Residential Property Tax Relief Programs

[X] .

[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. The claim must be submitted between January 1st and April 1st

[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] Application forms are available at a parish assessor's office. 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. Under certain conditions extensions of up to two additional years to the "return and reoccupy" provision may be granted and up to 3 one-year extensions after that.

[X] Effective 1 January 2019 the following changes to the program take effect: (1) annual adjustments to income eligibility requirements will be calculated by using the change in the consumer price index. (2) Initial application for the benefit and certification of continuing eligibility require the same application procedures. (3) If the applicant moves within the state, he/she must file to transfer the homestead exemption by 15 August of the year the benefit is sought, or within 30 days of receiving a rejection for the benefit on the original property. Household income means the total federal adjusted gross income (AGI) and Nebraska adjustments including railroad or retirement benefits which are excluded in the computation of the AGI. Applications are to be filed after February 1 and by July 1, 2019.

[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] 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.

[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 not claim this credit.

[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] Baltimore county has added its own program for low-income seniors who are at least 70 that will be tied to the state circuit breaker, rather than this program.

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

[X] The blind and disabled are no longer identified separately under this program but can apply for the Regular Circuit Breaker program. Applications are due by April 15th annually.

[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] Applications can be filed for the previous three years.

[X] 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] 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] The application must be submitted by the date that the income tax is due. If they do not need to file taxes, the claim is due April 15th.

[X] Applicants must be residents of the state

[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. Total income includes Social Security benefit and other retirement income.

[X] Effective 01 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.

[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 must be filed yearly with the local assessors. In calculating personal estate values, cemetery plots, wearing apparel, and household furniture and effects are excluded. With limited exceptions, homeowners are only eligible for one exemption under chapter 59, section 5. If they qualify for more than one exemption, they will receive the one with the greatest benefit.

[X] Effective for applying in 2019, qualified individuals who did not file an income tax return prior to 2019 will still be eligible for exemption in the 2019 tax year so long as they file a statement to the New York State Department of Taxation that verifies their source(s) of income. This was enacted in 2018 N.Y. Laws ch. 59 § B-1 (SB 7509). The STAR program is converted from an exemption benefit program to an income tax credit program. The exemption program is closed to new applicants. All new applicants receive an income tax credit of the same value rather than a reduction on their school tax bill. For the Basic STAR, in counties where the median home value is higher than the statewide median home value, the exemption or credit is increased proportionally so that homeowners in these areas will realize equivalent tax relief. Residents of NYC while not eligible for STAR relief, a flat rate benefit, unrelated to property tax is available.

[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] Income increases due solely to Social Security cost-of-living adjustments will not disqualify claimants from receiving rebates. This provision expires on December 31, 2016. Federal Veterans Disability Payments, and state veterans benefits including service-connected compensation or benefits of any kind provided to a veteran or an unmarried surviving spouse of a veteran by a state agency are not included when calculating income for this benefit. This program is also available to deceased PA residents, provided they lived at least 1 day in the year for which the benefit is applied. The benefit will be prorated by the number of days the applicant lived in the commonwealth. A surviving spouse, estate, or personal representative of the deceased resident may file on their behalf.

[X] This program is effective for tax years 2016-2019. It replaces the Property Tax Freeze Credit. For senior homeowners, the credit is a flat percentage of the enhanced STAR credit or exemption. The credit cannot exceed your school district taxes. Income eligibility is determined based on the income tax returns filed for the tax year two years prior.

[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] 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. 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.

[X] For application year 2017, the state budget FY 2019 reduced the income level. Only applicants whose 2017 income did not exceed $70,000 (the original limit was $87,268) were eligible as long as they met all the other requirements. Applicants with income under the original limit should always file in order to establish eligibility for future years. 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. Total income includes Social Security benefit and other retirement income.

