Low-income homeowners may qualify for property tax break

by Staff
| February 29, 2016 8:00 PM

Just under half of the more than 55,000 Idahoans eligible for a reduction in their property taxes actually apply for the Idaho Property Tax Reduction Program. The Idaho State Tax Commission wants to make more people aware of this property tax credit that’s available to low-income seniors and others who qualify.

“This benefit has a positive impact for many homeowners,” said Pam Waters, who oversees the Property Tax Reduction Program for the Tax Commission. “We’d like to see more people apply so they can get help paying their property taxes.”

The Idaho Property Tax Reduction Program reduces property taxes on a homeowner’s primary Idaho residence and up to one acre of land by as much as $1,320.

A substantial number of Kootenai County residents are likely eligible.

About 25,000 of the county’s citizens are 65 or older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and the average annual Social Security income in Idaho is less than $15,000. Roughly 9.7 percent of Kootenai County residents under 65 are living with a disability.

Applicants for the property tax reduction program can have no more than $29,470 in total 2015 income. They must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. They must also be in at least one of the following categories as of Jan. 1, 2016:

• Age 65 or older

• Blind

• Widow(er) of any age

• Former prisoner of war or hostage

• Recognized as disabled by the Social Security Administration, Railroad Retirement Board, Federal Civil Service, a public employee retirement system not covered by these agencies, or by Veterans Affairs

• Fatherless or motherless child under 18 years old

Eligible homeowners can get an application for property tax reduction on the Tax Commission’s website, tax.idaho.gov, or from Kootenai County Assessor Mike McDowell’s Office, 451 Government Way, Coeur d’Alene. Applications must be filed with a homeowner’s county assessor by Monday, April 18.

For more information, contact McDowell’s office at (208) 446-1500 or call the Tax Commission at (800) 334-7756.