Ada County News Releases

2010 Property Tax Reduction & Deferral Program Enrollment Now Open

Posted on 01-19-2010

PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION (CIRCUIT BREAKER) PROGRAM:

Property owners who qualify for the Property Tax Reduction Program can reduce their annual property tax
bill by as much as $1,320. The State of Idaho will reimburse Ada County for the property taxes up to the
claimant’s qualifying benefit amount. To be eligible for the Property Tax Reduction Program, a property
owner must be eligible for the State’s Homeowner’s Exemption benefits, and as of January 1, 2010,
must meet one or more of these qualifying factors:

Age 65 or older
Widow(er) of any age
Blind
Fatherless or motherless child under 18 years of age
Former prisoner of war/hostage
Disabled as recognized by the Social Security Administration, Railroad Retirement Board or Federal Civil Service
Veteran with a 10 percent or more service-connected disability or receiving a pension from Veteran’s Affairs (VA) for non-service-connected disability

Applicants to the Property Tax Reduction Program must also have a 2009 net income of $28,000 or less
after deducting non-reimbursed medical expenses. Other deductions may include funeral expenses,
business/farm losses, early banking withdrawal penalties and/or alimony paid. Applicants must provide
documentation proving their wages and all sources of income.

“This program is designed to help senior citizens and other qualified residents by reducing their property
taxes,” said Ada County Assessor, Robert McQuade. “However, residents must re-apply for this program
each year since eligibility is based on their previous year’s income.”

Recently, the Ada County Assessor’s Office mailed Property Tax Reduction applications to residents who qualified for the program last year. Anyone who has requested an application, but does not receive it by Friday, January 29th, 2010 should contact the Ada County Assessor’s office at (208) 287-7200.
Residents who would like to request an application or know of someone who might be eligible for the
program, are encouraged to contact the Assessor’s Office to obtain an application.

PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION APPLICATION ASSISTANCE

Ada County Assessor Robert McQuade wants to remind residents that there is no cost associated with
applying for the 2010 Property Tax Reduction Program, and residents should never work with an
individual who tries to charge an application fee.

Residents who need one-on-one assistance to complete the application are encouraged to visit locations where Ada County Assessor’s Office employees will be offering assistance free of charge. Please see the schedule below for dates and locations. Residents can also receive assistance at the Ada County Assessor’s Office, located at 190 W. Front Street, Suite 107, directly east of the Ada County Courthouse. Those interested in applying for the 2010 Property Tax Reduction Program must submit an application, by April 15, 2010.

2010 Property Tax Reduction Program, Application Assistance Schedule:

Boise Senior Center - 690 Robbins Road, Boise, ID 83702 (345-9921) EVERY Tuesday: February 2 through April 6 - 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Eagle Senior Center - 312 E. State Street, Eagle, ID 83616 (939-0475) Thursday: February 4, 18, & March 18 - 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Kuna Senior Center - 299 Avenue B, Kuna, ID 83634 (922-9714) Monday: February 8, March 8 & April 5 - 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Garden City Senior Center - 3835 Reed St., Garden City, ID 83714 (336-8122) Friday: February 5 & March 19 - 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Meridian Community Center - 201 E. Idaho Ave., Meridian, ID 83642 (888-3579) Thursday: February 11, March 11, April 1 & 8 - 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
St. Mark’s Church - 7960 Northview, Boise, ID 83704 (376-6651) Thursday: March 4 - 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Star Senior Center - 102 Main St., Star, ID 83669 (286-7943) Friday: March 5 & April 2 - 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

PROPERTY TAX DEFERRAL PROGRAM:

The Property Tax Deferral Program offers residents a way to defer property taxes on their home and up to one acre of land. These taxes plus interest must eventually be repaid to the State of Idaho. To qualify you must apply for and meet the eligibility requirements of the Property Tax Reduction (Circuit Breaker) program as previously listed, and have income of $40,000 or less for 2009. If an application is approved, a resident’s property tax deferral will appear on their December 2010 tax bill. The deferred property taxes plus interest must be repaid when:

Any part of the property is sold or the title is transferred
The qualified claimant, or the last qualified claimant dies
The property no longer qualifies for the Homeowner’s Exemption (meaning it’s no longer the resident’s primary residence)
The Idaho State Tax Commission determines that the property tax deferral was granted to an individual who isn’t a qualified claimant, or granted for property that does not qualify

“Property taxes and interest that are deferred become a property lien,” McQuade points out . “Although this is a valuable tool put in place by the Idaho Legislature to help ease residents’ property tax burden, the money does eventually have to be repaid with interest.”

Residents interested in applying for the 2010 Property Tax Deferral Program must submit an application, including notarized signatures, by April 15, 2010.

APPLYING FOR THE 2010 PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION AND DEFERRAL PROGRAMS:

For more information on these programs, or to obtain an application, residents can call (208) 287-7200 or visit the Ada County Assessor’s Office at 190 E. Front Street, Suite 107. The Assessor’s Office is located directly east of the Courthouse on the ground floor of the Civic Plaza Apartment Complex. Residents interested in applying for the 2010 Property Tax Reduction and Tax Deferral Programs must file their application at the Assessor’s office by the April 15, 2010 deadline.