The Montgomery County Trustee's Office is getting its paperwork
in order as a good number of disabled veterans are expected to apply
for property tax relief on Saturday.
Recent changes in state law allow eligible service-connected
disabled veterans rated "total and permanent" by the Department of
Veterans Affairs to apply for tax relief. Before, only those
disabled from a combat-related injury or illness were eligible.
Qualified widows also are included.
Trustee Brenda Radford said
she set aside two Saturdays specifically for these veterans so they
can fill out property tax relief applications for the county and
city in one place.
"We do want to honor our veterans and their widows with these
application events," Radford said. "We're going to share information
and they can fill out an application so they can (save time) and
won't have to go down to the city finance office."
Although qualified veterans are welcome to come apply during
office hours, Radford is hoping most will come this Saturday or on
Nov. 3 to apply.
"I have tried to replan the processes of this office to try to
alleviate the impact," she said, adding that an additional 500
veterans are likely to be eligible for the property tax relief.
Deputy Trustee JoAnn Baggett said to fill out an application,
eligible veterans or their widows should come to the office with
military ID and Medicare cards of people listed on the house deed. A
veteran's widow will need to present a death certificate.
The first year's taxes must be paid up front, either by the
homeowner or mortgage company, before the application is submitted
and reimbursement by the state can be completed.
While the goal is to get as many people as possible to fill out
the application on Saturday, Radford said her office will hold onto
the paperwork to make sure those applying have their tax payment in
order.
"If they cannot pay the whole amount, we'll take the application
and hold it until they can pay it in full," she said.
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