Low-income property tax credit applications available

Low-income homeowners on Oahu have until Sept. 30 to apply for a property tax credit available each year from the city.

To be eligible, all titleholders must live on the property, receive a home exemption, not own any other property and collectively gross no more than $60,000 in income annually.

Those who qualify will receive a tax credit equal to the amount of 2019 property taxes owed that exceeds 3% of the titleholders’ combined annual income.

So a family that grosses $25,000 annually and has a $2,500 tax bill would receive a tax credit of $1,750 that can be applied to the 2020-21 tax year. That’s because 3% of total income would be $750, and subtracting that amount from the tax bill of $2,500 gives $1,750.

The tax credits are not renewed automatically, so property owners need to apply annually.

Applications are available at all Oahu satellite city halls; the city Treasury Division, Room 115, at Honolulu Hale, 530 S. King St.; and the Tax Relief Section, Room 505, at 715 S. King St.

The application is also available online at the city-county website at www.honolulu.gov.

An informational brochure about the tax credit can be found on the website.

Applicants will be notified in writing by Dec. 31 if they are denied, and they will have a right to appeal.

Call the Real Property Tax Relief Office at 768-3205 for more information.