Veterans may qualify for property tax reduction

Veterans in need might get a little relief on their property tax bill.

If…

A) you are a 100% service connected veteran, including Individual Unemployability (IU),

B) And/or you are a veteran with a 10% rating or higher and are considered low income,

C) And/or you are a surviving spouse of a veteran that had previously applied for a property tax benefit living in the same home … you may qualify for one, or both, of the two property tax reduction benefits listed below for the state of Idaho.

1) Veteran's Property Tax Benefit — Disabled veterans having a rating of 100% service-connected disability (including IU), may apply for a $1,320 property tax benefit. Veterans who qualify, the property taxes on your primary home and up to one acre would be reduced by $1,320.00. Income is not a factor for qualification.

2) Property Tax Reduction Program (formally known as the Circuit Breaker) — This program reduces property taxes for qualified applicants. The amount of reduction is based on the total household income minus total qualifying medical expenses for the previous calendar year. If you qualify, the property taxes on your primary home and up to one acre of land may be reduced by as much as $1,320. For veteran’s, you must have a disability rating of 10% or more.

This is all very important to veterans. And here’s why:

First, if veterans think they are eligible, veterans will need a “recent” copy of their “VA Benefit Letter” to even start the process — not the previous year’s letter. This letter can be downloaded from the VA’s eBenefits website, if the veteran has a VA account. For those that do not have a VA online account, you will have to order a VA Benefits Letter. You can call the VA Customer Service Call Center at 800-698-2411, or you can call your local Idaho VSO’s office and they submit a request to the VA on your behalf.

The next reason why this is so important, applications are accepted only until May 17 at your local Assessor’s Office. If you do not have online access to your personal VA account, it can take several weeks for an ordered VA Benefit Letter to arrive in your mail box. So… don’t wait to order your VA Benefit Letter or you may miss the tax deadline of May 17.

Disclaimer: Locate and read ALL the current requirements for both property tax benefits as they can change. Also, there are more requirements than what are listed above. Each of the two programs have individual application requirements to qualify and will likely take time complete. See the following resources for details and printable brochures:

1) Visit: https://www.kcgov.us/185/Exemptions-Property-Tax-Relief

2) Contact your local County Assessor’s Office

3) Contact your local VSO’s Office for Kootenai County it is Tom Freeman at 208-446-1090