Kansas Senator, Caryn Tyson says the 2023 Legislative Session is off to a very fast start. One issue facing the legislators is removing state income tax on social security and increasing standard deductions on inflation. Tyson says last year there were several changes to tax law, including a first step in a property tax freeze for low income seniors and disabled veterans. There are restrictions on property taxes in the Kansas Constitution so the program is a rebate program administered by the Kansas Department of Revenue. In order to qualify for the ‘freeze’ a household annual income must be $50,000 or below, a homeowner must be 65 years or older, and the value of the home cannot be above $350,000. A disabled veteran must be at least 50% disabled.
Property taxes are still paid to the county and then a homeowner may apply to the Department of Revenue for a refund on their increase, resulting in a freeze. Applications must be submitted by April 18th. Tyson says the legislature will take another look at the program this year in an attempt to allow more seniors to qualify.
