SENATE BILL NO. 424
INTRODUCED BY V. COCCHIARELLA
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT EXPANDING THE HOUSEHOLD INCOME THRESHOLD FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR THE ELDERLY HOMEOWNER AND RENTER PROPERTY TAX CREDIT; PHASING OUT THE CREDIT FOR CLAIMANTS WHOSE INCOME IS $35,000 OR MORE; PROVIDING THAT THE CREDIT MAY NOT BE CLAIMED BY A PERSON WHOSE HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS $45,000 OR MORE; AMENDING SECTIONS 15-30-171, 15-30-172, AND 15-30-176, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE AND A RETROACTIVE APPLICABILITY DATE."
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
SECTION 1. SECTION 15-30-171, MCA, IS AMENDED TO READ:
"15-30-171. Residential property tax credit for elderly -- definitions. As used in 15-30-171 through 15-30-179, the following definitions apply:
(1) "Claim period" means the tax year for individuals required to file Montana individual income tax returns and the calendar year for individuals not required to file returns.
(2) "Claimant" means a person who is eligible to file a claim under 15-30-172.
(3) "Department" means the department of revenue.
(4) "Gross household income" means all income received by all individuals of a household while they are members of the household.
(5) "Gross rent" means the total rent in cash or its equivalent actually paid during the claim period by the renter or lessee for the right of occupancy of the homestead pursuant to an arm's-length transaction with the landlord.
(6) "Homestead" means:
(a) a single-family dwelling or unit of a multiple-unit dwelling that is subject to property taxes in Montana and as much of the surrounding land, but not in excess of 1 acre, as is reasonably necessary for its use as a dwelling; or
(b) a single-family dwelling or unit of a multiple-unit dwelling that is rented from a county or municipal housing authority as provided in Title 7, chapter 15.
(7) "Household" means an association of persons who live in the same dwelling, sharing its furnishings, facilities, accommodations, and expenses. The term does not include bona fide lessees, tenants, or roomers and boarders on contract.
(8) "Household income" means the amount obtained by subtracting $6,300 from gross household income.
(9) "Income" means federal adjusted gross income, without regard to loss, as that quantity is defined in the Internal
Revenue Code of the United States, plus all nontaxable the following income to the extent it was not included in
determining federal adjusted gross income, including but not limited to:
(a) the gross amount of any pension or annuity, including Railroad Retirement Act benefits and veterans' disability benefits;
(b) the amount of capital gains excluded from adjusted gross income;
(c) alimony;
(d) support money;
(e) nontaxable strike benefits;
(f) cash public assistance and relief;
(g) payments and interest on federal, state, county, and municipal bonds; and
(h) all payments received under federal social security except social security income paid directly to a nursing home; and
(i) proceeds from the sale or other transfer of a capital asset, the gain on which was not recognized, remaining after subtracting the following:
(A) the property's adjusted basis;
(B) payment of any indebtedness encumbering the property; and
(C) the costs of sale.
(10) "Property tax billed" means taxes levied against the homestead, including special assessments and fees but excluding penalties or interest during the claim period.
(11) "Rent-equivalent tax paid" means 15% of the gross rent."
Section 2. Section 15-30-172, MCA, is amended to read:
"15-30-172. Residential property tax credit for elderly -- eligibility. (1) In order to be eligible to make a claim under 15-30-171 through 15-30-179, an individual:
(a) must have reached age 62 or older during the claim period for which relief is sought;
(b) must have resided in Montana for at least 9 months of that period;
(c) must have occupied one or more dwellings in Montana as an owner, renter, or lessee for at least 6 months of the claim period; and
(d) must have less than $35,000 $45,000 of gross household income.
(2) A person is not disqualified as a claimant if the person changes residences during the claim period, provided that the person occupies one or more dwellings in Montana as an owner, renter, or lessee for at least 6 months during the claim period."
Section 3. Section 15-30-176, MCA, is amended to read:
"15-30-176. Residential property tax credit for elderly -- computation of relief. The amount of the tax credit granted under the provisions of 15-30-171 through 15-30-179 is computed as follows:
(1) In the case of a claimant who owns the homestead for which a claim is made, the credit is the amount of property tax billed less the deduction specified in subsection (4).
(2) In the case of a claimant who rents the homestead for which a claim is made, the credit is the amount of rent-equivalent tax paid less the deduction specified in subsection (4).
(3) In the case of a claimant who both owns and rents the homestead for which a claim is made, the credit is:
(a) the amount of property tax billed on the owned portion of the homestead less the deduction specified in subsection (4); plus
(b) the amount of rent-equivalent tax paid on the rented portion of the homestead less the deduction specified in subsection (4).
(4) Property tax billed and rent-equivalent tax paid are reduced according to the following schedule:
Household income Amount of reduction
$ 0-999 $0
1,000-1,999 $0
2,000-2,999 the product of .006 times the household income
3,000-3,999 the product of .016 times the household income
4,000-4,999 the product of .024 times the household income
5,000-5,999 the product of .028 times the household income
6,000-6,999 the product of .032 times the household income
7,000-7,999 the product of .035 times the household income
8,000-8,999 the product of .039 times the household income
9,000-9,999 the product of .042 times the household income
10,000-10,999 the product of .045 times the household income
11,000-11,999 the product of .048 times the household income
12,000 & over the product of .050 times the household income
(5) For a claimant whose household income is $35,000 or more but less than $45,000, the amount of the credit is equal to the credit calculated under this section multiplied by the decimal equivalent of a percentage figure according to the following table:
Gross household income Percentage of credit allowed
$35,000-37,500 80% 40%
37,501-40,000 60% 30%
40,001-42,500 40% 20%
42,501-44,999 20% 10%
45,000 or more 0%
(6) The credit granted may not exceed $1,000."
NEW SECTION. Section 4. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.
NEW SECTION. Section 5. Retroactive applicability. [This act] applies retroactively, within the meaning of 1-2-109, to tax years beginning after December 31, 1998.
- END -
Latest Version of SB 424 (SB0424.02)
Processed for the Web on March 25, 1999 (10:27AM)
New language in a bill appears underlined, deleted material appears stricken.
Sponsor names are handwritten on introduced bills, hence do not appear on the bill until it is reprinted. See the status of the bill for the bill's primary sponsor.
Status of this Bill | 1999 Session | Leg. Branch Home
This bill in WP 5.1 | All versions of all bills in WP 5.1
Prepared by Montana Legislative Services
(406)444-3064