Residential Property Tax Relief Programs

[X] Effective 1 January 2020, the benefit base and income eligibility amounts will be adjusted annually based on the annualized cost-of-living adjustments for Social Security retirement benefits, to be applied to the application period. Enacted 2019 ME. Laws ch. 343.

[X] If you believe you qualify for this exemption, apply as soon as possible even if you have not received the necessary documentation from the VA. When local assessors receive required documentation, this exemption can be granted as of the date of your original application, and the excess taxes can be refunded for up to 4 years. Any real estate that is owned and used as a homestead by the surviving spouse of a veteran who died from service-connected causes while on active duty as a member of the United States Armed Forces and for whom a letter from the United States Government or United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor has been issued certifying that the veteran died from service-connected causes while on active duty is exempt from taxation if the veteran was a permanent resident of this state on January 1 of the year in which the veteran died. Additional required forms include: A copy of your most current rating decision from the VA, including evidence that your disability is combat related, and; a copy of your DD-214.

[X] The individual may not own or have any legal, equitable, beneficial or security interest in any other residence or other real property except indirectly through an investment security, such as a mutual fund, that includes real property assets. Applicants must reapply each year. A claim for deferral may be filed with the Assessor’s office after 1 January, but before 1 April of the tax year for which the deferral is claimed. Failure to apply means that homeowner will not be eligible for tax deferral for that year. Failure to apply does not mean that taxes deferred in previous year must be paid. Deferred taxes and accrued interest are a lien against the property. The lien attaches on the date the certificate of deferral is recorded and has priority over any mortgage, reverse mortgage, deed of trust or other real property security interest that is recorded before the certificate of deferral is recorded and any lien attaching after the certificate of deferral is recorded.

[X] Effective 23 August 2019 beginning in filing year 2021, homeowners in counties with more than 3,000,000 people need not reapply annually for the exemption. This was put into effect by 2019 Il. Laws. no 101-0453 § 5. Counties may determine eligibility of applicants that are to receive the benefits, by affidavit, application, visual inspection, questionnaire, or other reasonable methods. Applications that are required by the counties may vary.

[X] Effective 1 January 2020, an eligible disabled person who is 65 or older may not receive both a disabled and an elderly residence homestead exemption from the same taxing unit (city, county, school, or special district) in the same year but can choose either if the taxing unit adopted both. Additionally, an eligible disabled person who is 65 years or older can receive both a disabled and an elderly residence homestead exemption in the same year if the person receives the exemptions in relation to taxes levied by those taxing units. This was enacted by 2019 Tex. Gen. Laws. ch. 457 § 1 (HB 2441) The exemption is extended to active duty military on orders out of the area. An applicant can receive either an elderly or disabled exemption but cannot receive both.

[X] The adoption of Proposition 19 in 2020 effective in 2021 amended the Home Protection for Seniors, Severely Disabled, Families, and Victims of Wildfire or Natural Disasters Act to allow base value transfers to any location within the state.

[X] Effective 1 July 2021, eligibility criteria includes (1) a person who has attained the age of sixty-five years but who has not attained the age of seventy years on or before December 31 of the base year; (2) a person filing a claim for credit or reimbursement under this subchapter who is totally disabled and was totally disabled on or before December 31 of the base year; or (3) a person filing a claim for reimbursement under this subchapter who has attained the age of sixty-five years on or before December 31 of the base year and who is domiciled in this state at the time the claim is filed or at the time of the person’s death in the case of a claim filed by the executor or administrator of the claimant’s estate. This was put into effect by 2021 Iowa Acts ch. 177 § 125. Income levels are adjusted annually by the gross domestic product price deflator computed for the second quarter of the calendar year by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the United States Department of Commerce. Totally disabled means the inability to engage in any substantial gainful employment by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or is reasonably expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. A person who is eligible to file a claim for credit for property taxes due with a household income in the lowest bracket who has an unpaid special assessment levied against the homestead may file a claim for a special assessment credit with the county treasurer. The claim filed by the claimant constitutes a claim for credit of an amount equal to the actual amount due upon the unpaid special assessment, plus interest, payable during the fiscal year for which the claim is filed against the homestead of the claimant. Beginning in 1995 a person who has attained the age of 23 or a head of household and was not claimed as a dependent on any other person's tax return for the base year is eligible by statutes for this program if they meet income requirements. However, the state has never provided funding for this portion of the program.

[X] Income includes, but is not limited to, alimony, cash public assistance and relief, pension or annuity benefits, federal social security benefits, veterans' benefits, nontaxable interest, workers' compensation, and unemployment compensation benefits, with some exceptions identified in statute. Some municipalities refund a portion of the municipal property tax levy to the senior citizen or disabled citizens. The property tax assistance grant shall in no case exceed the amount of the general property taxes paid. The level at which an individual's maximum rebate amount begins to decrease is $8,169 for an individual and $13,205 for married couples.

