The Surviving Spouse Exemption Application is the Affidavit of Surviving Spouse for Property Tax Exemption that the Washoe County Assessor uses under Nevada Revised Statute 361.080. It is one of the Washoe County property tax forms, and it lets a surviving spouse apply the exemption to real property, to a vehicle registration, or to a manufactured/mobile home, aircraft or business personal property account. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the Assessor publishes the original at washoecounty.gov, and the affidavit must be signed before a notary or an Assessor staff member.
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What is Surviving Spouse Exemption Application – Washoe County, NV?
The Surviving Spouse Exemption Application is the affidavit, titled Affidavit of Surviving Spouse for Property Tax Exemption Pursuant to Nevada Revised Statute 361.080, by which a surviving spouse asks the Washoe County Assessor to apply the surviving spouse exemption.
By signing, the applicant affirms three things: being a bona fide resident of the State of Nevada (six months minimum, or holding a valid Nevada Driver's License or Identification Card); meeting all requirements for the exemption under NRS 361.080; and not having claimed the exemption in any other county in Nevada.
The printed form is for a specific fiscal year (2026/2027 on this version), and the exemption is stated as an assessed value that has been adjusted according to C.P.I. per NRS 361.080. You choose where to apply it:
- Real Property, by Assessor Parcel Number (APN);
- DMV/Governmental Services Tax Exemption, applied to a vehicle registration with the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles;
- Manufactured/Mobile Home, Aircraft or Business Personal Property, by account number.
The form warns that a surviving spouse is not entitled to the exemption in any fiscal year beginning after a remarriage, even if the remarriage is later annulled. It also warns that filing a false affidavit or false proof to obtain an exemption is a gross misdemeanor. The top of the form has a box marked For Assessor Use Only, which you leave blank.
Who needs to file Surviving Spouse Exemption Application – Washoe County, NV?
Surviving spouses who want the NRS 361.080 exemption applied in Washoe County use this affidavit. To sign it, you affirm that you are a bona fide Nevada resident (six months minimum, or a valid Nevada Driver's License or Identification Card), that you meet all requirements for the exemption under NRS 361.080, and that you have not claimed the exemption in any other Nevada county.
The form is also the way to choose which property the exemption goes to:
- real property, identified by APN;
- a vehicle you own whose registration date falls due during the current fiscal year, through the Nevada DMV;
- a manufactured/mobile home, aircraft or business personal property account.
Do not rely on this form if you have remarried: a surviving spouse is not entitled to the exemption in any fiscal year beginning after a remarriage, even if the remarriage is later annulled. The form does not describe anyone signing for the applicant; the affidavit is signed by the surviving spouse before a Notary Public or a staff member of the Assessor Office.
When to file Surviving Spouse Exemption Application – Washoe County, NV
To apply the exemption to your real property tax bill, return the affidavit by June 15 before the start of the fiscal year. Each fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30. For property acquired between June 15 and June 30, the owner has until July 5 to claim the exemption for the current fiscal year.
If Real Property is selected and the application arrives after these deadlines, the exemption is applied to the property taxes of the following fiscal year, shown on the printed form as 2027/2028.
For the DMV/Governmental Services Tax Exemption, the form says you may apply the exemption to the registration of a vehicle you own that has a registration date due during the current fiscal year. The form gives no separate deadline for the vehicle or for the manufactured/mobile home, aircraft or business personal property options.
Documents you need
- A photocopy of your Nevada Driver's License or Identification card, required with the affidavit for this exemption.
- A photocopy of your spouse's death certificate, required with the affidavit for this exemption.
How to fill out Surviving Spouse Exemption Application – Washoe County, NV
Read the residency and eligibility statement
The affidavit states that you are a bona fide Nevada resident (six months minimum or a valid Nevada Driver's License or Identification Card), meet the NRS 361.080 requirements and have not claimed the exemption in another Nevada county. Confirm each statement is true before continuing.
Leave the Assessor box blank
The For Assessor Use Only box at the top (Date Received, Received by, Name, Exemption#) is completed by the Assessor's office.
