Introduced By: Senators Lenihan and Breene
Date Introduced : April 7, 1999
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 44-3 of the General Laws entitled "Property Subject to Taxation" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
{ADD 44-3-13.8. Exemption of persons over the age of 65 years in the Town of Exeter. -- ADD} {ADD (a) The Tax Assessor(s) shall grant upon a proper claim, a tax exemption in accordance with the schedule of exemptions provided in subsection (e) of this section, provided that "income" shall include the aggregate income of the person and all other persons residing with him or her; provided further that "income" shall be computed on a calendar year basis and shall include all income of every nature and description, whether or not taxable, and whether earned or unearned, and shall include, but not be limited to dividends, interest, gross net gains, gifts, pensions, all types of compensation, social security and veterans benefits. Only one (1) such exemption shall be granted to co-tenants, joint tenants or tenants by the entirety who are sixty-five years of age or older and occupy said property. ADD}
{ADD (b) The elderly tax exemption as provided herein, shall be provided annually upon timely application, to every qualified person who is a resident domiciary of the Town of Exeter of the age of sixty-five (65) or more years and has reached his or her 65th birthday by December 31st of the assessment year for which the exemption is sought, continuously residing in the Town of Exeter in a dwelling house or mobile home owned by him or her. At the time of making application, the applicant shall have been a resident domiciliary of the Town of Exeter for a continuous period of five (5) years ending with the date of assessment for the year for which the exemption is claimed and shall have owned and had title to his or her dwelling house for the same five (5) year period. Applications must be completed and filed on or before March 1st of the year for which the exemption is claimed and shall be signed by the applicant and notarized under the pains and penalties of perjury. ADD}
{ADD (c) The qualification of any applicant for the elderly tax exemption, as provided herein, shall be as follows: ADD}
{ADD (1) Age may be proven by furnishing to the Tax Assessor(s) either a birth certificate, certificate of citizenship, Baptismal certificate or certified affidavit, under the pains of perjury, of a third party, of a government issued ID card. ADD}
{ADD (2) Ownership may be established by furnishing the Tax Assessor(s) with the date of purchase and land evidence record of same. ADD}
{ADD (3) Legal domicile may be established by the production of a current voters registration card. ADD}
{ADD (4) Income and occupancy may be proven by incorporating such facts in a sworn application, under the pains and penalties of perjury, (the form of which shall be furnished by the assessor(s)) together with copies of all relevant Untied States and Rhode Island tax returns. ADD}
{ADD (5) Additionally, the assessor(s) may subject the exemption herein before provided to such verifications with respect to qualifications as he/she deems necessary or appropriate. ADD}
{ADD (6) No property shall be exempt from taxation which the assessor(s) has adjudged to have been conveyed to an applicant for the purpose of evading taxation. ADD}
{ADD (d) Any person receiving and/or entitled to a local property tax exemption or freeze on the effective date hereof, based upon age or disability may continue to claim one such exemption or remain on such frozen tax role as long as such person remains qualified therefore. Otherwise, the exemptions provided herein shall supersede and shall be in lieu of any local property tax freeze or exemption otherwise available due to age or disability. The exemptions provided herein shall, however, be in addition to any other exemption or exemptions to which such person shall be entitled. ADD}
{ADD (e) The following schedule shall be determinative of exemptions as provided by this section: ADD}
| {ADD Combined taxpayer | Individual proportionate | More than (1) qualified ADD} |
| {ADD income: | exemption on 100% of | individual residing at ADD} |
| {ADD assessed value: | dwelling, combined ADD} | |
| {ADD proportionate exemption ADD} | ||
| {ADD 100% of assessed value: ADD} | ||
| {ADD $6,000 | 50% | 60% ADD} |
| {ADD $8,000 | 45% | 55% ADD} |
| {ADD $10,000 | 40% | 50% ADD} |
| {ADD $12,000 | 35% | 45% ADD} |
| {ADD $14,000 | 30% | 40% ADD} |
| {ADD $16,000 | 25% | 35% ADD} |
| {ADD $18,000 | 20% | 30% ADD} |
| {ADD $20,000 | 15% | 25% ADD} |
| {ADD $22,000 | 10% | 20% ADD} |
| {ADD $24,000 | 5% | 15% ADD} |
| {ADD $26,000 | 10% ADD} |
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
