| Senior
Citizen or Disability Exemption:
If
you are a senior citizen or disabled person, you may qualify
for property tax relief. To be eligible for the Property
Tax Exemption program, you must:
- Be disabled or age 61 or older on December 31 of the
filing year.
- The owner and occupant of a single family dwelling,
mobile home, or one unit in a condominium or cooperative.
- Have combined disposable income of $35,000 or less for
the prior year (including income of spouse and co-tenant).
Your household
income determines the amount of exemption from regular property
taxes or excess levies.
Contact
Morrie Parker
in the Assessor's Office for assistance in filing for
this exemption. You may wan to review the Washington
State Department of Revenue brochure, Property
Tax Exemption for Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons.
Senior
Citizen and Disabled Persons Tax Deferral
If
you are a senior citizen or disabled person whose income
is below $40,000, you may defer property taxes
and special assessments on up
to 80 percent of the equity in your home.
Unlike the senior citizens and disabled persons exemption
program, deferred taxes are a lien on the property. This
lien becomes payable, together with interest, upon sale,
transfer or inheritance of the property.
Chapter
84.36 RCW permits some senior citizens and disabled citizens
to defer payment of unpaid property taxes and/or special
assessments.
The
deferred taxes plus interest must be repaid when you cease
being eligible for the deferral.
You must meet
eligibility requirements in three areas to qualify:
- Age or Disability:
- You must be at least 60 years of age or unable to
work because of a disability.
- Home ownership:
- You must own the property in total or under a contract
purchase.
- Total household income:
- You must have an annual household income of $40,000
or less (this includes all forms of income, not just
that which is taxable).
The
deferral is available on:
- a home and
- up to 5.00 acres of land.
The
amount deferred, plus interest, may not exceed 80 percent
of the claimant's equity value in the residence. A declaration
to defer taxes must be filed with the Assessor no later
han 30 days before the tax is due.
Click
here for the Department of Revenue brochure: Property
Tax Deferral for Senior Citizens and Disable Persons
Limited-Income
Deferral
If
you are a homeowner with limited income, Washington State
has a program that may help you pay a portion of your property
taxes. Under this program, the Department of Revenue
pays 50% of your property taxes and/or special assessments
on your behalf.
The
deferred taxes plus interest must be repaid when you cease
being eligible for the deferral.
To
apply for this program,
- Your first half property tax installment for the year
must already be paid.
You must meet
eligibility requirements in three areas to qualify:
- Ownership and residency:
- You must have owned your home for at least five
years before applying.
- You must live there at least six months of every
year.
- Total Household Income:
- Your total household income for the year previous
to application must be $57,000 or less (including
claimant's income and income of any spouse or co-tenant).
- Available Equity:
- There must be sufficient equity available in your
home; the taxes deferred cannot exceed 40% of the
equity.
Click here
for the Department of Revenue brochure: Property
Tax Deferral for Homeowners with Limited Income
Head
of Family Exemption on Personal Property
The first $15,000
of assessed value of personal property tax is exempt for
persons who qualify as head of family;
the assessor determines who qualifies for this exemption.
Read the Department
of Revenue booklet to learn more about Personal
Property Taxes.
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