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| Law changes disabled war veteran's property tax exemption | ||
| 01/24/2008 | ||
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SALEM—If you received the disabled war veteran or surviving spouse property tax exemption on your home for 2007, here is some good news. The 2007 Legislature has made it easier for you to maintain the exemption from year to year. The old law required applicants to file every year. But if you received the exemption for the 2007-08 tax year and your qualifying conditions haven’t changed, you don’t have to file another claim for the 2008-09 tax year. “As long as there are no changes to the ownership of your home, you continue to live there, and your disability rating doesn’t change, you don’t have to file each year to continue the exemption,” said Connie Johnston, Oregon Department of Revenue exemptions analyst. Your disabilities must be certified by Veterans Affairs, any branch of the U.S. armed forces, or a private licensed physician. If you are certified disabled by a private physician, you must continue to file each year. You also must meet certain income limits to qualify for the exemption. Your total gross income, including pensions, disability compensation, or retirement pay can’t be more than 185 percent of the federal poverty level. For example, a veteran with a family of two couldn’t make more than $25,326.50 a year to qualify for the exemption in 2007. You must file a new claim by April 1, 2008 if: • your disability rating changes before April 1, 2008. Attach your new disability certification to the claim; • you are certified disabled by a private physician; • you transfer your property to a trust or life estate; • you add or remove another person from the property’s title; • you sell or rent your home; or • you buy and move into another home. Except for the disability rating and the income limit, these conditions also apply to surviving spouses. To remain eligible for the exemption, a surviving spouse cannot remarry. County assessors will send information this month to people who received the exemption for 2007. For more information and claim forms, contact the county assessor’s office where your property is located. You may also get the claim form from the Department of Revenue. |
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