Exemption Information

Homeowners Tax Credit

The Assessor's Office administers the State Homeowners Tax Relief Program. Under this program an elderly and totally disabled homeowner may be eligible for a tax credit for the property in which the resident resides. The amount of credit is based on a graduated income scale.

Eligibility Requirements:

• An applicant or their spouse must be 65 or older by the end of the previous calendar year, or be 100% disabled (per Social Security Award Letter), or be 50 or older and be a surviving spouse of a recipient.
• Must reside as the owner (or have life use of the property) as of October 1 of the year before applying.
• Income requirements are updated annually. 
• The application must be filed with the Assessor's Office between February 1 and May 15. Proof of income received in the previous calendar year must be provided. Following approval of the initial application by the Assessor, the applicant must refile biennially.

If you are NOT currently enrolled in this program and believe you may be eligible, please call or email us with your mailing address and we will send you an application.                                                                          

Tax Exemption for Blind Persons

C.G.S. 12-81 (17) provides for an exemption in the amount of $3,000 on the assessment of the property owned by, or held in trust for, a person who is blind. Eligibility for exemption must be proved and application made by January 31. To be granted the exemption you must provide the Assessor with a “Certification of Legal Blindness” as received from:

State of Connecticut

Department of Human Resources

Board of Education and Services for the Blind

170 Ridge Road

Wethersfield, CT  06109

 Social Security Disability Exemption

Residents under the age of 65 on Social Security Disability are eligible for a $1,000 assessment exemption. Qualifying applicants must file his or her original Social Security Administration disability document (award letter) with the Assessor's Office by January 31st along with the Totally Disabled Application. 

Additional Disability Exemption

Connecticut General Statute 12-81i provides for an additional local option exemption for any person receiving an exemption under 12-81(55). To qualify applicants must be receiving the SS Disability exemption AND qualify by income. This is a biennial filing between February 1 and October 1. 

Handicapped Adapted Motor Vehicles

Connecticut General Statute 12-81c and Local Ordinance #86-2 provide for a total exemption of any motor vehicle which is handicapped-equipped with special hand controls or other adaptations for physically disabled passengers and/or drivers, or a motor vehicle which is used exclusively for the purpose of transporting any medically incapacitated individual, except any vehicle used to transport individuals for payment. The application can be obtained at the Assessor’s office or the Town’s website and must be filed by November 1st.

Tax Exemptions for Veterans

Honorably discharged veterans who served in wartime may be eligible for an exemption to be applied toward their real estate or motor vehicle assessments. Proof of military service (DD214 Discharge Papers) must be filed with the Town Clerk's Office prior to the October 1 Grand List date to get the exemption on that list.

A disabled veteran who qualifies for the basic veteran's exemption may receive an additional exemption. To qualify, the veteran must initially submit their Department of Veterans Affairs form showing the percentage of disability to the Assessor's Office by March 31. This document will only be required in subsequent years if the percent of disability changes.

Disabled Veterans Exemption

Increased exemption amounts are available to Veterans who are rated more than 10% service connected disabled by the VA. Submit a copy of the Veteran’s Disability Rating, via either a Form 20-5455 or a letter from the Veteran’s Administration in accordance with CGS 12-81(20) to the assessor in order to qualify. A veteran must submit the proper paperwork just once, unless the VA modifies the disability rating. If modified, the veteran must provide a copy of the new rating or forfeit the exemption until proof of the new rating is provided to the assessor. Upon turning the age of 65, a disabled veteran’s exemption will automatically become equal to a 100% rating.

Additional Veteran's Exemption

A veteran receiving the regular veteran’s exemption, will qualify for an additional exemption, provided by Connecticut General Statute 12-81f.  This is equal to half the regular exemption and is applied automatically. Alternatively, lower income veterans may qualify for an additional exemption equal to double the base exemption. The income requirements are the same as those for the State Homeowner Benefit program. (see #3 under “Homeowners” section). The application  filing period for this program is February 1 thru October 1 for the exemption to be effective on the Grand List of October 1st.

An additional $6000 exemption is available through the local option program whose qualifications mirror State program guidelines and income requirements.

Please bring the required proof of income as stated under Homeowner benefits. However, please NOTE:  Veterans’ Disability payments are not considered income for this program. If VA disability rating is 100%, only taxable income is used ($18000 limit for a single person, $21000 limit for married).

If you are the surviving spouse of a Veteran, you will also qualify for these programs, as long as you remain single.

NEW LOCAL OPTION EXEMPTION - VETERANS

The Town has enacted a new ordinance that will provide property tax relief to any veteran whose federal adjusted gross income is fifty thousand one hundred dollars ($50,100) or less. Any such veteran shall be entitled to an exemption from the tax imposed on any dwelling located in the Town and owned and occupied by such veteran and used by such veteran as a primary residence in an amount equal to ten per cent (10%) of the assessed value of such primary residence. Applications for the new exemption are due by October 1.

In-Service Exemptions

An active member of the armed forces may be eligible to have one motor vehicle exempt from property tax. To qualify, the individual must submit an annual In-Service Exemption Form signed by his/her commanding officer. The signed Active Duty Military Motor Vehicle Property Tax Exemption Form must be filed with us prior to December 31, next, following the tax due date.

Tax Exemption For Farm Buildings

Applications are available in the Assessor's Office. Please contact the office for more information.

 

Exemption information and forms:

• Homeowner Q&A Booklet
• Certificate of Entitlement - Veteran and Veteran's Spouse
• Veterans - Dates of War
• Military Records Online Notice (DD-214)
• Motor Vehicle Property Tax Exemption Application for Active Duty Members of the Armed Forces
• Veteran Leased Motor Vehicle Paid Tax Refund Application
• Social Security Online Service for Replacement SSA-1099s
• Tax Exemption Application with Housing (M3)
• Tax Exemption Application (M3)
• Religious Organizations Tax Exemption Application