St. Mary’s County Commissioners urge homeowners who received a property assessment from the state in December 2008 to not overlook the Homestead Tax Credit application.
Effective Oct. 1, 2007, a new law enacted by the 2007 session of the Maryland General Assembly requires all homeowners to make a one-time application in order to be eligible to receive or continue receiving the Homestead Tax Credit. The Homestead Tax Credit law limits each year the amount of assessment increase on which an eligible resident homeowner actually pays County, Municipal and State property taxes. The application is required to insure that all property owners receive the credit on the one property used as their principal residence and not on properties used for other purposes, such as a rental or vacation home.
ALSO, those who feel their assessment is wrong or too high can appeal it by returning an appeal form by Feb. 13 to the local tax assessor’s office in the Carter State Office Building in Leonardtown. The phone number is (301) 880-2901. Appeals can be made in writing or as a telephone hearing, eliminating the need to come into the Assessments office. Several tools and options are also available at the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation at www.dat.state.md.us.
Residents are reminded to call the County Treasurer’s Office at (301) 475-4472 or (301) 475-4473 for questions about their tax bill.