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Each year, elderly or disabled Iowans may be able to benefit from:

• Property Tax Credits on your home;
• Rent Reimbursement on your apartment or mobile home lot rent;

To be eligible for these programs, you must:

• have household income during 2008 of less than $20,031, and
• be at least 65 years old OR disabled and at least 18 years old.

In addition Iowans over 23 years old with income less than $20,031  may also benefit from reduced taxes on your mobile, manufactured or modular home that is in a manufactured home community or mobile home park.

Remember, you must apply each year for these programs!
    
These property tax credit, rent reimbursement, or tax reduction programs are based on your annual household income for  2008. Household income includes social security, wages, pension and interest. If you get a rent subsidy, the amount of your subsidy is also counted as income. If you earn income from a business, only the net profit from the business is included.  The Iowa Department of Revenue and Finance sets the formula for the credit or reimbursement. (Although these credits and reimbursements remain a valuable benefit for many elderly and disabled Iowans, they have been smaller in recent years because of state budget issues. This will likely be true again this year.)

The credit or reimbursement may only be used for your homestead.  Your homestead is the dwelling you owned or rented as your home during 2008.  If you own a mobile home and live in it on a rented lot, you may apply for both rent reimbursement for the lot rent and a reduced tax rate on your mobile home.  If you live in a mobile home on your own property you may apply for a property tax credit.  If you live in an apartment, the building must be subject to property tax.  Apartments owned by non-profits (like a church) or government entities (like a city, county or state) do not generally pay property taxes.  If you are not sure whether your apartment pays property taxes, ask your landlord or county treasurer.

In some cases, residents of  a nursing home may also be eligible for rent reimbursement or a property tax credit.  If you are in a nursing home but still own and maintain your homestead, you can apply for the property tax credit.  If you live in a nursing home and no longer own a home, you may be eligible for rent reimbursement. To apply for rent reimbursement, you will need to find out from your nursing home how much of your total payment is for rent.
 
Although deadlines are sometimes extended, you should apply between January 1 and June 1, 2009, to receive a rent reimbursement for 2008 or property tax credit or reduced tax rate for 2009.  To get an application for rent reimbursement, call the Iowa Department of Revenue and Finance at 1-800-367-3388. For a property tax credit application or application for reduced tax rate on your mobile home, contact your county treasurer.

In addition, forms and instructions for all these programs can be found on the Iowa Department of Revenue website at:  http://www.state.ia.us/tax/locgov/iowa-property-tax.html.   The Legal Hotline for Older Iowans at 1-800-992-8161 also has applications and can answer questions.
     
This information is provided by the Legal Hotline for Older Iowans 1-800-992-8161.  The Hotline is a project of Iowa Legal Aid that is partially funded by the U.S. Administration on Aging. The Hotline is a free, confidential service for all Iowans 60 or older with questions on non-criminal legal matters.