Application for Exemption

Any owner of real or personal property claiming exemption under T.C.A. § 67-5-212 or T.C.A. § 67-5-207, § 67-5-213 or § 67-5-219 must file an application for the exemption with the State Board of Equalization on a form prescribed by the board, and supply any further information as the board may require to determine whether the property qualifies for exemption. No property will be exempted from property taxes under these sections, unless the application has been approved in writing by the board. A separate application is required for each parcel of property for which an exemption is claimed. An application is deemed filed on the date it is received by the board or, if mailed, on the postmark date. The applicant must provide a copy of the application with any supporting materials to the assessor of property of the county in which the property is located. An application for exemption pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-212 or any other section referring to these procedures is treated as an appeal for purposes of T.C.A. § 67-5-1512.¹

The board makes an initial determination granting or denying an exemption through its staff designee, who sends written notice of the initial determination to the applicant and the assessor of property. Either the assessor of property or the applicant may appeal the initial determination to the board and is entitled to a hearing prior to any final determination of exemption. The assessor maintains on file copies of all approved applications. After an exemption has been approved, it is not necessary to reapply each year, but the exemption is not transferable or assignable and the applicant is required to promptly report to the assessor any change in the use or ownership of the property which might affect its exempt status.²

The board may by rule impose a fee for processing exemption applications. The fee cannot exceed $120 and must be proportionate to the value of the property at issue. The total fees collected in any fiscal year cannot exceed the cost of processing exemption applications in that fiscal year.³