Tax Abatement Information and Application

Properties located outside of Pleasant Hill city limits fall under Polk County rules and regulations. For more information regarding Polk County Tax Abatement programs, please contact the Polk County Building Department at 515-286-3705. The City of Pleasant Hill offers a Tax Abatement program for residential, commercial and industrial properties located within the city limits. This includes new construction, additions and remodeling.

Pleasant Hill offers the strongest suburban tax abatement program in Polk County for residential, commercial, and industrial properties. This includes new construction, additions, and remodels. The abatement program is on a graduated five-year schedule, based on the value of eligible improvements placed upon qualified real estate. Pleasant Hill’s Tax Abatement Program is a five-year graduated schedule based on the value of eligible improvements:

Eligibility and Application Process

All residential, commercial and industrial properties located within the city limits are eligible for tax abatement for new construction, additions and remodeling projects. Projects that do not require a permit may be eligible for tax abatement including new siding, roof, windows or other aesthetic improvements.

Residential additions and remodeling projects qualify by increasing the assessed value of the real property by at least 10%. Commercial additions and remodeling projects qualify by increasing the assessed value of the real property by at least 15%. The final determination about the increase in value is made by the Polk County Assessor.

Applications are available in our offices; located on the lower level of City Hall or electronically on the City’s website. Tax Abatement Applications should be turned in with the Building Permit Application either in-person or electronically via email.

New Owner Information

The Tax Abatement application is part of the required permit paperwork for newly built homes. The abatement stays with the property and if the property changes ownership the new residents are not required to reapply.

If you have questions regarding the date an application was submitted to the Assessor’s Office or for a copy of an application, please call the Building Department at 515-309-9461.

Polk County Assessor Office

The Polk County Assessor Office can be contacted at 515-286-3014 for specific information regarding a property's current abatements or property assessment questions. The Assessor Office is located at 111 Court Ave #195, Des Moines, Iowa.

Commercial/Industrial Example*

$1,000,000 valuation
Tax Abatement	Year 1 75%	Year 2 60%	Year 3 45%	Year 4 30%	Year 5 15%	Total
Taxes Paid	$8,536	$13,658	$18,780	$23,901	$29,023	$93,898
Taxes Abated	$25,608	$20,487	$15,365	$10,243	$5,122	$76,825

*Figures estimated using the 2022/2023 regular tax levy and assumes no changes to valuation, tax levy rate or rollback.
Over five-years, the commercial or industrial project saves approximately $76,825.

Residential Examples*

$300,000 Home Valuation
Tax Abatement	Year 1 75%	Year 2 60%	Year 3 45%	Year 4 30%	Year 5 15%	Total
Taxes Paid	$1,555	$2,488	$3,421	$4,354	$5,287	$16,942
Taxes Abated	$4,665	$3,732	$2,799	$1,866	$933	$13,862

*Figures estimated using the 2022/2023 regular tax levy and assumes no changes to valuation, tax levy rate or rollback.
Over five-years, this home would save approximately $13,862.

$400,000 Home Valuation
Tax Abatement	Year 1 75%	Year 2 60%	Year 3 45%	Year 4 30%	Year 5 15%	Total
Taxes Paid	$2,073	$3,317	$4,561	$5,805	$7,049	$22,590
Taxes Abated	$6,220	$4,976	$3,732	$2,488	$1,244	$18,483

Over five-years, this home would save approximately $18,483.