HomeMy WebLinkAbout01Tax Commission
2017 Property Tax Reduction
(Circuit Breaker)
Apply between January 1 and April 18
What is the Property Tax Reduction Program?
The Property Tax Reduction (Circuit Breaker) program reduces property taxes* for qualified
applicants. The amount of reduction is based on income for the previous calendar year.
If you qualify, the property taxes on your home and up to one acre of land may be reduced by as
much as $1,320.
*Property Tax Reduction benefits will not reduce solid waste, irrigation, or other fees charged by
government entities.
Who Qualifies?
You may qualify for property tax reduction in 2017 if you. -
1 .
ou:1. Owned and lived in a home or mobile home in Idaho that was your primary residence before
April 15, 2017 (You may qualify if you lived in a care facility or nursing home. Contact your county
assessor for information.), and
2. Had income of $29,640 or less for 2016, and
3. Met one or more of the following status requirements as of January 1, 2017:
• Age 65 or older
• Widow(er)
• Blind
• Fatherless or motherless child under 18 years of age
• Former prisoner of war/hostage
• Veteran with a 10% or more service -connected disability or receiving a pension from
Veterans Affairs (VA) for a non -service -connected disability
• Disabled as recognized by the Social Security Administration, Railroad Retirement Board, or
Federal Civil Service. If you're not covered by the listed agencies, then disabled as
recognized by a public employee retirement system.
How to Apply
1. Contact your county assessor for application materials. The office is listed under County
Offices in your telephone directory.
2. Complete an application. The assessor's office can help you.
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When you file your application, you must provide proof of:
• Income
• Medical expenses
• The requirement(s) you meet (age 65 or older, blind, VA disability, etc.)
• Ownership, if the property is owned by a trust or limited liability corporation (LLC)
2. File the application with your assessor's office by April 18. If you don't have all of your
income information, fill out as much of the application as you can, and file it by the April 18
deadline.
You must apply for your 2017 property tax reduction between January 1 and April 18, 2017. You
must apply and qualify each year to receive this benefit. Property tax reductions are not renewed
automatically.
If your application is approved, your property tax reduction will appear on your December 2017 tax
bill.
Documentation of Incomr
Provide the following documents to the assessor's office to show your 2016 income and expenses.
If You File a Tax Return:
• A copy of your federal income tax return
• Documents showing income not reported on your tax return, including nontaxable income
• Federal Schedule A or a completed medical expense form and proof of payment for
non -reimbursed medical expenses
• Proof of payment or prepayment of funeral expenses
If You Don't File a Tax Return:
• Social Security/Railroad Retirement or other 1099 forms
• W -2s
• Any other documents showing taxable or nontaxable income from all sources
• A completed medical expense form and proof of payment for non -reimbursed medical
expenses
• Proof of payment or prepayment of funeral expenses
Attach copies of the applicable documents to your application.
Income Guidelines
When you complete your application, you must include income reported to you and your spouse in
2016:
You must include:
• Wages
• Interest and dividends
• Capital gains
• Business, farm, and rental net income
• Social Security and Supplemental Security income
• Railroad retirement
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• Unemployment/workers comp
• Pensions, annuities, and IRAs*
• Military retirement benefits
• Department of Health and Welfare payments (including Aid for Dependent Children and
housing assistance)
• Child support and alimony
• "Loss of earnings" compensation
• Disability income from all sources**
• Gambling winnings
*Excluding the return of principal paid by the recipient of an annuity and excluding rollovers as provided
in section 402 and 403 of the Internal Revenue Code.
** Excluding compensation received from the VA by a veteran who has a 40-100% service -connected
disability, dependency and indemnity compensation, or death benefits paid by Veterans Affairs arising
from a service -connected death or disability.
When you complete your application, you may deduct the following expenses you or your spouse
paid in 2016:
• Medical/dental and related expenses not reimbursed by insurance or other reimbursement*
• Medical insurance premiums*
• Payment or prepayment of funeral expenses
• Farm, rental, and/or business losses (You must submit a copy of the appropriate federal
schedule.)
• Early withdrawal penalties
• Alimony paid
*Qualified medical expenses are defined in section 213(d) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Additional Tax Relief Options
The Property Tax Deferral Program offers certain qualified individuals a way to defer property taxes
on their home and up to one acre of land. A qualified applicant may qualify separately for this
program or use this program along with the Property Tax Reduction Program to receive additional
property tax assistance. Deferred taxes and interest must be repaid to the state of Idaho when
ownership of the property changes or the property no longer qualifies for the Homeowner's
Exemption. Contact your county assessor for additional program information and application
materials.
This publication does not provide full explanation of Idaho tax laws or rules. For more information,
contact:
• Your county assessor
• Idaho State Tax Commission: 334-7736 in the Boise area or toll-free at (800) 334-7756,
ext. 2
• Hearing impaired: TDD (800) 377-3529
• tax.idaho.gov
Idaho laws passed after January 1, 2017, are not reflected in this publication.
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