You Might Be Eligible for a Property Tax Reduction!

Thousands of homeowners in Seattle and King County face tremendous challenges in terms of staying in their homes. Inflation, rising property taxes due to the passage of voter-approved levies, and our red-hot housing market are adding to this pressure just as pandemic-related programs regarding evictions and postponed mortgage payments are ending.

Click above to hear homeowner Joseph Siu as well as King County Assessor John Wilson, WA Homeownership Resource Center director Denise Rodriguez, and Urban League VP of Housing & Financial Empowerment Linda Taylor discuss help for homeowners struggling with property tax payments on City Inside/Out: Homeowner Help, with Brian Callanan (Seattle Channel, 29:20).

King County administers a state-approved program to provide property tax relief to qualified older homeowners, homeowners with disabilities, and veterans. These programs made a huge difference to Bothell area homeowner, Joseph Siu. He qualified for a property tax exemption that saves him $500 a month in tax payments.

This relief is helping Siu stay in his home and make ends meet. “It was between whether you have food on the table, or if you have to skip a meal,” Siu told the Seattle Channel recently. “This (exemption program) is one way we can stop people from losing their homes.”

King County Assessor John Wilson knows how crucial it is to provide this tax relief program and help homeowners age in place in the home and community they love. “No senior should be taxed out of their home just because of rising property values and possibly taxes,” said Wilson. “That’s why we want to get as many qualified seniors enrolled as we can. It’s only fair.”

To qualify for 2022 property tax relief, you will need to meet the following criteria:

Age/Disability

• Born in 1960 or earlier, or
• Disabled and unable to work in 2021 or earlier, or
• A veteran of the armed forces of the United States with a service-connected evaluation of 80 percent or entitled to and receiving compensation from the United States Department of Veterans’ Affairs at the 100 percent rate because you are unemployable due to your service-connected disability.

Ownership/Occupancy

• Own the residence as of 12/31/2021 and
• Occupy as a primary residence six months of 2021

Income (earned in 2021)

• Annual household income under the threshold of $58,423, including Social Security and other sources (RCW 84.36.383(5))

King County has made it easier and faster to apply for this program. You can apply online here (Taxrelief.kingcounty.gov).To get more information or assistance with your online application, you can e-mail exemptions.assessments@kingcounty.gov or call 206-296-3920. You can also print an application from the same website if you prefer to mail the application with the associated documentation.

Applications may take several months to process and will not impact taxes due by the October 31, 2022 deadline. Please plan to pay taxes due and note that if you are approved for an exemption for the current year’s taxes, you will receive a refund for any amount of overpayment once the exemption is approved.