Property Tax exemptions available

    According to Laureen Bither, Houlton’s tax assessor, now is the time for homeowners to be applying to their town office for property tax exemptions for which they may be eligible. Under current state of Maine law, there are three tax exemptions available to assist homeowners with their property tax.
    Should a homeowner be declared legally blind, that individual is entitled to a $4,000 valuation property tax exemption upon application for the exemption to the assessor. This application is available at all town offices and must be filed with the assessor prior to April 1 in order to be eligible for the exemption. If a taxpayer is currently receiving an exemption for blindness, no new certification is required.
    A property tax exemption is also available for veterans, and widows of veterans, who served during a federally recognized war period and who have attained the age of 62, or who are receiving a pension or compensation from the United States government as a veteran for total disability, either service or non-service connected, if under the age of 62. A $6,000 valuation property tax exemption is available to those who qualify. Application forms are available at all town offices and must be filed with the assessor’s office prior to April 1st in order to be eligible for the exemption. A copy of the applicant’s discharge papers should accompany the completed application form. If a taxpayer is currently receiving a veteran’s property tax exemption, no new application is required.
    The homestead property tax exemption is the third exemption available to homeowners. In order to be eligible for the homestead exemption, the property owner must be a legal resident of the state of Maine and have owned homestead property in Maine for at least 12 months prior to April 1. Also, the homestead must be the taxpayer’s permanent place of residence and the only property for which a homestead exemption has been claimed (summer camps, vacation homes and second residences do not qualify). Application forms for the $13,000 homestead exemption are available at all town offices; however, applications must be submitted prior to April 1 to the assessor’s office. Should a taxpayer already be receiving a homestead exemption, it is not necessary to file another application form. Should a taxpayer have changed their permanent place of residence since receiving a homestead exemption, then the taxpayer must notify the municipality of that change of residence.
     Bither, stresses the requirement that all of the property tax exemptions available must be applied for prior to April. Should any taxpayers have any questions regarding any of the exemptions, additional information may be obtained by contacting the assessor’s office or any town office where a taxpayer resides. Bither may be contacted at 532-7111.