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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 3:52 a.m., Friday, August 31, 2007

Oct. 1 is deadline to file for property tax exemptions

Advertiser Staff

The City and County of Honolulu is advising homeowners that Oct. 1 is the deadline to file claims for home exemptions to reduce their real property assessments and taxes.

An eligible homeowner must own and occupy his or her property as the principal home. In order for the exemption to be effective for the next tax year, which runs from July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009, a claim must be filed by October 1.

For qualifying homeowners under 65 years of age, the exemption is $80,000. For those 65 years and older, the exemption is $120,000. Persons filing for the home exemption must provide verification of age, such as a copy of a driver's license or birth certificate.

For real property owned and occupied as the owner's principal home, and where the owner is age 75 years or older and total household income qualifies as low-income, there is an "in lieu of" exemption depending on the age of the owner: 75-79 years, $140,000; 80-84 years, $160,000; 85-89 years, $180,000; and 90 and older, $200,000.

Others who may be eligible for an exemption include Hansen's Disease sufferers; totally disabled veterans; property owners who are deaf, blind, or totally disabled; nonprofit organizations; and low-income housing projects. The deadline to apply is Oct. 1.

In order to qualify for an exemption, the document by which the property was acquired (e.g., deed, lease, agreement of sale, and so forth) must be recorded at the Bureau of Conveyances on or before Oct 1. To expedite the filing process, the claimant should know the tax map key and address of the property.

A change in ownership or use, such as the sale or rental of a property, voids the exemption and must be reported to the City Real Property Assessment Division within 30 days of the transaction. Failure to notify the City will subject the claimant to back taxes and a penalty for each year that the change remains unreported.

Exemption claim forms are available at the Real Property Assessment office, at 842 Bethel Street; the Kapolei branch, at 1000 Uluohia Street, Room 206; and all Satellite City Halls. Forms are also available online at www.honolulu.gov/rpa. For additional information, call 527-5539, 527-5510, 527-5520, or 768-3169.