[X] Income is defined as Missouri adjusted income and increased to reflect the following: social security and railroad retirement; veteran payments and benefits unless the claimant or spouse is a 100% disabled as a result of military service; all other public and private pensions and annuities; public relief, public assistance, and unemployment benefits received; SSI, TANF and/or child support payments received; non-business losses; wages, dividends, and interest; and rental income. Homeowner applicants may reduce income by $2,000, and by an additional $4,000 for the applicant's spouse residing at the same address. “Disabled” is defined as the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of at least one year. A claimant is not required to be employed prior to such disability to qualify.

[X] Effective 20 May, 2020, applicants who qualify for the limitation must file their application within 30 days of the date the assessor mails the notice of valuation. This was enacted in 2020 by 2020 N.M. Laws ch. 73 § 1 (SB 117). Disabled means a person who has been determined to be blind or permanently disabled with medical improvement not expected or who is determined to have a permanent total disability pursuant to the Workers' Compensation Act. The limitation of value does not apply to a change in valuation resulting from any physical improvements made to the property during the year immediately prior to the tax year or a change in the permitted use or zoning of the property during the year immediately prior to the tax year; or a residential property in the 1st tax year that is valued for property taxation purposes. Claimants must file for the value freeze with their county's application form.

[X] For the 2020 benefit, because of the governor's emergency order, applications are due 1 June 2020. To receive this tax credit, taxpayers must have paid in full their property tax bill at the end of the tax year for which the credit was reported.

[X] Homeowners may qualify for the exemption on a replacement homestead if they met the 10 year residency requirement on the previous homestead which was destroyed by natural disaster or was claimed by the government via eminent domain. No more than one exemption can be allowed per single dwelling unit of residential property. Eligible residence includes property has been purchased by or transferred to a trust, a corporate partnership, or any other legal entity solely for estate planning purposes and is the maker of the trust or a principal of the corporate partnership or other legal entity; Applications must be filed before July 15th. Forms are available beginning in January but not after August 15.

[X] The income thresholds for the program refer to the applicant's federal adjusted gross income and that of all other individuals residing in the residence. This program may be used in lieu of, not in addition to, any other homestead exemption for county tax purposes. The exemption does not apply to any municipal taxes or county school district taxes. An initial application must be filed with the county tax commissioner. The exemption shall be automatically renewed from year to year as long as the owner occupies the residence as a homestead. Any person granted this exemption must notify the tax commissioner in the event the person is no longer eligible for the exemption.

[X] Rent is exclusive of any federal rent subsidy and of charges for any utilities, services, furniture, furnishings, or personal property appliances furnished by the landlord. Taxable value for residential property is calculated as 4.5% of market value based on all properties being assessed at 50% of market value and residential properties further taxed at 9% of assessed value. Income does not include gifts, inheritances, life insurance proceeds, social security lump sum death payments, insurance payments, federal fuel assistance, renter's refund payments, food stamps, veteran's disability payments, payments for foster care, Retired Senior Volunteer Program payments, Senior Companion Program, Vista Program, and medical expenses paid during the year if not reimbursed.

[X] For tax year 2020 no application is required if the owner was approved for the tax credit in 2019, is still the owner of the property as of Jan 1, 2020, and the county board has declared a local disaster related to Covid-19. The application process for this programs is administered by the counties.

[X] The property may not be sold or transferred unless the taxes have been paid with interest. Upon the death of the property owner, legal heirs have first priority to said property provided that they pay in full all back taxes and interest. If the heir is a surviving spouse, the spouse may enter into a tax deferral and recovery agreement with the board of assessors.

[X] This deduction cannot be in addition to any other exemption from taxes to which the individual may be entitled, except a veteran’s deduction. Recipients of this benefit are eligible to receive any homestead rebate or credit.

[X] Applicants who apply for assessment freezes are still eligible for property and sales tax rebates if they qualify for that benefit.

[X] The ordinance requires a taxpayer claiming the exemption to annually submit a sworn statement of household income, on a form prescribed by the Department of Revenue, to the property appraiser not later than 1 March. The income limitation shall be adjusted annually on 1 January by the percentage change in the average cost-of-living index, determined by the state. A homestead damaged by misfortune or calamity that is uninhabitable on 1 January may qualify for the exemption if (a) the homeowner is otherwise qualified for a homestead exemption and (b) the homeowner intends to rebuild or repair the property within 3 years. Failure to rebuild or repair within 3 years constitutes an abandonment of the property as a homestead.

[X] Applications and forms are kept with the local county auditor's office. As used for this exemption, the term “permanently and totally disabled” means the inability to perform substantial gainful employment by reason of a medically determinable impairment, either physical or mental, that has lasted or is expected to last for a continuous period of 12 months or more, or result in death.

