Circuit Breaker property tax reduction deadline nears

COEUR d'ALENE — Kootenai County residents eligible for property tax assistance through Idaho’s Circuit Breaker program have until 5 p.m. on April 18 to submit their applications.

Any qualified applicant who fails to submit an application before the deadline must wait until January 2018 to apply.

The goal of the program is to make it easier for qualified homeowners to remain in their home by reducing their tax liability by as much as $1,320.

Eligible property owners must fit into one of the following categories as of Jan. 1, 2017:

- Age 65 or older

- Widow(er) of any age

- Disabled (as recognized by the Social Security Administration, Veterans Affairs, Railroad Retirement Board or Federal Civil Service)

- Blind

- Fatherless or motherless child under 18 years of age

- Former prisoner of war or hostage

Additionally, applicants must also have a reported 2016 income — after deducting medical expenses — of $29,640 or less. The program requires eligible property owners to apply for program benefits each year.

The State of Idaho reimburses Kootenai County for the portion of property tax that isn’t collected from the homeowner. Anyone who hasn’t received an application, or a reminder in the mail, is encouraged to contact the Kootenai County Assessor’s Office at 446-1500 or 446-1511.

Last year 3,071 applications were taken in Kootenai County. As of April 1, 2017, 2,000 applications had been taken, which leaves a balance of approximately 1,071 who have not yet applied.

Mike McDowell, Kootenai County's assessor, also asks anyone who may know of someone who might be eligible for the program to obtain an application on his or her behalf. The application is one page and is filed with the Assessor’s Office, 451 Government Way, Coeur d’Alene, on the second floor of the County Administration Building.

Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.