- AREA REPRESENTATIVE OFFERS REMINDER OF -
APPROACHING DEADLINE FOR 2007 PROPERTY TAX REBATE PROGRAM

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AUGUSTA – State Rep. Meredith Strang Burgess (R-Cumberland) want to alert area residents that the application period forMaine’s Property Tax and Rent Refund Program ends June 1st for taxes and rent paid during 2007. Under this program, commonly known as the “circuit breaker,” Mainers who qualify are eligible for refunds of up to $2,000. It is the state government’s primary program to provide property tax relief.

According to Maine Revenue Services (MRS), which runs the circuit breaker program, an estimated 200,000 households are eligible for property tax rebates. For 2006, however, only 113,000 people applied and 93,100 of these met the requirements for rebates. They received a total of $46.2 million, for an average rebate of $496.

Under the guidelines, you may qualify for a refund if you do not have a spouse or dependents and your 2007 income was $60,000 or less. If you have a spouse or dependents, you could have made up to $80,000 last year and still qualify. To receive a refund, your 2007 property tax must have exceeded four percent of your income. It is important to remember that this is tax relief to which you are entitled, not welfare.

Renters qualify if the rent they paid in 2007 exceeded 20 percent of their income. Seniors do not need to meet this property tax or rent requirement if their household income is below $13,600 for those living alone or below $16,800 for those living with a spouse or dependent.

Applications are available at town offices, libraries, post offices, and Area Agency on Aging and Community Action Program offices. MRS also offers the convenience of filing applications online. The site also offers additional information about the program and can be found at http://www.maine.gov/revenue/taxrelief/tnr.htm.

You may also receive an application by calling Rep. Strang Burgess at their office in Augusta at 287-1440.

 

 

Rep. Strang Burgess is a second-term legislator representing House District 108, which includes Chebeague Island, Cumberland, Long Island and part of North Yarmouth.