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An Act To Enact the Senior Property Tax Reimbursement Act
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  36 MRSA c. 906  is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 906
SENIOR PROPERTY TAX REIMBURSEMENT ACT
§ 6171. Short title
This chapter may be known and cited as "the Senior Property Tax Reimbursement Act."
§ 6172. Definitions
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
 
1.  Claim.     "Claim" means a request for reimbursement under this chapter.
 
2.  Homestead.     "Homestead" means the owner-occupied principal dwelling, either real or personal property, owned by the taxpayer and up to 10 contiguous acres upon which it is located. If the homestead is located in a multi-unit building, the homestead is the portion of the building actually used as the principal dwelling and its percentage of the value of the common elements and of the value of the tax lot upon which it is built. The percentage is the value of the unit consisting of the homestead compared to the total value of the building exclusive of the common elements, if any.
 
3.  Household.     "Household" means a claimant and spouse and members of the household for whom the claimant is entitled to claim an exemption as dependents under Part 8 for the year for which reimbursement is requested.
 
4.  Liquid asset.     "Liquid asset" means something of value available to an individual that can be converted to cash in 3 months or less and includes bank accounts, certificates of deposit, money market or mutual funds, life insurance policies, stocks and bonds, lump-sum payments, inheritances and funds from a home equity conversion mortgage that are in the individual's possession whether they are in cash or have been converted to another form.
 
5.  Retirement age.     "Retirement age" has the same meaning as under 42 United States Code, Section 416(l).
 
6.  Taxes.     "Taxes" means ad valorem taxes and assessments on a homestead.
 
7.  Taxpayer.     "Taxpayer" means an individual who has filed a claim for reimbursement under this chapter or 2 or more individuals who have jointly filed a claim for reimbursement under this chapter.
§ 6173. Claim is personal
The right to file a claim for reimbursement under this chapter is personal to the taxpayer and does not survive the taxpayer's death, but the right may be exercised on behalf of a taxpayer by the taxpayer's legal guardian or attorney-in-fact. If a taxpayer dies after having filed a timely claim, the amount of the reimbursement must be disbursed to another member of the household as determined by the assessor.
If the taxpayer was the only member of a household, the reimbursement may be paid to the taxpayer's personal representative, but if one is not appointed within 2 years of the filing of the claim, the amount of the reimbursement reverts to the State.
§ 6174. Reimbursement to be paid from the General Fund
The amount of a reimbursement certified by the assessor under section 6175 must be paid to the taxpayer from the General Fund. Interest is not allowed on any payment made to a taxpayer pursuant to this chapter.
§ 6175. Procedure for reimbursement
Within 30 days of receiving a claim under section 6176, the assessor shall determine if a taxpayer is eligible for reimbursement and the amount of the taxes to be reimbursed under section 6177 and shall certify that amount to the Treasurer of the State who shall make payment to the taxpayer on or before the 15th day of the following month.
§ 6176. Filing a claim; eligibility standards
 
1.  Eligibility.     A taxpayer is eligible for reimbursement under this chapter if:
 
A.  The taxpayer reaches retirement age or is older than retirement age on April 1st of the year in which the claim is filed;
 
B.  The taxpayer's household income, as defined in section 5219-KK, subsection 1, paragraph D, was less than $40,000 for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which the claim is filed;
 
C.  The taxpayer, if filing individually, has liquid assets of less than $50,000 or, in the case of 2 or more individuals filing a claim jointly, all the individuals together have liquid assets of less than $75,000; and
 
D.  The taxpayer qualifies for and receives a homestead exemption under chapter 105, subchapter 4-B for the homestead for which a claim is made.
 
2.  Filing claim.     An individual may annually file a claim for reimbursement under this chapter with the bureau on or after August 1st but no later than April 1st of the following year. Claims must be filed on a form approved by the assessor and include all information requested by the assessor.
§ 6177. Reimbursement amount
A taxpayer determined eligible for reimbursement under this chapter must receive reimbursement for the difference between the taxes assessed in the year the taxpayer reached retirement age and the taxes assessed in the year for which a claim is filed, except that claims of less than $5 may not be granted.
§ 6178. One claim
Only one taxpayer per homestead per year is entitled to reimbursement under this chapter.
§ 6179. Administration
The assessor shall make available forms with instructions for individuals to claim reimbursement under this chapter. A claim must be in the form prescribed by the assessor and must require a signature by the individual claiming reimbursement. The assessor shall also provide a paperless option for filing an application under this chapter.
§ 6180. Audit
If, on the audit of any claim filed under this chapter, the assessor determines the amount of reimbursement to have been incorrectly determined, the assessor shall redetermine the claim and shall notify the taxpayer of the redetermination and the reasons for it. The redetermination is reviewable in accordance with section 151. If the claim has been paid, the amount paid in excess of that legally due is subject to interest at the rate determined pursuant to section 186. The assessor may credit amounts payable to a taxpayer under this chapter against a liability of that taxpayer pursuant to this section.
§ 6181. Denial of claim
 
1.  Fraudulent claim.     If the assessor determines that a claim under this chapter is excessive and was filed with fraudulent intent, the claim must be disallowed in full. If the claim has been paid, the amount paid may be recovered by assessment, collection and enforcement in the manner provided in chapter 7. A person who, with fraudulent intent, files or prepares an excessive claim, assists in the preparation or filing of an excessive claim or supplies information in support of an excessive claim commits a Class E crime.
 
2.  Negligent claim.     If the assessor determines that a claim under this chapter is excessive and was negligently prepared, the amount claimed in excess of that legally due plus 10% of the corrected claim must be disallowed. If the claim has been paid, the amount disallowed may be recovered by assessment, collection and enforcement in the manner provided in chapter 7.
 
3.  Unpaid liability.     A person who has an unpaid liability arising from this section and the spouse of that person are disqualified from receiving reimbursement under this chapter.
§ 6182. Appeal
A denial in whole or in part of relief claimed under this chapter may be appealed in accordance with section 151.
§ 6183. Disqualification of claim
If the assessor finds that the taxpayer received title to the homestead primarily for the purpose of receiving reimbursement under this chapter, the claim is disqualified.
§ 6184. Extension of time for filing claim
In case of sickness, absence or other disability, or if, in the judgment of the assessor, good cause exists, the assessor may extend, for a period not to exceed 2 months, the time for filing a claim. A request for an extension may be submitted at any time during the 2-month extension period.
 
SUMMARY
This bill provides state reimbursement to eligible individuals for the portion of property taxes on their homesteads for a tax year that exceeds the property taxes for the year in which they reached retirement age as defined under the federal Social Security Act. For an individual to be eligible, the individual must be receiving a homestead exemption, have a household income of less than $40,000 and, if filing individually, have liquid assets of less than $50,000 or, if household members are filing jointly, have liquid assets of less than $75,000.