Elderly and Disabled Homeowner and Renters Property Tax Credit (Circuit Breaker)

Iowa

2021

Benefit Varies with Income

Circuit Breaker

For both homeowners and renters, the benefit is based on 6 income brackets. For renters, property taxes are calculated as 23% of gross rent paid by claimant or claimant's household. The 2021 benefit for homeowners includes 6 income brackets, ranging from 100% of property taxes paid for income below $12,469.99, to 25% of property taxes paid for income between $21,272 to $24,205.99. For renters, property taxes are calculated as 23% of gross rent paid by claimant or claimant's household with benefit determined by the same range for homeowner. The maximum benefit is based on actual taxes not to exceed $1,000. Renters receive a direct benefit payment. If the general homestead credit is larger than this credit, than there is no credit but no refund shall be required.

Credit to the property tax bill

Residential

Only homesteads are eligible. “Homestead” means the dwelling, owned or rented, and used as a home by the claimant along with land surrounding it. This may include one or more contiguous lots or tracts of land, as is reasonably necessary for use of the dwelling as a home. A homestead may consist of a part of a multi-dwelling or multipurpose building and a part of the land upon which it is built. It does not include personal property except that a manufactured or mobile home may be a homestead.

Age

Disability

Homeowner

Income Ceiling

Renter

Applicants must be at least 65 years of age and not older than 70 years of age, or 100% disabled. For homeowners and renters, household income in 2020 must be less than $24,205.99 to qualify in 2021. Household income means all income of the claimant and the claimant's spouse in a household and actual monetary contributions received from any other person living with the claimant during their respective twelve-month income tax accounting periods ending with or during the base year. For renters, household income also includes housing benefits. Applicants must return a completed application to their county treasurer on or before June 1st . Or, if the treasurer has extended the filing deadline, on or before September 30th. The Director of Revenue may extend the filing deadline through December 31st, for good cause.

Local government is unable to exercise an option

No local option regarding program features

State reimburses all of the local government tax loss

The amount of the credit for property taxes due for a homestead shall be paid on 15 June of each year by the director to the county treasurer who shall credit the money received against the amount of the property taxes due and payable on the homestead of the claimant. Statutes require that funds are annually appropriated from the general fund of the state to the elderly and disabled property tax credit and reimbursement fund, from funds not otherwise appropriated, an amount sufficient to implement this benefit. If a state appropriation is not sufficient to fully fund the credit or exemption, the political subdivision shall be required to extend to the taxpayer only that portion of the credit or exemption estimated by the department of revenue to be funded by the state appropriation.

IA101_RR21