Homeowners' Property Tax Credit Program

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​Please be advised that effective 3/16/2020, SDAT’s Tax Credits office will be closed to the public until further notice. Unfortunately, processing times will be slowed during the duration of this situation. We apologize for this inconvinience and appreciate your patience. All tax credit applications can still be filed online through http://www.taxcredits.sdat.maryland.gov.

Please visit Governor Hogan's Coronavirus 2019 Disease Update webpage for general information about the virus, or Maryland Business Express' COVID-19 Business Response webpage for resources available to the business community.​

​Please be advised that due to recently passed legislation, beginning in 2020 the due date to submit an application is October 1, which is extended from the prior due date of September 1.

What is the Homeowners' Property Tax Credit Program?

The State of Maryland has developed a program which allows credits against the homeowner's property tax bill if the property taxes exceed a fixed percentage of the person's gross income. In other words, it sets a limit on the amount of property taxes any homeowner must pay based upon his or her income.

How Is "Income" Defined?

For purposes of the tax credit program, it is emphasized that applicants must report total income, which means the combined gross income before any deductions are taken. Income information must be reported for the homeowner and spouse and all other occupants of the household unless they are dependents or they are paying rent or room and board. Income from all sources must be reported whether or not the monies received are included as income for Federal and State income tax purposes. Nontaxable retirement benefits such as Social Security and Railroad Retirement must be reported as income for the tax credit program. Generally, eligibility for the tax credit will be based upon all monies received in the applicant's household in a given year.

What Are The Other Requirements?

Before your eligibility according to income can be considered, you must meet four basic requirements

You must own or have a legal interest in the property.

The dwelling on which you are seeking the tax credit must be your principal residence where you live at least six months of the year, including July 1, unless you are a recent home purchaser or unless you are unable to do so because of your health or need of special care.

Your net worth, not including the value of the property on which you are seeking the credit or any qualified retirement savings or Individual Retirement Accounts, must be less than $200,000.

Your combined gross household income cannot exceed $60,000.

How Is The Credit Figured?

The tax credit is based upon the amount by which the property taxes exceed a percentage of your income according to the following formula: 0% of the first $8,000 of the combined household income; 4% of the next $4,000 of income; 6.5% of the next $4,000 of income; and 9% of all income above $16,000.

The chart below is printed in $1,000 increments to show you the specific tax limit for each income level.

2019 Household Income Tax Limit $1 - 8,000 $0 9,000 40 10,000 80 11,000 120 12,000 160 13,000 225 14,000 290 15,000 355 16,000 420 17,000 510 18,000 600 19,000 690 20,000 780 21,000 870 22,000 960 23,000 1050 24,000 1140 25,000 1230 26,000 1320 27,000 1410 28,000 1500 29,000 1590 30,000 1,680 and up to a maximum

of $60,000 *



* For each additional $1,000 of income above $30,000, you add $90 to $1,680 to find the tax limit. Your combined gross household income cannot exceed $60,000.

Example:If your combined household income is $16,000, you see from the chart that your tax limit is $420. You would be entitled to receive a credit for any taxes above the $420. If your actual property tax bill was $990, you would receive a tax credit in the amount of $570 --- this being the difference between the actual tax bill and the tax limit.

What Other Limitations?

Only the taxes resulting from the first $300,000 of assessed valuation.

It does not cover any metropolitan or fixed charges for water and sewer services that may appear on the tax bill.

If an applicant owns a large tract of land, the credit will be limited to the lot or curtilage on which the dwelling stands and will not include the excess acreage.



If a portion of your dwelling is used for commercial or business purposes, the credit will be based only upon the taxes for that portion of the dwelling occupied by your own household.

How Does One Receive The Credit?

Homeowners who file and qualify by April 15 will receive the credit directly on their tax bill. Persons who file later up until the October1 deadline will receive any credit due in the form of a revised tax bill. Applicants filing after April 15 are advised not to delay payment of the property tax bill until receipt of the credit if they wish to receive the discount for early payment offered in some subdivisions. A refund check will be issued by the local government if the tax bill was paid before the tax credit was granted.

What Happens If One Is Not Eligible?

Whenever homeowners are found not qualified to receive a tax credit, they are informed in writing. The letter gives the reason for denial and what steps to take if further questions remain. The letter also explains how homeowners can appeal the determination of ineligibility to the local Property Tax Assessments Appeals Board.​​​​​​​

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