Are you a Massachusetts tax payer & a senior looking for a tax break read on!
Are you qualified to avail yourself of the "Circuit Breaker" tax program in Massachusetts?
This year the maximum credit is $1070.00 - don't leave it on the table!!!
What is the criteria to participate in "Circuit Breaker" Tax Program?
If you can answer yes to the following questions you may be eligible to participate:
Are you 65 years of age or over?
Is your principal residence in Massachusetts?
This credit is based upon the actual amount of money you pay in real estate tax or rent on your primary residence in Massachusetts.
Does your property tax or rental amount exceed 10% of your annual gross income?
Currently criteria for income is:
Single person: $57,000
Head of Household: $71,000
Married Jointly: $85,000.
You do not have to own a property to take advantage of this - you can be a either a renter or tenant of your home.
Exception: Seniors who reside in public or subsidized housing are not eligible for the credit.
If you rent:
The credit is equal to the amount by which 25% of the rent actually paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year for the occupancy of the principal residence exceeds 10% of the taxpayer's total income for the taxable year, provided that such amount does not exceed the maximum credit amount. For tax year 2015, the maximum credit amount is $1,070.
If you own:
The credit is equal to the amount by which the taxpayer's property tax payments in the current tax year, including water and sewer use charges paid to a municipality, but excluding any abatement or exemption granted, exceeds 10% of the taxpayer's total income, for the taxable year, provided that such amount does not exceed the maximum credit amount. For tax year 2015, the maximum credit amount is $1,070.
Is the assessed value of your primary residence less than $705,000?
Per the state website:
If the taxpayer owns more than one acre of land, only the assessed value of the principal residence,
together with the land that immediately surrounds and is associated with that residence, not to
exceed one acre, should be used in determining the eligibility of the taxpayer for the credit.
THIS IS A TAX CREDIT - meaning if you do not owe a tax liability you will receive a credit or check for the refund.
Please check out the Massachusetts Department of Revenue page dedicated to the "Circuit Breaker Tax Credit".
Should you be on the South Shore of Massachusetts you may wish to attend an informative session
hosted by Rep. Josh Cutler on Thursday February 11th, 2016 at 10 a.m in the morning at the Pembroke
Senior Center, 144 Center Street, Pembroke Center, MA 02359 telephone: 781-294-4645
If you are a Senior and interested in more information on the current real estate market in Massachusetts please contact MaryBeth Muldowney, Broker Owner of TradeWinds Realty Group llc
on 781-826-9300 or via email: MaryBeth@TradeWindsRealtyGroup.com. MaryBeth is experienced with the special considerations a Senior may have at the tops of their minds in making a move. MaryBeth has attended extensive trainings and holds the Realtor Designation of "SENIOR REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST".
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