Property tax + homestead exemption in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico at a glance

Puerto Rico is home to about 88,645 foreign-born residents (2.7% of the state’s 3,254,885 people) and 3,215,824 residents of Hispanic or Latino origin (98.8%), per the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2023 5-year estimates). The procedures below apply to everyone in Puerto Rico regardless of immigration status unless noted.

Effective rate in Puerto Rico

Tax Foundation’s state table of effective property tax rates (Property Taxes by State and County, 2026, 2024 data) covers the 50 states and the District of Columbia only. It publishes no statewide figure for Puerto Rico, so this page does not state a rate or a dollar example (checked September 2026). Ask the office that bills your property tax for the rates that apply to your property.

Homestead Exemption in Puerto Rico

Homestead exemption in Puerto Rico — verified rules
Available to all owners?YES — general benefit
The benefitCRIM residential exemption: the principal residence is exempt on the first $15,000 of CRIM assessed valuation (1958-base values — most modest homes pay zero)
How to applyFile Model AS-38 with CRIM by January 1 after purchase
If you only have an ITINVaries / not specified — Requires deed and owner documentation; SSN requirement not stated
Verifyportal.crim360.com — confirm with the county assessor

Verified 2026-06-10 against the state revenue department and official forms. Rules changed in several states in 2024-2026 — confirm before filing.

How to apply

  1. Buy the home: closing completed with title + ITIN or SSN
  2. Notify county assessor: change of ownership triggers new valuation
  3. Apply for Homestead: use the form and office in the table above; the filing deadline is set by state law, so confirm it with the sources in the table’s Verify row or with your county assessor
  4. Verify eligibility: primary residence, not second home
  5. Receive discount: applied on your next tax bill

Other exemption categories to ask about

Ask the county assessor whether this state offers separate exemptions or credits for the groups below, and on what terms (age, income, disability rating); those rules are set by state law.

  • Seniors (65 and older)
  • People with disabilities
  • Veterans
  • Surviving spouses

Tax payment

If you have a mortgage

If your home has a mortgage, the lender usually collects your property tax and homeowner’s insurance along with the loan payment, through an escrow account. Your monthly payment then has four parts — loan principal, interest, property-tax escrow and insurance escrow — often written as PITI.

The lender holds the escrow portion and pays the tax and insurance bills directly when they fall due, so you pay in twelve instalments instead of one or two lump sums. Two things follow that are worth knowing:

  • You still get the bill information. Your servicer must send an annual escrow account statement showing what it collected and what it paid out. Check that the tax actually was paid — the liability stays yours.
  • Your payment changes when the tax bill or premium changes. After a reassessment or a rate change the servicer recalculates the escrow, which is why a monthly payment can rise without the loan itself changing. A homestead exemption you qualify for should lower it, but only once the exemption is on the assessor’s roll.

If you DON’T have a mortgage

You pay directly to county:

  • By mail
  • Online (county site)
  • In person at County Treasurer office

Deadlines

Late-payment penalties, interest, and when unpaid tax can lead to a tax lien, tax sale or foreclosure are set by state law and differ from state to state. Ask the county treasurer or tax collector for your due date and for the charges that apply after it.

For ITIN immigrants

  1. Buying property with ITIN: lender acceptance of an ITIN varies — ask each lender directly
  2. Register for property tax: use ITIN
  3. Apply for homestead: same form as any owner
  4. Pay taxes: in your name, account in your name
  5. Benefits: same legal protection as any owner

Last verified: 2026-09-24.

General procedural information for educational purposes. Not legal, tax, or immigration advice. Laws and fees change — verify with the issuing agency before taking action. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration attorney or other appropriate professional.