tax credit for seniors and $1,000 for others based on income and property tax ratios.
“Residents who pay more than 4 percent of their income to property taxes and meet certain income criteria are eligible to apply,” Houde said.
The way the program works is residents pay property tax up to 4 percent of their income and if property taxes exceed 4 percent, the Maine State Property Tax Fairness Credit program may reimburse a portion through a refundable credit received with state income tax filing. Income eligibility for seniors over the age of 65 is $100,000.
To apply for the Maine State Property Tax Fairness Credit, go to https://www.maine.gov/revenue/taxes/tax-relief-credits-programs/income-tax-credits/property-tax-fairness-credit.
Houde said that another method of obtaining local tax relief is through a Homestead Exemption.
“The homestead exemption provides a reduction of up to $25,000 in the value of your home for property tax purposes,” he said. “To qualify, you must be a permanent resident of Maine, the home must be your permanent residence, you must have owned a home in Maine for the 12 months prior to applying and an application must be filed on or before April 1 with the municipality where the property is located.”
The Homestead Exemption applies to any residential property that is assessed as real property, Houde said.
Applications may be made through the town and applied to next year’s tax assessment once approved. Property value would be reduced by $25,000 through the Homestead Exemption.
As long as the Homestead Exemption has been approved by the town assessor’s office, it will remain in effect as long as your property ownership and local residency status remain unchanged.
For a detailed description of the Homestead Exemption Program and information about eligibility, go to: https://www.maine.gov/revenue/faq/homestead-exemption-program.
Tax relief is also available through Windham’s Local Assistance Program, Houde said.
Under this program, the Town of Windham offers up to a $700 tax rebate for qualifying seniors that meet certain residential and income thresholds. Currently, the Windham Town Council has established the years of residency in Windham as five years for eligibility, Houde said. In 2025, a total of 305 residents benefited from tax relief under this program.
He said some Windham residents may be eligible for a property tax refund of up to $700, if they are at least 65 years old at the time of application; have a home (owned or rented) in Windham that they have lived in for the whole year prior to the time of application; have been a Windham resident for at least the last five years; have paid property taxes in Windham (due Oct. 1, 2025 and April 1, 2026), or rent in Windham on your home for at least a year; or are 100 percent disabled, with Social Security Administration document verification, and meet all eligibility requirements excluding age.
The maximum benefit is $700 but could be less depending on your actual property taxes and your annual household income. Total household income includes both taxable and non-taxable income and refers to the combined gross income of all members of a household.
Applications for this year’s Local Assistance Program will be accepted by the town starting on July 1.
For more specifics about Windham’s Local Assistance Program, go to https://windhammaine.us/616/Senior-Property-Tax-Assistance <
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