The
Real Estate Tax Relief Program is a program
available to senior citizens age 65 or older
and permanently disabled persons. It allows
these individuals to take advantage of a reduction
of real estate taxes based on income and net
worth. The exemption must be applied for
annually. This program is a very valuable
one to the community in assisting senior and
disabled citizens. Eligible applicants can receive
up to $150 in tax credit each year.
Applications
will be accepted between January 1st and March
1st of taxable year for which the exemption
is applied. All information submitted
is confidential.
Mobile
homes assessed as real property have a
March 1 deadline for the tax exemption.
Mobile homes assessed as personal property have
an October 15 deadline for the tax exemption.
Relief
shall be
granted to persons subject to the following
provisions:
REAL
ESTATE TAX RELIEF FOR ELDERLY OR PERMANENTLY
AND TOTALLY DISABLED HOMEOWNER AS AUTHORIZED
BY THE WISE COUNTY ORDINANCE.
1. The title of the property for which exemption
is claimed must be held, or partially held,
on January 1 of the taxable year, by the person
or persons claiming exemption.
2. The head of the household occupying the dwelling
and owning title, or partial title thereto,
must be sixty-five years or older on December
31 of the year immediately preceding the taxable
year.
Such dwelling must be occupied as the
sole dwelling of the persons not less that sixty-five
years of age.
3. The gross combined income of the owner during
the year immediately preceding the taxable year
shall be determined by the Commissioner of the
Revenue to be an amount not to exceed $32,000.
Gross combined income shall include all
income from all sources of the owner and spouse
and income in excess of $4,000 of each relative
living in the dwelling for which exemption is
claimed. "Owner" as used herein shall
also be construed as "owners".
4. The total combined net financial worth
of the owner as of December 31 of the year immediately
preceding the taxable year shall be determined
by the Commissioner of the Revenue to be an
amount not to exceed $75,000. Total net financial
worth shall include all assets, including equitable
interest , of the owner in the dwelling for
which exemption is claimed, and shall exclude
the fair market value of the dwelling and the
land, not exceeding one acre, upon which the
dwelling is situated.
5. Annually, after January 1 and not later
than April 1 of the taxable year, the person
or persons claiming an exemption must file a
real estate tax exemption application with the
Commissioner of the Revenue.
6. Sec. 00-6 Amount of Exemption.
For qualified persons, the amount of exemption of
the real estate tax shall be $150.00 of the
tax bill.
The difference between the original tax
and the figure arrived at will be due the County
as the assessed property tax for that year.
In no case will the tax excused exceed $150.00.
(A) If a handicapped property owner is under sixty-five
years of age, the owner shall file together
with an Application for Real Estate Tax Exemption
a certification by the Social Security Administration,
or if such person is not eligible for social
security, a sworn affidavit by two medical doctors
licensed to practice medicine in the Commonwealth,
to the effect that such person is permanently
and totally disabled.
(B) For purposes of this ordinance, a person is
permanently and totally disabled if he is so
certified as required in Section (A) above and
is found by the Commissioner of the Revenue
to be unable to engage in any substantial gainful
activity by reason of any medically determinable
physical or mental impairment or deformity which
can be expected to result in death or can be
expected to last for duration of such person's
life.
The exemption shall be administered by the Commissioner
of the Revenue according to the provisions of
the Ordinance. The Commissioner of the Revenue
is hereby authorized and empowered to prescribe,
adopt, promulgate and enforce rules and regulations
in conformance with the provisions of this ordinance,
including the requirement of answers under oath,
as me be reasonably necessary to determine qualifications
for exemption as specified by this Ordinance.
The Commissioner of the Revenue may require
the production of certified tax returns and
appraisal reports to establish income and/or
financial worth.
The permanently and totally disabled exemption shall
meet all of the above requirements of the Elderly
Exemption except that of age 65 years or over.
NOTE:
The false claiming of the exemption authorized
in this section shall constitute a misdemeanor;
any person convicted of falsely claiming such
exemption shall be punished by a fine not less
than Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($250.00),
nor more than a Thousand Dollars ($1,000) for
each offense.
An
application must be filed each year with the
Commissioner of the Revenue's Office.
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