Sun City Community Assistance Network office 10195 W. Coggins Drive Sun City, AZ
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By Hugh Duncan
Certain disabled persons are eligible for a tax break on the property taxes they pay on their residence. For purposes of this property tax exemption, a person is “totally and permanently disabled if the person is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity, for pay or profit, by reason of any physical or mental impairment that is expected to last for a continuous period of 12 months or more.” (Arizona Constitution Article 9, Section 2.2)
There is no age restriction! This applies to all ages including seniors in their 80’s and 90’s. In other words, if you are unable to work for pay or profit because of physical or mental impairment, you are totally and permanently disabled for purposes of this property tax exemption.
Certification
Many of us know an elderly friend who has Parkinson’s, dementia, MS, failing eyesight or any one of the many chronic illnesses associated with aging. They may be eligible for this property tax exemption. To qualify, a physician must sign a certificate of disability that includes a statement that “the applicant is unable to engage in substantial gainful activity and therefore is considered to be totally and permanently disabled as defined above”.
If a physician certifies you to be disabled as defined above and your annual income (excluding social security and veteran’s disability payments) is less than $33,037 if there are no minor children in the home, you are eligible for a significant reduction in you property taxes. Again, do not include Social Security when computing you annual income.
The disability exemption exempts $40,470 of the Limited Cash Value of your home with a corresponding reduction in annual property taxes. For instance, if the Limited Cash Value of your home is $100,000, the disability exemption would reduce that to $59,530 for tax purposes. This is a permanent exemption as long as the eligibility requirements are met. Renewal is not required.
If you think that you are eligible for this program, call the Maricopa County Assessor’s office (623-236-8093) located in the Sun City Community Assistance Network (Sun City CAN) office at 10195 W. Coggins Drive.
Editor’s Note: Hugh Duncan is Sun City Community Assistance Network board president.
