RSS FeedOwn in PQ? Get The Homestead Deduction!
When searching property records online, we’ve noticed that some of our neighbors who own their condo are not taking advantage of the Homestead Deduction. There are two easy ways to see if you’re receiving the homestead deduction: First, it will be listed on the property tax bill you receive from DC; Second, you can search the DC Office of Tax and Revenue website.
To get there & check a property I always do the following steps:
- Go to DC.Gov;
- Follow the link to (under Popular Online Services) Visit The Taxpayer Service Center;
- Next go to the Real Property Service Center;
- Then go to Real Property Tax Database Search;
- And finally follow either Real Property Assessment Database or the Real Property Sales Database.
From either of the final databases (I usually choose the assessment database) enter part of the address of interest (say 1600 Penn Ave NW) and choose the lot/square of interest and we see that the White House is not receiving the Homestead Deduction, and their 2008 proposed value is $963,825,340.00, wow!
A few quirks of the system: I find it’s often best to leave off the quadrant (i.e., NW, SW, NE, SE) from your search, especially for newer condos.
If you’re not receiving the Homestead Deduction but should be, you have two options here as well: First you could try filing an application/reconfirmation; Or if you’ve already done that and still are not getting the benefits you deserve, you can file an appeal.
Mrs. Columbo and I had to go the appeal route as we could not get the application to go through. Less than a week after mailing off the appeal, our Homestead Deduction was in place.
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Comments
Based on recent news coming out of the DC tax office the homestead deduction claims may not me the most pressing issue at the present time.
Anon #2 is referring to this…
D.C. Financial Officer Urges Employees to Work to Regain Public Trust
#4, I don’t believe that is correct. I linked to the requirements on the main post (the words “Homestead Deduction”) which has the following requirements:
An application must be on file with the Office of Tax and Revenue;
The property must be occupied by the owner/applicant and contain no more than five dwelling units (including the unit occupied by the owner); and
The property must be the principal residence (domicile) of the owner/applicant.
Nothing about a limit on your income.
Yes I believe there are income limits for the 1st time homebuyer tax credit. I wonder though if #4 was thinking of the Tax Deferral for Low-Income and Low-Income Senior Property Owner which allows low-income owners to defer annual increases to their property tax
#4: your are wrong, there is no income limit (thankfully) for the homestead deduction.
#6: you are correct that the income limit is applicable to the first time homebuyer credit.
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be forewarned, the DC Government does audit Homestead claims from time to time if they have reason to believe your deduction claim is false. they’ll ask you for some form of proof that you live at the listed address such as a utility bill or a paystub with a matching address.