Property Owners: your Homestead, Veteran or Senior Credits most likely expire in 2017!!!

Since when does this expire?
It never used to.
Crikey, more paperwork to get lost in the system and hoops to jump thru!

In STT, the Lt. Governor's/Tax Accessors Office is on 2nd floor, up the road behind Paragon Medical

Alana, I'm not sure exactly when this went into effect but it was sometime this year, as I did get the credit on my 2016 bill.

I don't know if the public was notified of this back when the credit amounts increased (I think homestead used to be $250 and went up to $400 a couple of years ago)

If the public was NOT notified, most likely it was a strategy by the government to get more tax funds, because those who have their tax escrowed thru their mortgage company never see their bill so would not know otherwise about the expiration in 2017. And therefore will now owe a tax bill!

ps If I remember correctly (I wrote it down but don't have it with me) the credits are only good for 5 years now and people must reapply every 5 years.

I think they used to be good for 10 years.

I bought my condo in 2008 and applied for the credits then, and I have gotten the credits every year since then.

I just call the tax accessor's office (340) 776-8505 STT.
The lady I spoke with said it's not yet implemented but would happen sometime in 2017. It is to effect ALL property tax bills for homeowners in order to cut down on fraud.

I tried to look up my records on the link provided by islandjoan and got zip.
When I asked why I couldn't access my records thru a search, she said to ONLY put in the parcel number and absolutely NOTHING else.
That worked.

I've had the homestead exemption on my present home that I purchased in
2003 and never had to renew it previously.

Everyone should request and have a copy of your tax bills, even if you have a mortgage. I have a mortgage but pay my own property tax and homeowners insurance bills. They can make mistakes.
The onus is on the property owner to prove payment.

An attorney friend told me a horror story about a lady who's bank had not made proper payments and when the bank changed ownership, her payment records could not be found. Of course, this was discovered when she was in the midst of selling her home and needed proof of payment.

Thanks for checking for the details, Alana!!

And thanks for the info about putting the parcel number. Mine showed up without that info, guess it depends on how they entered the account in the system?

Even though the lady you spoke to said it will be implemented sometime in 2017, the person I met with in the LT Gov office said that people need to reapply before the end of this year.

Everyone should request and have a copy of your tax bills, even if you have a mortgage. I have a mortgage but pay my own property tax and homeowners insurance bills. They can make mistakes.
The onus is on the property owner to prove payment.

The bank payment issue is not unique to the VI, happens with banks all over. The advise is good anywhere and if you can avoid the banks paying the taxes and insurance then do so. Pay on-line yourself, get a receipt, done. Even the on-line tax records can be screwy. Mine shows some sort of payment owed several years back before I bought the place. Doesn't show a corresponding payment or balance due but mysteriously the later balances show as zero. It was all cleared during the purchase process but the online records remain. Probably just some sort of data entry oversight.

Thanks for checking for the details, Alana!!

And thanks for the info about putting the parcel number. Mine showed up without that info, guess it depends on how they entered the account in the system?

Even though the lady you spoke to said it will be implemented sometime in 2017, the person I met with in the LT Gov office said that people need to reapply before the end of this year.

I was told that they hadn't finalized the details so when they did, the information would appear on their website and be announced in local newspapers, media.
I wasn't told about reapplying before the end of year.
I'll have to call again and double check.

Alana, did you call again to double check about whether people have to reapply before the end of the year?

I just spoke to tax accessors office, again
They said program had not been implemented as yet.
They're looking at sometime next year and "No, I don't have to come in before the end of this year to renew my exemption."

Call your STX office and see if you get same information.

Thanks Alana

So I just called the Lt Gov office on STX. The lady said that they have extended the deadline, due to the fact that property owners had not been notified (as I thought)

So I asked when the deadline was extended to, and she did not know, and said "to be safe, you should reapply before the end of the year"

Jeeze!

One hand don know what the other one doing.

This type of thing makes my head want to explode!

LOL Alana!!!! I hear ya.

If I were you, or anyone for that matter, I would be safe and apply before the end of the year. Actually before the beginning of the extended government holiday season, which would mean to reapply before the end of next week.

To be safe!

(I reapplied last month)

(tu) I hear ya!

Good thing I checked, I don't even have this!

Yeah anyone who never applied for the credit(s) should do so, to save some $$.

If you live in the property you own, you are eligible.

I believe some are eligible for veterans, and homestead, and can get both.

Or senior, and homestead.

So apply for any of the credits that you fit the criteria for.

You don't get the exemption the same year you apply but the following year.

One used to be able to get all the exemptions you applied for, if qualified, but they now limit you to only one, I believe.

I had a friend in the past who had senior, veterans, homestead and I think disability so his bill was really low. No more tho.

Mapp's gotta have money for living at the Ritz, 4 Star accommodations when traveling for himself and his entourage, 1st Class air travel, new limo, new $100,000 plus cars and employ his numerous relatives who are qualified for their jobs.

(Too be fair, they did change the amount of exemptions one could apply for, before Mapp took office.)

who are qualified for their jobs. " Not "qualified for their jobs. I hope you meant. : )

No, I meant qualified for the exemption one is seeking.

No, I meant qualified for the exemption one is seeking.

"and employ his numerous relatives who are "qualified" for their jobs." ----are you actually saying they are qualified?

this has nothing related to an exemption.

Sorry you're right.
I was referring to topic of exemptions in that instance and not my sidetrack on Mapp and the word, in that case, would have been "unqualified" for their jobs.

This administration is rife with nepotism.