Senior citizens and people with disabilities have chances to get a break on their 2011 Snohomish County property taxes.
The two most popular programs offer an exemption and a deferral.
The first program grants a possible tax exemption or reduction.
People may qualify if they were 61 or older as of Dec. 31, 2010, or were retired by that date because of a physical disability.
To be eligible, total household income must be $35,000 or less. That includes Social Security and disability payments.
In addition to 2011, people may apply for the three most recent tax years if they met the criteria at the time.
Anybody who’s enrolled must re-apply every four years. Substantial changes in income should be reported to the Snohomish County Assessor’s Office.
The county sends renewal applications each May to anybody whose exemption is scheduled to expire at year’s end.
The second program offers a tax deferral.
It’s open to people who are at least 60 years old or disabled from working and have a gross disposable household income of less $40,000.
The program works like a loan from Washington state. A person or their estate must pay back the deferral after the property’s ownership changes hands.
These deferrals must be applied for every year. Renewal applications are sent out each January.
For more information, call the Snohomish County Assessor’s Office at 425-388-3433.
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