BY STEFANIE BOWMANN, Eastern Shore Post —
A Northampton resident recently shared his acquaintances’ criticism of the county’s program to provide tax relief for elderly and disabled individuals.
Andrew Santucci, of Cheriton, said the county requires “too much personal information” for many people to participate in the program, and one of his acquaintances took an application, read it, and “threw it in the trash.”
Northampton supervisors in February approved updates to an ordinance that allows an elderly or disabled individual who meets certain financial requirements to be partially exempt from paying real estate taxes on a home that is his or her sole dwelling.
The program’s income and asset limits were raised to account for “cost of living increases” due to inflation, said County Administrator Charlie Kolakowski.
The annual household income limit was raised from $50,000 to $57,500, and the limit on combined net worth was increased from $100,000 to $115,000.
The maximum amount of real estate tax that can be exempt annually, per household, rose from $1,000 to $1,150.
Depending on annual household income, elderly or disabled homeowners can save 40% to 90% on their real estate tax bills.
“If I can save a few dollars, I’m going to do it,” Santucci said. But a lot of homeowners “just don’t care, or they don’t want to mess with it.”
“They’d rather pay the full price and (not) be bothered with … giving their information out,” he said.
The program application consists of four pages, including an affidavit that must be signed by the commissioner of revenue, her deputy, or a notary public.
The applicant must be age 65 or older or be permanently and totally disabled as of Dec. 31 of the previous year.
Copies of the following documents, where applicable, must accompany the application:
Bank statements from October, November, and December of the previous year for each account belonging to the applicant and his or her spouse.
Statements for each certificate of deposit, or CD, including IRA and 401-K accounts.
The declaration and cash value pages for each life insurance policy.
Federal and state income tax returns for the last three years.
Annual social security statements.
A driver’s license or other photo identification.
A notification for fuel assistance from the Commonwealth of Virginia Energy Assistance Program.
A notification for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
The application must list the net values of the applicant’s assets and his or her spouse’s assets, including other real estate, motor vehicles, machinery and equipment, savings and checking accounts, CDs, stocks and bonds, life insurance and annuities, and cash on hand.
The form must also list annual gross income for every household member, including salaries and wages, pensions or retirement, social security, interest, dividends, capital gains, trust funds, rental income, food stamps, fuel and air conditioning assistance, and other public assistance.
Last year, about 120 Northampton County residents took advantage of the program.
