(a) Definitions. In this Section, the following words have the meanings indicated:
Department means the Department of Finance.
Director means the Director of the Department or the Director’s designee.
Dwelling has the same meaning as in § 9-105 of the Tax-Property Article of the Maryland Code.
(b) Credit. As authorized by § 9-258 of the Tax-Property Article of the Maryland Code, an eligible individual may receive a credit against the County property tax imposed on the dwelling of an eligible individual.
(c) Eligibility. An individual is eligible to receive a property tax credit if:
(1) (A) the individual is at least 65 years old;
(B) the individual has lived in the same dwelling for at least the preceding 40 years; and
(C) the dwelling for which a property tax credit is sought has a maximum assessed value of $700,000 at the time the individual first applied for the credit;
(2) (A) the individual is at least 65 years old;
(B) the individual is a retired member of the uniformed services of the United States as defined in 10 U.S.C. §101, the military reserves, or the national guard; and
(C) the dwelling for which a property tax credit is sought has a maximum assessed value of $550,000 at the time the individual first applied for the credit; or
(3) (A) the individual is a surviving spouse of a retired member of the uniformed services of the United States as defined in 10 U.S.C. §101, the military reserves, or the national guard;
(B) the surviving spouse is at least 65 years old; and
(C) the surviving spouse has not remarried.
(d) Amount and duration of credit.
(1) The credit allowed under this Section is 20% of the County property tax imposed on the dwelling.
(2) The credit must be granted each year for 7 years if the individual remains eligible for the credit.
(e) Application.
(1) A property owner must submit an application to the Director on or before April 1 before the tax year that the individual first seeks to receive the credit. An annual application is not required for an individual to receive the credit.
(2) An application must:
(A) be on the form that the Director requires; and
(B) demonstrate that the taxpayer is entitled to the credit.
(f) Regulations. The County Executive may issue regulations under Method 2 to administer this tax credit. (2017 L.M.C., ch. 6, §1; 2017 L.M.C., ch. 19, §1; 2018 L.M.C, ch. 12, §§1, 2; 2019 L.M.C., ch. 16, §1; 2022 L.M.C., ch. 22, §1; 2023 L.M.C., ch. 10, §1.)
Editor’s note—2023 L.M.C., ch. 10, states: Notwithstanding Section 52-110(e), an individual must submit an application to the Director on or before September 1, 2023 if the individual seeks to receive the tax credit for Fiscal Year 2024.
2022 L.M.C., ch. 22, §2, states: Sec. 2. Expedited Effective Date. The Council declares that this legislation is necessary for the immediate protection of the public interest. Section 52-110, as amended by Section 1 of this Act, takes effect on July 1, 2022.
2019 L.M.C., ch. 16, §2, states: Expedited effective date; application date.
(a) The Council declares that this legislation is necessary for the immediate protection of the public interest. Section 52-110, as amended by Section 1 of this Act, takes effect on July 1, 2019.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 52-110(e), an individual that meets the eligibility criteria of Section 52-110(c)(3) must submit an application to the Director on or before October 1, 2019 if the individual seeks to receive the tax credit for Fiscal Year 2020.
2018 L.M.C, ch. 12, § 3, as amended by
2019 L.M.C., ch. 23
, §2, states as follows: Expedited Effective Date; application date. The Council declares that this legislation is necessary for the immediate protection of the public interest and takes effect as follows:
(a) Section 1 of this Act takes effect on the date on which it becomes law and applies retroactively to March 31, 2018.
(b) Section 2 of this Act takes effect on July 1, 2018. Notwithstanding Section 52-110(e), an individual that meets the eligibility criteria of Section 52-110(c)(3) must submit an application to the Director on or before September 1, 2018 if the individual seeks to receive the tax credit for Fiscal Year 2019.
2017 L.M.C., ch. 19, §2 states, in part: ... Section 52-110, as amended by Section 1 of this Act, takes effect on July 1, 2017.
2017 L.M.C., ch. 6, §3, states: Application date. Notwithstanding Section 52-110(e), an individual must submit an application to the Director on or before September 1, 2017 if the individual seeks to receive the tax credit for Fiscal Year 2018.