Residential Property Tax Relief Programs

[X] For the purposes of this exemption, household income includes retirement, survivor, or disability benefits under the Social Security Act. It also includes any other public or private retirement, disability, or pension system.

[X] The property shall be immediately revalued at fair market value by the assessor and placed on the assessment rolls in the year it was sold. Any owner entitled to the special assessment who is unable to occupy the homestead due to damage or destruction caused by a disaster or emergency declared by the governor shall be entitled to keep the special assessment level prior to its damage or destruction on the repaired or rebuilt homestead provided the repaired or rebuilt homestead is reoccupied by the owner within 5 years following the disaster. If the property owner receives a homestead exemption on another homestead during the same 5 year period, the damaged or destroyed property shall not be entitled to keep the special assessment level, and the land and buildings shall be assessed in that year at the percentage of fair market value. In addition, the owner must also maintain the homestead exemption to qualify for the special assessment level. Those who qualify due to age criteria are not required to reapply annually. All others must have income verified annually.

[X] In Kauai County, the exemption is $55,000 for those with an annual adjusted income less than $40,000. This exemption is in addition to the Basic Home Exemption, the Multiple Home Exemption or the Totally Disabled Veterans Exemption. In the City and County of Honolulu, those 75 years of age and older with an income that does not exceed 80 percent of the area median income for the county qualify for the program. The exemption varies from $140,000 to $200,000 based on age. This exemption is in lieu of the Multiple Home Exemption.

[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] Some municipalities refund a portion of the municipal property tax levy to the senior citizen or disabled citizens. Income includes, but is not limited to, alimony, support money, 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. The property tax assistance grant shall in no case exceed the amount of the general property taxes paid.

[X] Because there are multiple local programs, there are two different types of variation in benefits (i.e., no variation, and varies by income). Towns in this program include Smithfield, Lincoln, Burrillville, Newport, Cumberland, and Bristol.

[X] 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] Eligible senior citizens may receive benefits under both the Circuit Breaker Tax Grant and Homestead Exemption programs. Income is defined as federal adjusted income, modified to include, among other items, Social Security benefits.

[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. Beginning in 2006, the interest rate on the deferral is 5%.

[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] The income eligibility limits were higher for the followingIncome 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] 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] 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] With respect to the county exemption, if homesteads are situated in more than one county, the exemption will be prorated between the counties in the proportion that the area of the homestead in each county bears to the total are of the homestead claimed for exemption. No county exemption granted can prevent the payment of any bonded indebtedness secured by any tax to which the homestead exemption would apply.

[X] Eligible individuals may receive this rebate in addition to any exemptions received under the blind, veterans, disabled veterans, or surviving spouse programs but the assessed values used to determine the amount of the benefit shall be reduced accordingly. Claims must be filed annually for this program.

[X] Effective 1 July 2009, the act changed the age requirements for married households.

[X] This is a new program effective 5/6/2008 as passed in L. 2008, c.182, §12. The taxpayer can select either this tax credit or the credit provided for Homestead Property, but not both.

[X] The deferral must be paid back in the following situations: 1) if the claimant dies, unless the continuing spouse elects to continue the deferral; 2) if the property is sold or the title is transferred; 3) if the taxpayer moves for reasons other than ill health; 4) if the taxpayer begins to rent the property or otherwise receives income from it; 5) if the location of the tax-deferred mobile home has moved either within the county or to another county; or 6) if the mortgage, deferred taxes, and accrued interest exceed the market value of the real property. The actual value of the property is the most recent appraisal by the county assessor as of the time the claim for deferral is submitted to the county treasurer.

[X] This exemption applies to two contiguous units that have been combined into one.

[X] Applicants can not receive both the Missouri Property Tax Credit Claim and the Homestead Preservation Credit. 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.

[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.

[X] Excess levies are those additional property tax levies above the limits that are approved by vote of the people. Local school districts have no regular levy authority (although they are allocated funds from the statewide school levy) so they receive a substantial portion of their funding 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, and such levies are not subject to any of the limitations. If the person subsequently fails to qualify only for one year because of high income, this same valuation must be used upon requalification. 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 requalification is the assessed value on January 1st of the assessment year in which the person re-qualifies.

[X] Deferrals may be extended in the event the claimant dies. Extensions cannot exceed 5 years, and interest will continue to accrue.

[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] 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] 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. For this program and the circuit breaker tax reduction, a claimant must be an owner of the homestead and as of 1 January of year which claimant applies for the deferral, must be: (a) over 65 years old; (b) a fatherless or motherless minor; (c) a widow or widower; (d) a qualified disabled person or veteran; (e) a former POW; or (f) blind. 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] Under the volunteer program, any benefits received are not considered income.

[X] No person who receives a property tax refund or a retail sales and service tax refund or a real property tax assessment freeze may be denied a property tax reduction under this chapter because of such refund or freeze.

[X] 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.