State offering property tax relief

CONCORD — The New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration on Friday announced the launch of the state’s annual Low and Moderate Income Homeowners Property Tax Relief program.

The department is accepting applications through June 30. New this year, hands-on assistance is being offered in completing applications during workshops on May 22 and June 21 at the department’s offices in Concord.

Anyone interested in attending should RSVP by sending an e-mail to [email protected] or calling Taxpayer Services at (603) 230-5920. Participants should bring photo identification, their final property tax bill, a copy of the 2017 federal income tax return for each member of the household, and for a property held in trust, a copy of the trust documentation.

Application forms (Form DP-8) for 2018 are available at www.revenue.nh.gov. Older versions of the form will not be accepted. Last year, $1.4 million in property tax relief was distributed, resulting in an average of approximately $175 of State Education Property Tax relief per household.

“Since the Low and Moderate Income Homeowners Property Tax Relief program was launched in 2002, more than $40 million have been provided to lessen the economic burden of the State Education Property Tax for at-risk taxpayers,” said Lindsey Stepp, Revenue Administration commissioner. 

“The goal is to provide as much support as possible to taxpayers, and we are hopeful that by providing in-person guidance and assistance during these workshops, more New Hampshire taxpayers will be able to benefit from this program.,” Stepp said in a prepared statement.

To be eligible a person:

• must be single with adjusted gross income equal or less than $20,000; or

married or head of New Hampshire household with adjusted gross income less than or equal to $40,000.

• must own a homestead subject to the State Education Property Tax.

• must have resided in that homestead as of April 1, 2017.

One of the most common reasons an applicant may see a delay in the response to their application is due to lack of proper attachments. Completed claim forms must be accompanied by a copy of the final tax bill from the municipality where the applicant resides along with a copy of the applicant’s federal income tax return (1040-EZ, 1040A, etc.).