Getting older in Hawaii comes with one perk nobody talks about: the county legally shrinks your property tax bill. In this video, Honolulu Principal Broker Jason Wong breaks down the Senior Property Tax Break — or as he calls it, the “I’ve Paid My Dues” Discount — and why your birthday is worth a different amount depending on which island you call home.
Here’s the island-by-island reality (verified for the 2026–2027 tax year):
🌋 BIG ISLAND (Hawaii County): The magic number is 60. Your home exemption jumps from $50,000 to $85,000 at age 60, then keeps climbing — $90,000 at 65, $105,000 at 70, and $110,000 at 75+, plus an additional exemption of 20% of your assessed value (up to $100,000). Filing deadline: December 31.
🌺 KAUAI: Also 60. Kauai already offers the state’s largest base exemption at $220,000 — it rises to $240,000 at 60 and $260,000 at 70. Filing deadline: September 30.
🏙️ OAHU (Honolulu): The magic number is 65. Your exemption goes from $120,000 to $160,000 — an extra $40,000 of your home’s value the taxman can’t touch. And here’s good news the video was filmed too early to include: effective July 1, 2027, those amounts rise again to $140,000 and $180,000.
🌴 MAUI: No age tier — but a generous flat $300,000 exemption for all owner-occupants. Filing deadline: December 31.
⚠️ IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION: On Oahu, if you already have a home exemption on file WITH your date of birth on record, the increase at 65 happens automatically — no new paperwork. But if you’ve never filed, or you’re not sure your birthdate is on file, you must act by September 30 to lock in the next tax year. File by September 30, 2026, and your exemption starts July 1, 2027 — under the new, higher amounts.
The home exemption applies only to your owner-occupied principal residence (Hawaii resident tax filing required). This video is general information, not tax or legal advice — verify your situation with your county assessor or tax professional.
Not sure if you’re filed correctly? Want to know what your home is worth with all these tax breaks in play? Let’s connect.
📞 Jason Wong (PB) MBA — President & Principal Broker, RB-22819
🏢 Island Dragonfly, LLC — RB-24348 | Residential & Commercial | Oʻahu • Maui • Big Island • Kauaʻi • Molokaʻi • Lānaʻi
🌐 https://jasonwong.us | https://islanddragonfly.com
🗣️ English • 廣東話 • 國語
2022 Global Centurion No. 1 Top Producer – Island of Oahu
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