[X] The ordinance requires a taxpayer claiming the exemption to annually submit a sworn statement of household income prior, on a form prescribed by the Department of Revenue, to the property appraiser not later than 1 March. The income limitation shall be adjusted annually on 1 January by the percentage change in the average cost-of-living index. The homeowner must have legal title or beneficial title in equity of the property, and they also must make a good faith effort to make the property their permanent residence. The homestead exemption does not extend to residents claiming permanent residence in other states. A homestead damaged by misfortune or calamity that is uninhabitable on 1 January may qualify for the exemption if (a) the homeowner is otherwise qualified for a homestead exemption and (b) the homeowner intends to rebuild or repair the property within 3 years. Failure to rebuild or repair within 3 years constitutes an abandonment of the property as a homestead.

[X] The Kent County Levy Court exempts all real property owned by citizens over the age of 65 from real estate taxes. The exemption amount in New Castle County is up to $32,000. The exemption amount in Sussex County is up to $12,500.

[X] All counties, except Fresno, allow for intra county transfer of savings (Proposition 60). Under Propositions 90 and 110 only Alameda, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Tuolumne and Ventura allow transfers from other counties. The application, form BOE-60-AH, is administered by the counties.

[X] Recipients of this benefit are also exempted from the forest acreage tax. Property owned jointly by a husband and wife and property owned in fee simple by either spouse is eligible for this exemption in full, as long as either spouse fulfills the age or disability requirement. For all other jointly owned property, the amount of the exemption is determined on the basis of each owner's qualifications and pro rata share of the property.

[X] The growth in the number of new applicants to the program annually is limited to a 5 percent increase over the prior year's new program participants. Taxes become payable upon: (a) the death of a claimant; (b) when the property is sold or no longer inhabited as a homestead (unless reasons of health prevent the owner from occupying the property as a homestead); or (c) when the qualifying disability ends. If income rises above the eligibility threshold, the amount of taxes for which the deferral is allowed shall decline by $0.50 for every $1.00 of income above the threshold. The deferral may be continued after the property is condemned by the Department of Transportation.

[X] Effective 12 May, 2020, the applicant must be 66 years old or older or 67 years old or older to qualify for the circuit breaker. This was enacted by 2020 Utah Laws ch. 238 § 1 (SB 35) Individuals who are a dependent or claimed as a personal exemption on another individual's income tax return may not receive the homeowner's or renter's credit. According to the state's web site the applications will be available May 1. The renter’s credit may be claimed only for rent that does not constitute a “rental assistance payment.”

[X] Applicants must be residents of the state

[X] Application procedures and due dates are set by the county. Applicants must also submit proof of disability.

[X] All deferred taxes and interest are payable if: the taxpayer dies, or someone other than the taxpayer becomes the property’s owner, or the property is no longer occupied as the taxpayer’s primary residence, or the property is moved out of the State. In the latter-most case, all owed monies are due 5 days before moving. In all other instances, all owed monies are due within 45 days of the date of notice for payment. A municipality that has adopted the program under this section may discontinue it through the same procedure by which the program was adopted; however, any taxes deferred under the program continue to be deferred under the conditions of the program on the date it was ended. If an event requiring the the payment of deferred tax and interest occurs, and the ownership of the property is transferred to another member of the same property, the transferee may apply for continuation of the deferral of taxes only if that person is at least 70 years of age with an income not exceeding 300% of the federal poverty level.

[X] Effective 1 July 2020, eligible income was increased to $45,000 and interest rates were decreased to 5%. Annual application must be submitted after 1 October for the current tax year. Limited funds are available and approval is on a first-come, first served basis. For 2020, they can be filed between 1 October 2019 and 10 February 2020. For 2021, they can be filed between 1 October 2020 and 10 February 2021. Generally the forms become available in September of each year and the applications may be submitted between 1 October of that year and 10 February in the subsequent year. The interest rate on the postponed taxes is 5% per year and the postponed taxes create a lien on the property. Payment for postponed taxes may be made any time for either a portion or the full amount deferred. However, they must be repaid when the owner moves or sells the property. In addition the taxes are due if future taxes become delinquent or the owner refinances or obtains a reverse mortgage. Household income is the total income received by all persons (except minors, full-time students, and renters) who resided in the home during the year for which deferral is requested. Income is the Adjusted Gross Income on the applicant's federal tax form. Income also includes: •California State Lottery winnings in excess of $600; 100% of lottery winnings from other states • Veterans Administration benefits • Military compensation • Life insurance proceeds to the extent that they exceed the expenses incurred for the last illness and funeral of the deceased spouse or registered domestic partner of the claimant • Gifts and inheritances in excess of $300, except between members of the household • Alimony received • Amounts received from an estate or a trust • Unemployment insurance benefits • Workers’ compensation payments for temporary disability • Amounts contributed by or on behalf of the claimant to a tax-sheltered retirement or deferred compensation plan • Amounts received from an employer or any government body for loss of wages due to sickness or accident (sick leave payments) • Nontaxable gain from the sale of a residence • Scholarship and fellowship grants • The amount of the alternative minimum taxable income in excess of your regular taxable income, if you were required to pay the alternative maximum tax on your 2016 California income tax return Items not deductible from income: -Mortgage payments -Interest paid on loans -Utilities -Medical bills -Health premiums -Itemized deductions on form 1040

