A Welcome Break for Homeowners

As early as age 55, you may be eligible for a special deal on your property taxes. Here's a state-by-state directory on where to find more information.

 

MOST STATES GIVE RESIDENTS OVER A CERTAIN AGE-- sometimes as young as 55 -- a break on their property taxes. In some states, you'll need a relatively low income to qualify, but in others your income doesn't matter. All 50 states offer some type of property tax relief program, such as freezes that will lock in the assessed value of your property once you reach a particular age. In addition, counties and municipalities often have their own property tax relief plans. For details, check with your state at the phone numbers or Web sites listed here. They can also refer you to any local sources.

 

ALABAMA - Find answers to questions pertaining to all aspects of property tax at http://www.ador.state.al.us/advalorem/index.html. The purpose of this site is to provide general information to the public on the property tax laws in Alabama. Call the Department of Revenue at 334-242-1170.

 

ALASKAVisit http://www.tax.state.ak.us or call the Department of Revenue at 907-269-6620 (Anchorage) or 907-465-2320 (Juneau).

 

ARIZONAVisit http://www.revenue.state.az.us/property/property.htm or call Taxpayer Information and Assistance at 800-352-4090.

 

ARKANSASVisit http://www.state.ar.us/dfa. To claim a property tax refund or to obtain eligibility information, call the Department's Property Tax Refund Unit at 501-682-7265.

 

CALIFORNIAVisit http://www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/hra or call the Franchise Tax Board at 800-852-5711.

 

COLORADO – Visit http://www.revenue.state.co.us or call the Department of Revenue at 303-238-SERV (7378).

 

CONNECTICUT - State law provides a property tax credit program for Connecticut owners in residence of real property, who are elderly (65 and over) and whose annual incomes do not exceed certain limits. Visit http://www.opm.state.ct.us/igp/grants/circuitb.htm or call the Intergovernmental Policy Division at 860-481-6322.

 

DELAWARE – Visit http://www.state.de.us/revenue or call the Division of Revenue at 302-577-8200.

 

FLORIDAVisit http://www.myflorida.com/dor/property or call 800-352-3671.

 

GEORGIA – Visit http://www2.state.ga.us/departments/dor/ptd/adm/taxguide/index.html or call the Department of Revenue’s Property Tax Division at 404-968-0707.


 

HAWAIIVisit http://www.state.hi.us/tax or call Taxpayer Services at 808-587-4242 (Oahu).

 

IDAHOVisit http://www2.state.id.us/tax/propertytax/pt_homeowners.htm or call the State Tax Commission at 800-972-7660 or 334-7660 (Boise).

ILLINOIS - Visit http://www.revenue.state.il.us/Individuals or call the Department of Revenue at 800-732-8866.

 

INDIANA – Visit http://www.in.gov/dor/ or call the Department of Revenue at 317-232-2240.

 

IOWA – For an introduction to Iowa property tax, visit http://www.state.ia.us/tax/educate/78573.html. For more information, call the Property Tax Division at 515-281-4040.

 

KANSASVisit http://www.ksrevenue.org/faqs-taxhomestead.htm or call the toll free Kansas Taxline at 877-526-773.

 

KENTUCKYVisit http://revenue.ky.gov/property_info.htm or call the Kentucky Revenue Cabinet at 502-564-4581.

 

LOUISIANA – Visit http://www.rev.state.la.us/sections/individual/default.asp or call 225-219-2448 for general information.

 

MAINEVisit http://www.state.me.us/revenue/propertytax/homepage.html or call the Property Tax Division at 207-287-2011

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MARYLAND – Visit http://www.dat.state.md.us/sdatweb/htc.html for information on homeowners’ property tax credit program or call the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation at 888-246-5941.

 

MASSACHUSETTS – For tax information specific to seniors, visit http://www.mass.gov/portal/index.jsp?pageID=intention&c=homehealth&v=seniors&i=seniorstaxinfo or call 800-392-6089.

 

MICHIGAN – Visit http://www.michigan.gov/treasury/0,1607,7-121-1748_1876---,00.html or call the Department of Treasury at 517-373-3200.

 

MINNESOTAVisit http://www.taxes.state.mn.us/taxes/property/index.shtml  or call 651-296-3781.

 

MISSISSIPPI For property tax information, visit http://www.state.ms.us/frameset.jsp?URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mstc.state.ms.us%2F or call the Mississippi State Tax Commission at 601-923-7000.

 

MISSOURI – Visit http://www.dor.state.mo.us/tax or call the Department of Revenue at 573-751-3505.

