Sioux Falls residents who are elderly or disabled have until April 1 to apply for the city’s Property Tax Refund Program, which returns the municipal portion of property taxes paid on owner-occupied homes.
Residents age 65 and older or those with a disability, as defined by the Social Security Act, automatically qualify for the city’s program if they are approved for the State of South Dakota’s Assessment Freeze for the Elderly and Disabled Program. The state’s program is locally administered by Minnehaha and Lincoln counties for homeowner living inside Sioux Falls city limits.
Established in 2021 with support from the Sioux Falls City Council, the city program provides a refund of up to $500 of the municipal portion of property taxes. To be eligible, homeowners must be current on their property tax payments. That requirement applies only to the city program, not the state assessment freeze.
“This program helps ease the financial burden of some of our most vulnerable residents,” said Shawn Pritchett, the city’s finance director. “We encourage eligible homeowners to apply before the deadline to take advantage of this important benefit.”
Refunds are issued the year after program approval. Residents seeking a refund in 2026 must have applied for the state assessment freeze by April 1, 2025. To qualify for a refund in 2027, homeowners must submit an application to the Minnehaha or Lincoln County treasurer’s office by April 1 of this year.
Qualification requirements for South Dakota’s Assessment Freeze for Elderly and Disabled Program include:
- The applicant must own the property or have retained a life estate in the property.
- The applicant must have resided in the home for at least 200 days of the previous calendar year.
- The home’s full and true market value must be $514,500 or less, unless previously approved for the program.
- A single-member household’s income must be less than $56,595 annually, and a multiple-member household’s income must be less than $66,885 per year.
The number of applicants in the city’s refund program has more than doubled since its inception, growing from 373 in 2021 to 872 in 2025, a 134% increase. During that same period, total refund amounts climbed from $125,000 to $319,000, a 155% increase.
“We’ve seen steady growth in participation, which tells us this program is making a real difference for residents who need it most,” said Kris Swanson, Minnehaha County treasurer. “If you think you might qualify, I encourage you to apply for the program before the April 1 deadline.”
Applications for South Dakota’s Assessment Freeze for the Elderly and Disabled Program can be completed online, printed, and submitted to the county treasurer’s office, depending on whether a resident lives in Minnehaha or Lincoln counties. For more information on the city’s refund program, visit
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date: 2026-02-11 22:07:00
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