Harford County Senior Citizens and Veterans Tax Credit for Military Retirees

Harford County Code section 123-46.5 uses Tax-Property Article section 9-258 for, among others, a retired member of the uniformed services, the military reserves, or the National Guard who is at least 65, and that retiree's surviving spouse who is at least 65 and has not remarried. The credit is 20% of the county property tax. The Treasurer's rules apply it to the county and highway portions of the bill after all other county credits. The home's assessed value has to be $600,000 or less when the owner first applies, and the credit can be received for no more than 20 years in all. Only one 20% credit is allowed on a property, however many owners or routes qualify. Applications are taken from January 15 to April 1 for the tax year starting July 1, on the county's form, and a new application or renewal is needed every year. The applicant has to be eligible by June 30 of the year of application. Proof can be a DD-214, a retired ID card (DD Form 2), an NGB Form 22, or the other documents the rules list. The credit ends at the owner's death unless a surviving spouse or heir qualifies independently and applies the same year, and it ends on a transfer of the property. The Treasurer's eligibility decision is final under the rules.