Wednesday, March 9, 2011

“Seniors get extra time to file property tax exemption” plus 1 more

“Seniors get extra time to file property tax exemption” plus 1 more

Seniors get extra time to file property tax exemption

Posted: 09 Mar 2011 12:28 PM PST

Seniors get extra time to file property tax exemption

By Lisa Donovan Cook County Reporter/ldonovan@suntimes.com Mar 9, 2011 02:28PM

The deadline for Cook County seniors to renew their property-tax exemption has been extended to March 22, according to Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios.

The assessor's office mailed out exemption applications to 300,000 seniors in early February but by the March 3 deadline many eligible homeowners 65 and older still hadn't turned in their paperwork.

When the forms first went out Berrios worried the mailers might be overlooked or tossed out, mistaken for junk mail.

"They're going to receive these things in the mail, and they're going to throw them in the garbage," Berrios said in February. "And then they're going to get a tax bill in November and say: 'What happened?' "

Berrios said he's pressing Springfield lawmakers to eliminate the annual application requirement, calling it "just an additional cost government doesn't need," which he pegged at $250,000.

The annual filing is a provision of a new property-tax relief law that kicked in this year. It affects more than 284,000 homeowners 65 and older and applies exclusively to Cook County. The amount of savings the tax provides varies. For a senior homeowner in Chicago, the exemption is worth a median savings of about $200 year, Berrios said.

Before 2008, seniors had to reapply every year.

In addition, the "senior freeze" exemption, which gives senior homeowners a break if their income is below $55,000, requires an annual application.

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Property tax/rent rebate applications are available

Posted: 09 Mar 2011 05:33 AM PST

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9) has announced that applications for this year's Property Tax / Rent Rebate Program are now available in his district offices.

"The Property Tax and Rent Rebate program serves a vital need for many seniors and disabled citizens in Delaware and Chester counties," said Pileggi. "Some residents who may be eligible are not aware of the program, so I encourage constituents to visit or call one of my offices if they have any questions or need help completing an application."

Eligible residents are those 65 or older, widows and widowers 50 or older, and those 18 or older who are disabled. Annual household income may not exceed $35,000, although only half of any Social Security income and Railroad Retirement benefits count towards that calculation.

The Pennsylvania Property Tax / Rent Rebate program provides property tax relief or rent assistance of up to $650 for eligible Pennsylvanians. A supplemental payment of up to $325 may be available for residents who pay more than 15 percent of income on property taxes.

Residents who received a property tax or rent rebate last year should automatically receive a renewal application form in the mail. Those forms have a unique bar code that allows the Department of Revenue to process them more quickly.

Applications for the Property Tax / Rent Rebate Program are due June 30. Rebate checks will be mailed beginning July 1.

Senator Pileggi has three district offices: 100 Evergreen Drive, Suite 113, Glen Mills, PA 19342, (610-358-5183); 415 Avenue of the States, Chester, PA 19013, (610-447-5845); and 305 Market St., Oxford, PA 19363, (610-932-2360).

More information about state issues is available at Senator Pileggiís web site, www.SenatorPileggi.com.

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9) has announced that applications for this year's Property Tax / Rent Rebate Program are now available in his district offices.

"The Property Tax and Rent Rebate program serves a vital need for many seniors and disabled citizens in Delaware and Chester counties," said Pileggi. "Some residents who may be eligible are not aware of the program, so I encourage constituents to visit or call one of my offices if they have any questions or need help completing an application."

Eligible residents are those 65 or older, widows and widowers 50 or older, and those 18 or older who are disabled. Annual household income may not exceed $35,000, although only half of any Social Security income and Railroad Retirement benefits count towards that calculation.

The Pennsylvania Property Tax / Rent Rebate program provides property tax relief or rent assistance of up to $650 for eligible Pennsylvanians. A supplemental payment of up to $325 may be available for residents who pay more than 15 percent of income on property taxes.

Residents who received a property tax or rent rebate last year should automatically receive a renewal application form in the mail. Those forms have a unique bar code that allows the Department of Revenue to process them more quickly.

Applications for the Property Tax / Rent Rebate Program are due June 30. Rebate checks will be mailed beginning July 1.

Senator Pileggi has three district offices: 100 Evergreen Drive, Suite 113, Glen Mills, PA 19342, (610-358-5183); 415 Avenue of the States, Chester, PA 19013, (610-447-5845); and 305 Market St., Oxford, PA 19363, (610-932-2360).

More information about state issues is available at Senator Pileggiís web site, www.SenatorPileggi.com.

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