[X] Applications are administered by local county collectors who determine eligibility of applicants. Applications must be filed by March 1 of each year.

[X] Excess levies are additional property tax levies above the limits that are approved by vote of the people. Local school districts have no regular levy authority so e a substantial portion of their funding is from voter-approved excess levies. Excess levies must be authorized by a 60% majority of the voters, except for school levies which only require a simple majority. If the person subsequently fails to qualify only for one year because of high income, this same valuation must be used upon re-qualification. If the person fails to qualify for more than one year in succession because of high income or fails to qualify for any other reason, the valuation upon re-qualification is the assessed value on January 1st of the assessment year in which the person re-qualifies.

[X] The income thresholds are indexed to the annual inflation adjustment in Social Security income, with a base year of 1983. Qualifying income is defined as adjusted gross income and tax-exempt interest, plus any other income not included in adjusted gross income. Medicaid and Social Security payments for a dependent are not counted as income. Forms and an affidavit of income must be filed with a local assessor. The program must be reapplied for every other year. The application period is from February 1 to May 15 for tax relief in the following year.

[X] Counties may determine eligibility of applicants that are to receive the benefits, by affidavit, application, visual inspection, questionnaire, or other reasonable methods. Applications that are required by the counties may vary.

[X] Applicants must file the permanent application by March 1st. When the owner of a property subject to a tax deferral dies, the heirs, heirs-at-law, assignee or devisee shall have first priority to redeem the estate by paying in full the deferred taxes plus any interest due. If the heirs, heirs-at-law, assignees, or devisees do not redeem the property within 9 months of the date of death of the property owner, the municipality may commit the accrued amount of the deferral to the collector of taxes with a warrant signed by the assessing officials requiring him or her to collect it. When the owner of a property subject to a tax deferral sells or otherwise conveys the property, the owner or grantee shall pay in full the deferred taxes plus any interest due and the municipality shall provide recorded written release or satisfaction of the notice of tax deferral.

[X] For the tax years 2019 and 2020, this property tax credit shall be allowed only for a Connecticut resident who is 65 years of age or older before the close of the applicable taxable year, or who claims one or more dependents for the federal income tax for the applicable taxable year. "Income" is income from all sources including but not limited to wages, pensions and disability benefits. Social security benefit adjustments, military retirement benefits, sale of local and state bonds among others are not counted as income.

[X] A qualifying veteran, or his or her surviving spouse, minor child, or parent is only eligible to receive one of the exemptions of this program.

[X] The term disabled person for purposes of this benefit is someone who is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determined physical or mental impairment which is expected to last for a continuous period of 12 months or longer. Income includes gross amount of income from every type received by all persons occupying the residence whether taxable or not taxable.

[X] For the purposes of this exemption, income does not include survivor or disability benefits under the Social Security Act. It also does not include public or private retirement, disability, or pensions. Local homestead exemptions may be granted by local taxing jurisdictions upon approval by a majority of the qualified electors residing within the local taxing jurisdiction.

[X] Maximum benefit and income levels are adjusted each year by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from 1999. Wealth limits are adjusted annually by the percentage change in the average assessed value of homes in the state since 2004. Real estate taxes include taxes levied on the taxpayer’s residence including any water and sewer debt charges. In communities not assessing water and sewer charges, 50% of water and sewer charges paid by the taxpayer is added to the amount of real estate taxes paid. Rent constituting real estate tax payments is calculated as 25% of total rent paid. The Circuit Breaker Credit does not prohibit the applicant from taking another exemption, deferral or abatement on their property taxes, however, any amount received from such an exemption or abatement, including the senior property tax work-off program, will be counted against the amount of taxes paid for purposes of determining eligibility and the amount of the credit.

[X] The state levy was phased out between and 2011 and 2016, and then fully repealed effective 1 July 2018; however, the statute for the senior state homestead exemption remains unchanged.

[X] To apply for the program, a claimant shall fill out the required forms by April 15th. A six month extension may be granted for filing the claim if it is requested by the applicant. For applicants 70 years old or over, they may be eligible to defer payment of property taxes. If they participate in that program, they are cannot claim this credit.