Residential Property Tax Relief Programs

[X] Since residents can claim either a property tax or sales tax refund whichever is greater, the maximum sales tax refund in the lowest bracket for single households is $258 and $581 for multi-member households.

[X] 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. Annual claims must be submitted to qualify for this program. Persons meeting the age-based eligibility criteria for this program may also submit a claim for the deferral of any property taxes levied on homesteads as part of a special assessment for local improvements. This claim is separate and in addition to the claim form required for the overall deferral.

[X] The maximum that can be deferred is 80% of the taxpayer's equity interest in the property.

[X] Persons who are also eligible for the Local Option Disabled Exemption may choose the greater of the two, but may not take both exemptions. Income is calculated as the all receipts less life insurance paid for the death of an insured, business costs, and proceeds from the sale of assets.

[X] The base amount is set by the general appropriations act. Annual income limit shall be adjusted each tax year to reflect the cost of living adjustment for social security recipients as determined by the social security administration.

[X] The surviving spouse will only receive refund if they remain unmarried. The income limit will change every year based on cost of living. Effective 1 January 2009, the program was extended to veterans with 50% or more disability and surviving spouse of military who died in line of fire.

[X] The income eligibility limits were higher for the following income, which is defined as combined gross household income before deductions. This includes income from all sources, whether or not taxable for federal and state income tax purposes. It also includes Social Security as well as all other retirement benefits. tax year. Renters are not eligible if they receive federal or state housing subsidies or reside in public housing.

[X] A homeowner or mobile home owner must have property that is classified as a homestead, or have an approved application for homestead classification. They must have also paid or made arrangements to pay any delinquent property taxes on the home. Renters must have lived in a building in which the owner was assessed property taxes, or they must have paid a portion of the rent receipts in place of property tax, or they must have made payments to a local government in lieu of property taxes.

[X] Effective 27 January 2010, local governments may opt to establish an interest rate smaller than 8% on deferred taxes, as per L. 2010, c. 188, §39. The property may not be sold or transferred unless the taxes have been paid with interest. Upon the demise 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] Deferrals may be extended in the event the claimant dies. Extensions cannot exceed 5 years, and interest will continue to accrue.

[X] 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 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 constitute an abandonment of the property as a homestead. Exemptions shall be applied as follows: $25,000 homestead exemption; $50,000 homestead exemption (if applicable); exemptions for widows/widowers, blind, and disabled persons; disabled ex-servicemembers and surviving spouses; local-option low-income senior exemption up to $50,000; and the veterans percentage discount.

[X] The claimant may not remarry.

[X] Applications must be filed yearly with the local assessors. In calculating personal estate values, cemetery plots, wearing apparel, and household furniture and effects are excluded.

[X] For renters, property taxes are assumed to be 20% of rent if heat is included or 25% of rent if heat is not included in the rent. In computing household income, a claimant may deduct $500 for each dependent living with the claimant. Beginning in tax year 2010, both income and benefit levels are indexed by CPI increases, as enacted in L. 2009 Act 28.

[X] Income eligibility limits shall increase annually by the maximum Social Security benefit cost of living increase. The director shall adopt new income limits annually by notice or regulation. Because of budget limitations, 2009 reimbursement payments are restricted to those who received reimbursement for 2008. Also 2009 benefit amounts are limited to the 2008 level. The income limit for 2009 was reduced from $80,000 to $70,000. Total income includes Social Security benefit and other retirement income.

[X] Effective 11 August 2010, participants in property tax work-off programs are considered public employees.

[X] The claimant must have fire and casualty insurance. The deferral becomes a lien on the house and is due when the property is sold, the owner passes away, or they are no longer eligible. The interest rate on the deferral is 5%.

[X] The maximum credit is the amount provided as a homeowner's credit for the lowest household income bracket under Utah Code § 59-2-1107. If taxes are deferred, they accumulate interest at a rate of the lesser of 6% or the target federal funds rate that exists on January 1 of the current year.

[X] Eligible homeowners may select either Homestead Exclusion or Circuit Breaker Tax Deferment program. An otherwise qualifying owner does not lose the benefit of this exclusion because of a temporary absence from his or her permanent residence for reasons of health, or because of an extended absence while confined to a rest home or nursing home, so long as the residence is unoccupied or occupied by the owner's spouse or other dependent.

