Final version of the DE property tax senior discount (health insurance, homes)

[Mary2014]

Attached is the link to read the final approved and signed version of the DE property tax senior discount.


http://delcode.delaware.gov/sessionl...49/chp071a.pdf


Highlights -


The property tax discount for seniors is still 50% of the school tax portion, up to $500- which ever is less.


If you move to DE as a principal residence after 12/31/2012 and prior to 12/31/17 you are eligible for the discount after living here for 3 years.


If you move to DE after 12/31/17 the 10 year residency rule applies.


The final bill was not signed until 7/17/2017 and is effective as of 1/1/2018.

[NJBoy3]

Thanks Mary. It is good to see that current residents will be grandfathered in.

[EnjoyEveryDay]

Thanks for posting Mary!

Hadn't seen it, and the final version changed significantly since previously reported on these threads.

[nuts2uiam]

Interesting. In another thread I copied and pasted the law that was sponsored by K. Williams with the same detail date wise but yours has some additional "qualifying" information. I am going to have to call and get a ruling on this for myself, as DH and I have the time frame covered as we are 4 years this past March, but we will only conform to the age in 2018. I will update this on Monday.

[synthnut]

If I move to DE by the end of the year 2017, and live there for 3 years,do I qualify ?...Thanks, Jim

[rothbear]

Thank you very much for the info, Mary! At least those who are already here get a break. That way at least everybody knows about it up front and the rules aren't changed in mid-stream. Must have been a lot of emails and letters going out to the representatives.

[synthnut]

Never mind .......I see that I have to be in DE for at least 3 yrs prior .....Wish I had known this was coming along ...I would have moved a lot quicker ....Such is life .....Jim

[nuts2uiam]

Originally Posted by synthnut

Never mind .......I see that I have to be in DE for at least 3 yrs prior .....Wish I had known this was coming along ...I would have moved a lot quicker ....Such is life .....Jim

But keep this in mind. It is up to $500, and while a nice bennie, for me that would not make or break my decision.

[Mary2014]

Originally Posted by synthnut

Never mind .......I see that I have to be in DE for at least 3 yrs prior .....Wish I had known this was coming along ...I would have moved a lot quicker ....Such is life .....Jim

Jim,


The way I read it if you establish DE as your primary residence on or before 12/31/2017 , in 3 years time you can apply for the senior discount as long as you are 65 or older by June 30th of the year in which you apply for the discount.


If you establish DE as your primary residence on 1/1/2018 or later you must wait 10 years to apply for the senior discount.


Establishing DE as your primary residence is important, because, the discount does not apply to second homes or living in DE on a temporary basis. The application for the discount requires a copy of your DE driver's license (assuming you have a driver's license.) If DE is your primary residence you are required to get a DE license within 60 days and it is the easiest way to document that DE is your primary residence.


In the year you first become eligible you have to submit an application on or before April 30th of that year and must be 65 or older by June 30th of that year. The discount applies to that particular residence. If you move elsewhere in DE at a future date you have to reapply for a discount for the new residence in DE.


If you print out a copy of the application it will give you more information. (i.e jointly owned residence and only one owner is over 65.)

[synthnut]

Coming to DE from NY , the $500 max will NOT deture me from moving to DE ....$500 is a help , but isn't that much to worry about after paying over $12,000 a year in NY , and supporting every special interest group , and then adding Obamanation Care Health Insurance payments for my wife , it's really not much of a deterant .... When I do the figures , I should be in a home that is equally as nice as the one I'm in , and living better, and closer to the beach which is my location of choice , I should be able to save a minimum of $15,000 a year, and have an additional $150,000 in the bank ...Nothing to sneeze at !! .....The most important thing in this scenario is that my family will have a much better quality of life ......This means more to me than money can match .... I look forward to going back to life being simple again , like it USE TO BE in NY ... I'm not coming to DE looking to change DE ...I'm looking for DE to change ME !!!....Jim