Circuit Breaker property tax reduction deadline April 15

COEUR d'ALENE — Kootenai County residents eligible for property tax assistance through Idaho’s Circuit Breaker program have until 5 p.m. April 15 to submit their applications.

Any qualified applicant who fails to submit an application before the deadline must wait until January 2017 to apply.

The goal of the Property Tax Reduction Circuit Breaker program is to make it easier for qualified homeowners to remain in their home by reducing their tax liability by as much as $1,320.

Eligible property owners must fit into one of the following categories as of Jan. 1, 2016:

• age 65 or older;

• widow(er) of any age;

• disabled (as recognized by the Social Security Administration, Veterans Affairs, Railroad Retirement Board or Federal Civil Service)

• blind

• fatherless or motherless child under 18 years of age; or

• former prisoner of war or hostage.

Additionally, applicants must also have a reported 2015 income — after deducting medical expenses — of $29,470 or less.

The Circuit Breaker program requires eligible property owners to apply for program benefits each year.

The state reimburses Kootenai County for the portion of property tax that isn’t collected from the homeowner.

Anyone who hasn’t received an application, or a reminder in the mail, is encouraged to contact the Kootenai County Assessor’s Office at 446-1500 or 446-1511.

Last year 3,010 applications were taken in Kootenai County.

As of Friday, 2,100 applications had been taken this year, which leaves about 900 who have not yet applied.

Additionally, Mike McDowell, Kootenai County assessor, asks anyone who knows of someone who might be eligible for the program to obtain an application on his or her behalf.

The application is one page and is filed with the Assessor’s Office at 451 Government Way, Coeur d’Alene, on the second floor of the county's Administration Building. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.