For immediate release:
August 8, 2017
Contact:
Jason Davidson
jason.davidson2@maryland.gov
410-767-5754

SDAT Offers Tax Relief, Mails More Than 100,000 Postcards for Tax Credit Awareness Campaign

Notice Encourages Low-income Homeowners to Apply for Property Tax Credits

The Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) is urging Marylanders to consider whether they may be eligible to receive a homeowners’ or renters’ property tax credit and to submit an application before the September 1 deadline. As part of this awareness campaign, last week SDAT mailed 133,828 postcards to low-income Maryland homeowners who may be eligible to receive a credit but have not yet submitted an application. The Department is also participating in community outreach initiatives, such as last week’s Day of Giving hosted by The Basketball Tournament and Baltimore 1000, to educate Marylanders on tax relief that may be available to them.

The Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit Program provides tax relief for eligible homeowners by setting a limit on the amount of property taxes owed based on their income. If a resident has already paid their property taxes and applies before September 1, any tax credit that the homeowner may be eligible for will be refunded by the county finance offices. The Renters’ Property Tax Credit Program similarly provides tax relief for eligible renters who pay high monthly rent relative to their total income. This credit is issued in the form of a direct check payment of up to $1,000 a year.

For more information on these tax credits you may visit the links above, email sdat.taxcreditapp@maryland.gov, or call 410-767-4433 or 1-800-944-7403 (toll free within Maryland).

These credits must be applied for annually by September 1. In 2016, nearly 46,000 homeowners received an average of $1,300 in tax relief, while more than 7,600 renters received an average of $322 in tax relief. Combined, these two tax credit programs save Maryland taxpayers more than $50 million each year. Many counties and municipalities also provide supplemental credits, which provide additional tax relief. If a resident is approved to receive the state credit, they will automatically receive any local supplemental credit that they may be eligible for.

In order to educate Maryland homeowners and renters about the availability of these tax credits, SDAT has been proactively sharing this information with the public through email campaigns, social media, and other forms of community outreach.

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