THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 28, 1996 TAG: 9604260243
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 29 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
The deadline for filing for the Real Estate Tax Relief Program for the Elderly and Disabled is Tuesday, the Portsmouth Department of Social Services has announced.
The program is open to people 65 and older or those who are permanently and totally disabled.
Applicants may be eligible for either a reduction in taxes or a freeze in their real estate tax amount.
To be eligible for the reduced taxes, according to a department news release, a household must have no more than $19,000 gross annual income with financial reserves of no more then $64,200 (disregarding the value of his or her residence).
To be eligible for the freeze in real estate tax amount, a household must have no more than $40,000 gross annual income with financial reserves of no more than $150,000, disregarding the value of his or her residence. The person making the application must own or partially own title to the property for which the exemption is claimed.
If a person is 65 years old, he or she must have been 65 as of June 30 of the preceding tax year.
Assets that would have made the applicant ineligible cannot have been disposed of to future heirs within the last five years.
Applications for the Tax Relief Program will be taken weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. through Tuesday at the Portsmouth Department of Social Services, 1701 High St.
Forms are also available at the Senior Citizens Center at 305 High St., the Office of the Commissioner of Revenue, City Hall and at all public library branches. While the forms may be completed at home, they must be notarized before being considered for benefit eligibility.
Notary services are provided at no cost for those who complete the forms at the Department of Social Services. Contact a department representative at 398-3600.
KEYWORDS: PORTSMOUTH REAL ESTATE TAX by CNB