HB1267 (2008) Detail

Allowing municipalities to adopt a non-wartime veterans' property tax credit.


HB 1267 – AS INTRODUCED

2008 SESSION

08-2450

10/09

HOUSE BILL 1267

AN ACT allowing municipalities to adopt a non-wartime veterans’ property tax credit.

SPONSORS: Rep. Lawrence, Hills 27

COMMITTEE: Municipal and County Government

ANALYSIS

This bill enables towns and cities to adopt a non-wartime veterans’ property tax credit for honorably discharged veterans who are not eligible for the current veterans’ property tax credit or the tax credit for service-connected total disability.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

08-2450

10/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eight

AN ACT allowing municipalities to adopt a non-wartime veterans’ property tax credit.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Section; Non-Wartime Veterans’ Property Tax Credit. Amend RSA 72 by inserting after section 28-a the following new section:

72:28-b Non-Wartime Veterans’ Property Tax Credit.

I. A town or city may adopt or modify the non-wartime veterans’ property tax credit granted under this section by the procedure in RSA 72:27-a.

II. The non-wartime veterans’ tax credit shall be subtracted each year from the property tax on the qualifying veteran’s residential property. The credit adopted by the town or city shall be an amount from $50 up to $500, but which shall not exceed the amount granted to veterans of qualifying wars or armed conflicts under RSA 72:28. A person shall qualify for the non-wartime veterans’ tax credit if the applicant is:

(a) A resident of this state who served not less than 90 days in the armed forces of the United States and was honorably discharged or an officer honorably separated from service, or the spouse or surviving spouse of such resident; and

(b) Is not eligible for and is not receiving a credit under RSA 72:28 or RSA 72:35.

III. The term “residential real estate’’ as used in this section shall mean the same as defined in RSA 72:29. All applications made under this section shall be subject to the provisions of RSA 72:33 and RSA 72:34.

IV. No credit shall be allowed under paragraph II unless the person applying therefor:

(a) Had in the calendar year preceding April 1 a net income from all sources, or if married, a combined net income from all sources, of not more than the respective amount determined by the city or town. Under no circumstances shall the amount determined by the city or town be less than 3 times the most recent applicable federal poverty guidelines. The net income shall be determined by deducting from all moneys received, from any source including social security or pension payments, the amount of any of the following or the sum thereof:

(1) Life insurance paid on the death of an insured.

(2) Expenses and costs incurred in the course of conducting a business enterprise.

(3) Proceeds from the sale of assets.

(b) Owns net assets not in excess of the amount determined by the city or town, excluding the value of the person’s actual residence and the land upon which it is located up to the greater of 2 acres or the minimum single family residential lot size specified in the local zoning ordinance. The amount determined by the city or town shall not be less than $35,000 or, if married, combined net assets in such greater amount as may be determined by the town or city. “Net assets’’ means the value of all assets, tangible and intangible, minus the value of any good faith encumbrances. “Residence’’ means the housing unit, and related structures such as an unattached garage or woodshed, which is the person’s principal home, and which the person in good faith regards as home to the exclusion of any other places where the person may temporarily live. “Residence’’ shall exclude attached dwelling units and unattached structures used or intended for commercial or other nonresidential purposes.

V. Additional requirements for a credit under paragraph II shall be that the property is:

(a) Owned by the resident;

(b) Owned by a resident jointly or in common with the resident’s spouse, either of whom meets the requirements for the credit claimed;

(c) Owned by a resident jointly or in common with a person not the resident’s spouse, if the resident meets the applicable requirements for the credit claimed;

(d) Owned by a resident, or the resident’s spouse, either of whom meets the requirements for the credit claimed, and when they have been married to each other for at least 5 consecutive years.

2 Non-Wartime Veteran’s Property Tax Credit; Adoption Procedure; Reference Added. Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 72:27-a, I to read as follows:

I. Any town or city may adopt the provisions of RSA 72:28, RSA 72:28-b, RSA 72:29-a, RSA 72:35, RSA 72:37, RSA 72:37-b, RSA 72:38-b, RSA 72:39-a, RSA 72:62, RSA 72:66, or RSA 72:70 in the following manner:

3 Definitions; References Added. Amend RSA 72:29, VI to read as follows:

VI. For purposes of RSA 72:28, 28-b, 29-a, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36-a, 37, 37-a, 37-b, 38-a, 38-b, 39-a, 62, 66, and 70, the ownership of real estate, as expressed by such words as “owner,” “owned,” or “own,” shall include those who have equitable title or the beneficial interest for life in the subject property.

4 Property Taxation; Application Procedure; Reference Added. Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 72:33, I to read as follows:

I. No person shall be entitled to the exemptions or tax credits provided by RSA 72:28, 28-b, 29-a, 30, 31, 32, 35, 36-a, 37, 37-a, 37-b, 38-b, 39-b, 62, 66, and 70 unless the person has filed with the selectmen or assessors, by April 15 preceding the setting of the tax rate, a permanent application therefor, signed under penalty of perjury, on a form approved and provided by the commissioner of revenue administration, showing that the applicant is the true and lawful owner of the property on which the exemption or tax credit is claimed and that the applicant was duly qualified upon April 1 of the year in which the exemption or tax credit is first claimed, or, in the case of financial qualifications, that the applicant is duly qualified at the time of application. The form shall include the following and such other information deemed necessary by the commissioner:

5 Appeals; Reference Added. Amend RSA 72:34-a to read as follows:

72:34-a Appeal From Refusal to Grant Exemption, Deferral, or Tax Credit. Whenever the selectmen or assessors refuse to grant an applicant an exemption, deferral, or tax credit to which the applicant may be entitled under the provisions of RSA 72:23, 23-d, 23-e, 23-f, 23-g, 23-h, 23-i, 23-j, 23-k, 28, 28-b, 29-a, 30, 31, 32, 35, 36-a, 37, 37-a, 37-b, 38-a, 38-b, 39-a, 39-b, 41, 42, 62, 66, or 70 the applicant may appeal in writing, on or before September 1 following the date of notice of tax under RSA 72:1-d, to the board of tax and land appeals or the superior court, which may order an exemption, deferral, or tax credit, or an abatement if a tax has been assessed.

6 Interpretation by Commissioner of Revenue Administration. Amend RSA 72:36, I to read as follows:

I. The commissioner’s interpretation of RSA 72:28, 72:28-b, 72:29, 72:29-a, 72:30, 72:31, 72:32, 72:33, 72:34, 72:34-a, 72:35, 72:36-a, 72:37, 72:37-a, 72:37-b, 72:38-a, 72:38-b, 72:39-a, 72:39-b, 72:41, 72:62, 72:66, and 72:70; and

7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect April 1, 2008.