 

MONTANA For property tax incentives information visit http://discoveringmontana.com/revenue/css/2forindividuals/03taxincentives/proptaxincentives.asp or call the Department of Revenue at 406-444-6900.


 

NEBRASKA – Visit http://www.nol.org/revenue/homestead.htm for Nebraska Homestead Exemption information or call Taxpayer Assistance at 800-742-7474.

 

NEVADAVisit http://tax.state.nv.us or call the Department of Taxation at 775-687-4820 (Carson City), 702-486-2300 (Las Vegas), or 775-688-1295 (Reno).

 

NEW HAMPSHIRE – Visit http://www.state.nh.us/revenue/gti-rev.htm#Local%20Property%20Tax or call Taxpayer Assistance at 603-271-2186.

 

NEW JERSEY – For tax information for seniors, visit http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/index.html?nfoforsr.htm~mainFrame or call Taxpayer Customer Service Center at 609-292-6400.

 

NEW MEXICOVisit http://www.state.nm.us/tax/ptd/ptd_hom1a.htm or call the Property Tax Division at 505-827-0870.

 

NEW YORK – For question and answers to senior citizens’ partial exemption from property taxes in New York State, visit http://www.orps.state.ny.us/pamphlet/exempt/senior.htm or call the Office of Real Property Services at 518-486-5446.

 

NORTH CAROLINA - For Property Tax Homestead Exclusion information, visit http://www.dor.state.nc.us/practitioner/property/exemptions.html or call the Department of Revenue at 919-733-7711.

 

NORTH DAKOTA – Visit http://www.state.nd.us/taxdpt/property/forms/ or call the Office of State Tax Commissioner at 701-328-2770.

OHIO – Visit http://www.state.oh.us/tax/individual_taxes_realestate.html or Call the Personal Property Tax Information System at 888-644-6778.

 

OKLAHOMA – Visit http://www.oktax.state.ok.us/ or call the Oklahoma Tax Commission at 405-521-3178.

 

OREGON – Visit http://www.dor.state.or.us/ptd.html for property tax information or call the Department of Revenue at 800-356-4222.

 

PENNSYLVANIA – For property tax rebate information, visit http://www.revenue.state.pa.us/revenue/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=204508&revenuePNavCtr=|#3417 or call the Department of Revenue at 888-PATAXES (1-888-728-2937).

 

RHODE ISLAND – Visit http://www.tax.state.ri.us/info/synopsis/20.htm or call Taxpayer Assistance at 401-222-1040.

 

SOUTH CAROLINA – Visit http://www.sctax.org/Tax+Information/property/property.htm or call the Department of Revenue’s Tax Help at 800-763-1295 or your local auditor or assessor for more information.

 

SOUTH DAKOTA - For information on the tax refund program for South Dakota’s senior citizens, visit http://www.state.sd.us/drr2/publications/TaxRefund.htm or call the Department of Revenue at 605-773-3311 or 800-TAX-9188.


 

TENNESSEEFor information on property tax relief for elderly homeowners, visit http://www.comptroller.state.tn.us/pa/patxreld.htm or call the Division of Property Taxation & Assessment at 615-741-2501.

TEXAS - For information on property tax issues in Texas, visit http://www.cpa.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/proptax.html or call 800-252-9121.

 

UTAHVisit Utah’s Property Tax Division at http://tax.utah.gov/property or call 801-297-3600.

                                                                                                     

VERMONTVisit http://www.state.vt.us/tax/index.htm  or call 802-828-2865.

VIRGINIAVisit http://www.tax.state.va.us/site.cfm?alias=ResidencyStatus#SENIOR%20CITIZENS or call the Department of Taxation’s Customer Service at 804-367-8031.

 

WASHINGTON – Visit http://www.dor.wa.gov/content/property_tax/prop_main.asp to learn more about Washington’s property tax system or call the Department of Revenue at 800-647-7706.

 

WASHINGTON, D. C. – Visit http://cfo.dc.gov/services/tax/faqs/tax_credits.shtm or call the Office of Tax and Revenue’s Customer Service Assistance at 202-727-4TAX.

 

WEST VIRGINIA – Visit http://www.state.wv.us/taxdiv/ or call the State Tax Department at 304-558-3333 or 800-982-8297.

 

WISCONSINFor information about the homestead credit program, visit http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/home.html#home1 or call the Department of Revenue’s Taxpayer Assistance at 608-266-864.

 

WYOMINGVisit http://revenue.state.wy.us/doclistout.asp?div=14&dtype=37

for property tax system and exemption information.