Choose where to apply the exemption
Check Real Property and enter the Assessor Parcel Number (APN), check DMV/Governmental Services Tax Exemption for a vehicle registration, or check Manufactured/Mobile Home, Aircraft or Business Personal Property and enter the Account Number.
Enter your personal details
Fill in Print Name, Mailing Address, City State Zip, Phone Number and Email Address, plus Today's Date.
Enter your spouse's details
Complete Name of Spouse and Date of Spouse's Death.
Gather your supporting copies
Prepare a photocopy of your Nevada Driver's License or Identification card and a photocopy of your spouse's death certificate to return with the affidavit.
Sign before a notary or staff member
Do not sign yet if you completed the PDF in advance: the form must be signed before a Notary Public or an Assessor Office staff member, who completes the notary block (State of Nevada, County of, date, name appeared before me).
Review, download and send the package
Check every entry against your documents, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF. Send it with the photocopies to the address described under How to submit.
How to submit Surviving Spouse Exemption Application – Washoe County, NV
The form names one channel: return the signed affidavit with the required documentation by mail or delivery to the Assessor's office address below.
- Address: Chris S. Sarman, Washoe County Assessor, ATTN Public Service, 1001 E. 9th St, Reno, NV 89512.
- Package: the notarized or Assessor-witnessed affidavit, a photocopy of your Nevada Driver's License or Identification card, and a photocopy of your spouse's death certificate.
- Questions: call (775)328-2277 or email [email protected].
Sign the affidavit only in front of a Notary Public or a staff member of the Assessor Office, as the form requires. The form lists no fee, portal or appointment rule. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channel above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Signing the affidavit before meeting a Notary Public or an Assessor staff member; the form says it must be signed before one of them.
- Returning the affidavit without a photocopy of your Nevada Driver's License or Identification card and a photocopy of your spouse's death certificate.
- Missing the June 15 deadline for real property, which moves the exemption to the following fiscal year (2027/2028 on the printed form).
- Claiming the exemption after a remarriage; no exemption is allowed in any fiscal year beginning after it, even if the remarriage is annulled.
- Claiming the exemption in Washoe County when you have already claimed it in another Nevada county.
- Writing in the For Assessor Use Only box at the top (Date Received, Received by, Exemption#, CC and Card Printed lines).
- Selecting a vehicle for the DMV option whose registration date is not due during the current fiscal year.
- Leaving the APN or account number blank for the real property or manufactured/mobile home, aircraft or business personal property option you check.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Washoe County Surviving Spouse Exemption Application?
It is the Affidavit of Surviving Spouse for Property Tax Exemption under Nevada Revised Statute 361.080, issued by the Washoe County Assessor. A surviving spouse uses it to apply the exemption to real property, a vehicle registration, or a manufactured/mobile home, aircraft or business personal property account.
What is the deadline for the surviving spouse exemption in Washoe County?
For real property, return the affidavit by June 15 before the fiscal year starts (July 1 to June 30). Property acquired between June 15 and June 30 can be claimed until July 5. Later applications are applied to the next fiscal year.
What documents do I need with the surviving spouse affidavit?
A photocopy of your Nevada Driver's License or Identification card and a photocopy of your spouse's death certificate. The form lists these as the documentation required for this exemption and says to return them with the affidavit.
Does the affidavit have to be notarized?
It must be signed before a Notary Public or a staff member of the Assessor Office. The form includes a notary block, so wait to sign until you are in front of one of them.
Where do I mail the surviving spouse exemption form in Washoe County?
Return it with the required documentation to Chris S. Sarman, Washoe County Assessor, ATTN Public Service, 1001 E. 9th St, Reno, NV 89512. For questions, call (775)328-2277 or email [email protected].
Can I use the exemption if I remarry?
No. The form states that a surviving spouse is not entitled to the exemption in any fiscal year beginning after any remarriage, even if the remarriage is later annulled.
Can I apply the exemption to my vehicle?
Yes, by checking the DMV/Governmental Services Tax Exemption option. The form says you may apply it to the registration of a vehicle you own that has a registration date due during the current fiscal year, through the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles.
Can I fill out this form online on FillingPDF?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent of Washoe County and does not file the affidavit; you sign it before a notary or Assessor staff member and send it to the Assessor yourself.
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