Laws vary from state to state, but property tax is often a locally assessed and locally administered tax (by counties)—and in those states there is no state property tax. Property tax brings in the most money of all taxes available to local government to pay for schools, roads, police and firemen, emergency response services, libraries, parks, and other services provided by local government.

Most states offer a variety of partial or total (absolute) exemptions from appraised property values used to determine local property taxes. A partial exemption removes a percentage or a fixed dollar amount of a property's value from taxation. A total (absolute) exemption excludes the entire property from taxation. Taxing units (government entities) may be required by the state to offer certain (mandatory) exemptions and have the option to decide locally on whether or not to offer others (local option).

Exemptions from property tax usually require the taxpayer to apply for the exemption. Applications for property tax exemptions are filed with appraisal districts, and deadlines may vary. Appraisal district chief appraisers are responsible for determining whether a property qualifies for an exemption.
Exemptions are usually located in a state’s tax code (statutes) and exemption requirements are often extensive. Property owners should read these statutes carefully.

Common exemptions are for properties that qualify as a residence homestead or are eligible for charitable, religious, or agricultural exemptions, as provided by the state’s tax laws. Disabled persons, senior citizens (age 65 or older), veterans, and surviving spouses of veterans who were killed in action (KIA) are also eligible for exemptions in some states.

In Rhode Island, property tax is primarily a local tax, administered by the municipalities, and there is no state property tax. The revenue from property taxes is used to fund local services such as schools, roads, public safety, and other municipal services. Rhode Island law provides for various exemptions from property taxes, which can be partial or total. These exemptions are designed to reduce the tax burden on certain property owners, such as those with homesteads, as well as for charitable, religious, or agricultural properties. Additionally, exemptions may be available for disabled persons, senior citizens, veterans, and surviving spouses of veterans. Property owners must apply for these exemptions through their local tax assessor's office, and the application deadlines can vary by municipality. The specific requirements for property tax exemptions are detailed in Rhode Island's tax statutes, and property owners are encouraged to review these laws carefully to understand the eligibility criteria and application process for exemptions.