Two Weeks Left to Apply for Senior Tax Exemption

Hamilton residents 70 or older have two weeks left to apply for a tax exemption on their home.

The program, specific to Hamilton, was approved by voters at Annual Town Meeting in 2009, signed by Gov. Deval Patrick in 2010 and then .

The program was the first of its kind on Massachusetts that gave the local Board of Assessors the ability to lower tax bills for long term residents who live in their own homes. Applicants must have lived in Hamilton for 10 years or more and the value of their home must be , or less. This year that is about $430,000.

Single people qualify if they earn $33,000 or less per year, while married couples qualify if the earn $49,500 or less.

The deadline to apply is Jan. 31 at 4:30 p.m.

The bills can be lowered by an amount up to 10 percent of the applicant’s income, but no more than half the tax bill.

Last year, in the first year, 48 applications were received and 41 applications were granted, according to Director of Assessors Tina Zelano. The total amount granted through the program has not year been determined, Zelano said. The amount comes from the town’s overlay account, a line that all towns have in budget to cover for abatements and similar costs. Last year, that was $175,000.

Attached to this story, as a PDF, is a copy of the application and some frequently asked questions that were prepared before the November 2010 ballot vote.