(1)(a) Each veteran or surviving spouse qualifying for the exemption under ORS § 307.250 shall file with the county assessor, on forms supplied by the assessor, a claim therefor in writing on or before April 1 of the assessment year for which the exemption is claimed, except that when the property designated is acquired after March 1 but prior to July 1 the claim shall be filed within 30 days after the date of acquisition.

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(b) A claim need not be filed under this section in order to be allowed the exemption described in ORS § 307.250 if:

(A) The homestead or personal property of the veteran or surviving spouse was allowed the exemption under ORS § 307.250 for the preceding tax year;

(B) The individual claiming the exemption is a veteran described in ORS § 307.250 (2)(a) or (3)(a) or a surviving spouse who meets the requirements of ORS § 307.250 (2)(c) or (3)(b); and

(C) As of the filing date for the current tax year, the ownership and use of the homestead or personal property and all other qualifying conditions for the homestead or personal property to be allowed the exemption remain unchanged.

(c)(A) If the individual claiming the exemption is a veteran described in ORS § 307.250 (2)(b), the claimant shall file a claim annually that satisfies the requirements of subsection (2) of this section on or before the date required in paragraph (a) of this subsection.

(B) If the county assessor has not received a claim filed under this paragraph on or before April 1 of the current year, not later than April 10 of each year, the county assessor shall notify the veteran in the county who secured an exemption under ORS § 307.250 (2)(b) in the preceding year but who did not make application therefor on or before April 1 of the current year. The county assessor may provide the notification on an unsealed postal card. A veteran so notified may secure the exemption, if still qualified, by making application therefor to the county assessor not later than May 1 of the current year, accompanied by a late-filing fee of $10, which shall be deposited in the general fund of the county for general governmental expenses. If the claim for any tax year is not filed within the time specified, the exemption may not be allowed on the assessment roll for that year.

(2)(a) The claim shall set out the basis of the claim and designate the property to which the exemption may apply. Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, claims for exemptions under ORS § 307.250 (2)(a) and (3)(a) shall have affixed thereto the certificate last issued by United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, as the case may be, but dated within three years prior to the date of the claim for exemption, certifying the rate of disability of the claimant.

(b) Claims for exemption under ORS § 307.250 (2)(b) shall, except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, have affixed thereto, in addition to the certificate last issued by a licensed physician or naturopathic physician and dated within one year prior to the date of the claim for exemption, certifying the rate of disability of the claimant, a statement by the claimant under oath or affirmation setting forth the total gross income received by the claimant from all sources during the last calendar year.

(c) There also shall be affixed to each claim the affidavit or affirmation of the claimant that the statements contained therein are true.

(3) The provisions of subsection (2) of this section that require a veteran to affix to the claim certificates of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, a branch of the Armed Forces of the United States or a licensed physician or naturopathic physician do not apply to a veteran who has filed the required certificate after attaining the age of 65 years or to a veteran who has filed, on or after September 27, 1987, a certificate certifying a disability rating that, under federal law, is permanent and cannot be changed.

(4)(a) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, a surviving spouse may elect, at any time during the tax year, to continue the exemption under ORS § 307.250 without filing a new claim if:

(A) The veteran died during the previous tax year; or

(B) The property designated as the homestead was acquired after March 1 but prior to July 1 of the assessment year and the veteran died within 30 days of the date the property was acquired.

(b) The surviving spouse of a veteran must notify the county assessor of the election.

(c) Upon receipt of the notice, the county assessor shall continue the exemption if the surviving spouse meets all of the eligibility requirements for an exemption under ORS § 307.250 other than the timely filing of a claim under subsection (1) of this section.

(d) If taxes on the exempt value have been paid, the taxes shall be refunded in the manner prescribed in paragraph (d) of this subsection. If taxes on the exempt value have not been paid, the taxes and any interest on the taxes are abated.

(e) The tax collector shall notify the governing body of the county of any refund required under this section and the governing body shall cause a refund of the taxes and any interest paid to be made from the unsegregated tax collections account described in ORS § 311.385. The refund under this subsection shall be made without interest. The county assessor and tax collector shall make the necessary corrections in the records of their offices. [Amended by 1961 c.235 § 1; 1969 c.562 § 1; 1979 c.689 § 7; 1981 c.530 § 4; 1981 c.682 § 2; 1982 s.s.1 c.33 § 3; 1987 c.363 § 1; 1991 c.67 § 78; 1991 c.459 § 53; 1995 c.610 § 3; 1997 c.541 § 113; 2001 c.351 § 1; 2003 c.169 § 12; 2007 c.615 § 1; 2009 c.41 § 2; 2017 c.356 § 27; 2023 c.398 § 28]