[X] Applications are required but municipalities are responsible for establishing application procedures and deadlines. If the applicant has already paid their taxes upon establishing eligibility, overpaid taxes shall be refunded.

[X] Income is defined as federal adjusted gross income, less deductions for certain medical and funeral expenses, business losses, early withdrawal penalties, and alimony. Income also includes social security and similar benefits, as well as most non-taxable income. The state tax commission shall file with the county recorder of the county in which the property is located a notice of lien for deferred property taxes. The lien for deferred taxes and interest shall not be a first and prior lien, but shall take its priority from the date and time of filing of the notice of lien. A deferral of property tax payments shall terminate on the earlier of: (a) voluntary payment of the full amount of deferred tax and interest to the state tax commission; (b) the death of the qualified claimant. In the case of more than one qualified claimant, the death of the last surviving qualified claimant; (c) a sale or other transfer of title to the property or any part of the property except a transfer of title to a surviving spouse of a deceased qualified claimant; (d) the property no longer qualifies for the exemption due to residential improvements; (e) a determination by the state tax commission that the deferral of property tax payments was erroneously granted to a person who is not a qualified claimant or in regard to property that is not qualified property.

[X] Recipients of this benefit are not eligible for any other benefits except Tax Deferral and Recovery for Members of the Armed Forces. In calculating gross receipts, business expenses and losses may be deducted. There is also a deduction for income received from federal, state, and local government annuities, pensions, and retirement plans. In calculating the value of a whole estate, an applicant may elect to include the value of property occupied as a domicile in which case the maximum eligibility threshold is $40,000 for an individual or $45,000 for a married couple. Local options are outlined in Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 59, § 5-41B ~ § 5-41D.

[X] Towns in this program include Hopkinton, West Warwick, Exeter, Coventry, Bristol, Johnston, Cranston, Tiverton, North Smithfield, East Greenwich Portsmouth, and Providence.

[X] Qualifying income is defined as adjusted gross income and tax-exempt interest, plus any other income not included in adjusted gross income. The income thresholds are indexed to the annual inflation adjustment in Social Security income, with a base year of 1983.

[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. An individual receiving this deduction is also eligible to receive any homestead rebate or credit.

[X] 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] As of January 1, 2010, the following seven counties allow in intercounty transfers: Alameda, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Ventura. All California counties allow intracounty transfers.

[X] Towns in this program include Portsmouth, Middleton, Coventry, Bristol, Warren, Narragansett, and East Greenwich.

[X] Because of budget limitations the state has suspended funding for this exemption. In the event the current owner-occupier is the surviving spouse of an owner-occupier who previously qualified, the exemption can be extended to the surviving spouse.

[X] Qualifying individuals are eligible for relief so long as they have not claimed any other property tax exemption other than the Exemption for Mortgages and Contact Deductions, the Homestead Standard Deduction, the Supplemental Homestead Tax Credit, or the Deduction to Comply with Fertilizer Storage Rules. If the resident shares ownership with other individuals as joint tenants or tenants in common and all the tenants are not at least 65 years old, the deduction shall be reduced by an amount equal to the deduction multiplied by a fraction. The numerator of the fraction is the number of tenants who are not at least 65 years of age, and the denominator is the total number of tenants.

[X] The renter’s credit may be claimed only for rent that does not constitute a “rental assistance payment.”

[X] The Homestead Preservation Credit Program was not extended during the 2010 legislative session. This program expires on 28 June 2010 with credit terminating 1 September 2011. In the case of joint ownership by unmarried persons or ownership by tenancy in common by 2 or more unmarried persons, such owners shall be considered an eligible owner if each person with an ownership interest individually satisfies the eligibility requirements for an individual eligible owner and the combined income of all individuals with an interest in the property is equal to or less than the maximum upper limit in the year prior to completing an application. Applicants can not receive both the Missouri Property Tax Credit Claim and the Homestead Preservation Credit.

[X] 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 who 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.

[X] The deferral becomes payable when the resident passes or the residence is sold.

[X] The authorizing statute provides for either a credit against the homeowner's next property tax bill or a rebate to be issued as a check. In 2009, the property tax credit is the only option available. The changes for Tax Year 2009 for budgetary purposes was enacted in 2009 Laws, c.68. There was no annual increase in benefits that was authorized in the initial legislation.