Tax break help available for senior citizens; upcoming sessions offered

Friday, February 2, 2018

BENTON, Mo. -- Local senior citizens may be eligible for a refund in their property and rent taxes. To know for sure, they can attend one of the free, upcoming help sessions offered in Scott County.

Individuals who are 65 or over or a widow over 60, receiving surviving spouse benefits, may qualify for the Senior Citizens Circuit Breaker Tax Credit Program.

"I take this to heart," said Scott County Collector Mark Hensley about the program. "Our senior citizens are the ones who regularly pay their bills and take care of their business and, generally, they're the ones who are on a fixed income. This program is there, and it helps our senior citizens get some tax relief."

Hensley said this is the fourth year his office has teamed up with Donna Taylor of Financial Fitness Services in Sikeston to offer free assistance to those 60 and older. Taylor helps senior citizens fill out the Missouri property tax and rent tax credit forms.

"We try every single year to let more people know, and there are still a lot of people who don't know about it," Taylor said.

The tax break program can help senior citizens who typically live on fixed incomes, she said.

"This is a property tax or rent credit that the state of Missouri provides to senior citizens and also to disabled persons," Taylor said. "It's a little money that can come back to them."

Taylor will be available to assist senior citizens from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Feb. 7 in the collector's office at the Scott County Courthouse in Benton and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 13 and 20 at the county collector's office in Sikeston, which is next to the license bureau.

"Mark has graciously let us use his office space in Benton and Sikeston to provide a place to actually fill out the forms for folks and help them get that refund back, which is an important part of a low-income family," Taylor said.

Taylor said she will also offer the free assistance at Shining Light in Charleston from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Feb. 13 and Gideon City Hall from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Feb. 15.

"Senior citizens worked all of their lives, and property taxes go on," Hensley said. "They're on a fixed income on Social Security or whatever little retirement they have, this program really helps them."

Individuals who meet with Taylor should bring a proof of income for 2017, such as a statement from Social Security on the benefits they received last year and any other pensions or incomes, Taylor said.

Home owners need to bring their paid 2017 real estate tax receipts for their county and city taxes.

Those who rent a home need to bring a signed statement from their landlord giving the amount of rent paid in 2017. They also need the landlord's name, address, telephone number and the last four digits of his or her Social Security number or the tax identification number for the landlord's rental business.

"Some people are still required to file a 1040 or 1040-EZ tax form, and if they are, whoever files that will also be including the Missouri Property/Rent Tax Credit Claims in it," Taylor noted.

Individuals who've never filed the tax credit claim who do so this year and qualify for it, they can go back another three years for refunds, Taylor said.

"I like this time of year because we're getting money back," Taylor said. "Normally, I'm helping people pay bills and with difficulties with their finances. This time of year, we get to help them get money, and that's just awesome."

For more information, contact Hensley's office or Taylor at 573-212-2459 or 888-471-9737.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: