Howard County senior citizens often don?t know they are eligible for certain tax credits, so the County Council wants to ask tax preparers to clue them in.
“It?s part of our information job to let them know what they can apply for,” County Council Chairman Calvin Ball, D-District 2, said.
Ball and Council Member Courtney Watson, D-District 1, have submitted a resolution requesting income tax preparers to inform their Howard County clients of property tax credits for which they qualify, including the new senior tax cut.
The task force that recommended this outreach looked for any way to educate residents. Although tax preparers typically deal just with income tax rather than property tax, this served as another outlet for education.
The County Council would send the request to the state Board for Public Accountancy, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Accreditation Council for Accounting and Taxation and Howard County Chamber of Commerce.
“I am hopeful tax preparers will welcome the opportunity to help their clients,” Ball said.
A second measure Ball submitted seeks to reach out to seniors through a publicity plan, another recommendation from the task force. The task force, which presented initial findings earlier this month, was charged with examining a senior tax credit?s financial impact on Howard County and with making recommendations to the County Council.
The bill directs the county?s Finance Director and Department of Citizens Services, or similar agencies, to carry out an education campaign.
“If we heard from 100 people, I don?t think there were two that knew what was out there,” task force Chairman Ted Meyerson said.
The outreach could be through the county?s senior centers, Meyerson said.
Ball?s measure also tweaks the eligibility requirements for the tax break.
Rather than have an income of no more than $75,000, seniors? income should not exceed 400 percent of the $54,000 federal poverty line.
The credit also would be applied after all other tax credits are granted, and include an asset test in line with that of the state?s Homeowner?s Tax Credit.