[X] Effective 23 September 2017, for claims filed in 2018 and thereafter, in order to qualify for the benefit, applicants must meet one of the following criteria: (1) claimant or claimant's spouse must have earned income during the year; (2) must be disabled; or (3)must be 62 years of age or older by the last day of the year before filing. In computing household income, a claimant may deduct $500 for each dependent living with the claimant. 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.

[X] Annual application must be submitted. They can be filed between 1 October 2018 and 10 February 2019. Limited funds are available and approval is on a first-come, first served basis. The funds are available through appropriation. 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 7% 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] If the applicant has already paid their taxes upon establishing eligibility, overpaid taxes shall be refunded. To qualify for a 2018 Permanent Fund Dividend the applicant must be a resident of Alaska during all of calendar year 2017; intend to remain an Alaska resident indefinitely; not claim residency in any other state or country or obtained a benefit as a result of a claim of residency in another state or country at any time since December 31, 2016. In addition, the applicant must not have been sentenced as a result of a felony conviction during 2017, incarcerated at any time during 2017 as the result of a felony conviction, or incarcerated at any time during 2017 as the result of a misdemeanor conviction in Alaska if convicted of a prior felony or two or more prior misdemeanors since January 1, 1997. Finally, an absence from Alaska for more than 180 days was an allowable absence; and the applicant has been physically present in Alaska for at least 72 consecutive hours at some time during 2016 or 2017.

[X] Effective 8 May 2018, there is now an appeals process for individuals who seek, but are denied this benefit. The maximum credit is the amount provided as a homeowner's credit for the lowest household income bracket used for the circuit breaker program.

[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] 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] Taxpayers must calculate the credit authorized in this section prior to calculating the refundable credit for taxes in excess of 4% of household income. The Senior Citizen Tax Credit and Homestead Excess Property Tax Credit are available to low-income taxpayers. Some taxpayers may qualify for both. A return must be filed in order to receive either of these refundable credits even if you are not required to file a federal return. If you recently received a WV/SCTC-1 in the mail from the West Virginia State Tax Department for the Homestead Exemption program administered at the county level, you may be entitled to claim a refundable state income tax credit.

[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] 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] To remain eligible, the qualifying resident must reapply for the program every 3 years. The assessor shall review the owner's income qualifications using the owner's average total income during the previous 3 years. To be eligible for the property valuation protection, the resident shall make application and furnish documentation required by the assessor on or before 1 September. If the resident fails to file the application on or before 1 September, the assessor shall process the application for the subsequent year. Application filed in 2019 provides protection for years 2020 through 2022 and is based on income from 2016, 2017, and 2018. Application filed in 2018 provides protection for years 2019 through 2021 and is based on income from 2015, 2016, and 2017. When the owner sells the home or otherwise becomes ineligible for the program, the property's valuation will revert to its current full cash value.

[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] A renewal application is required at least once every six years. After your initial application and approval, you will be notified by your county assessor when it is time to submit a renewal application. You may be eligible for a refund if you paid prior years’ taxes because of a mistake, oversight, or a lack of knowledge about this program. You must meet all of the qualifications for the exemption as if you had applied at the time the application was due. Separate applications must be submitted for each of the tax years. In order to receive a refund, applications must be filed within three years of the date the taxes were due. Refunds will not be made beyond the three years. The exempt status may be transferred to a new residence with the value of the new residence frozen as of 1 January of the year of change. If the resident moves to Washington from another state, the exemption may be transferred to the new residence if owner meets all other eligibility requirements and provides proof of the prior exemption and its cancellation date.

[X] The credits are calculated based on the household combined 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 of the tax year. Prince George's county is authorized to provide additional relief to renters.

[X] Effective in tax years beginning on 1 January 2018, after income limits have been adjusted based on the CPI, credit amounts will be increased annually by the following: $14 in 2018, $22 in 2019; $31 in 2020; $40 in 2021; and $49 in 2022. (2018 Utah Laws ch. 456) In addition, 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. (2018 Utah Laws ch. 456) 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.”