Idaho Extends Filing Deadlines
Income Tax
Gov. Brad Little on Monday extended the deadline for Idahoans to file their state income tax returns and to apply for property-tax relief. The deadline is now June 15, two months past the normal April 15 deadline. Tax returns filed by June 15 will have no interest or penalty charged. Taxpayers who already filed their returns and owe money to the state also have until June 15 to make payment, again without interest or penalty, Renee Eymann, spokeswoman for the Idaho Tax Commission, said by email.
The deadline to file federal income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service was pushed back last week from April 15 to July 15.
The June 15 deadline also applies to people who qualifies for Idaho’s property tax circuit breaker, deferral, and service-connected disabled-vetera
n benefit programs. For applications, contact your assessor’s office. You can visit the Ada County Assessor’s Office online or call (208) 287-7200 or visit it at 190 E. Front St., east of the Ada County Courthouse on the ground floor of the Civic Center Apartments building.
Here’s who qualifies for the three property-tax programs:
1. THE CIRCUIT BREAKER
The circuit breaker, officially the Property Tax Reduction program, can save you up to $1,320 on top of the homeowner’s exemption that all Idaho homeowners can receive on their primary residences.
You must have a 2019 income of no more than $31,280 after deducting non-reimbursed medical expenses, your house must have the homeowner’s exemption, and you must meet at least one of the following qualifications as of Jan. 1:
65 years or older
A widow/widower of any age
Blind
Fatherless or motherless child under the age of 18
Former prisoner of war or hostage
Disabled as recognized by the Social Security Administration, Railroad Retirement Board or Federal Civil Service, or Public Employee Retirement System
Veterans with 10% or more service-connected disability or who are getting a pension from Veteran’s Affairs for disability not connected to service
2. VETERANS PROPERTY TAX BENEFIT
This, too, can save you up to $1,320, and it has no income limit. You must be a veteran who is 100% service-connected disabled.
Surviving spouses can also use the benefit, though it cannot be transferred to a new property after the death of the qualifying veteran.
To be eligible, your house must have the homeowner’s exemption, and you must meet the following qualifications:
Recognition for a 100% service-connected disability by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as of Jan. 1
Own and occupy your home in Idaho as your primary residence before April 15. Mobile homes are fine.
The benefit is not automatically renewed year to year3.
PROPERTY TAX DEFERRAL
You can defer your taxes as long as you own your house if your 2019 income was $45,756 or less and you meet any of the eligibility requirements for the circuit breaker program above.Deferred taxes eventually must be paid back to the state with 6% interest. They must be repaid if any part of the property is sold, the title is transferred, the qualified claimant (or last qualified claimant) dies, the property is no longer the primary resident, or the Idaho State Tax Commission determines the property tax deferral was granted to a person or property that does not qualify.
