Colorado

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
March 13, 2023
2 replies
31 views

I am unable to advance on filing my mother's Colorado state return because of an error related to a Colorado Senior Housing Credit. "Was your primary residence exempt from property tax? " She lives with me. She does not pay property tax. Neither answer applicable to her. Yet I am forced to provide an answer - neither of which is correct. And in so doing I may jeopardize my own state filing when I answer this question as a Colorado homeowner. This crazy loop is just that... there must be a way to bypass this question when it does not apply. Help. Please. I am held hostage and cannot advance to complete her return. Thanks in advance.

Best answer by hbl3973

KJD22,

Your mother absolutely is eligible for the credit. No ifs ands or buts!

The Homestead property tax exemption, i.e. one of the two reasons a senior citizen would not qualify for that credit, is only available to senior citizen homeowners who have lived in their home for 10 years or more and have applied for the exemption with their county tax assessor's office. The application form with all the fine print is at Homestead Exemption Application .

The other exception to not qualifying is having the Disabled Veteran Exemption (also mentioned in that above application though applied for differently.) The disability must have been service related.

Kat11_2

Alumni - Champ

Deleted. See answer provided by @hbl3973 .

*** I am NOT a tax expert. I am a seasoned TurboTax user, and volunteer to provide assistance to TT users. Nothing I post is to be considered TAX ADVICE; I bear no legal liability for responses.***

hbl3973

Alumni - Champ

KJD22,

Your mother is eligible for the Senior Housing Credit. Indeed, even homeless senior citizens qualify. The correct answer is No.

The phrasing of that question parrots what the Colorado 104 income tax booklet says and has confused others, too. The credit is available to any senior citizen who doesn't have a property tax exemption available only to those who have owned and lived in their quarters for 10 years or more or have a disabled veterans property tax exemption.

If you are 65 or older and want to check on the credit for yourself and own your own place, look at your property tax bill for a deduction labeled Exemption or Homestead.

Kat11_2

Alumni - Champ

Thanks, @hbl3973 . I actually did research this before answering, but obviously came up with the wrong answer! I'll delete my response.

*** I am NOT a tax expert. I am a seasoned TurboTax user, and volunteer to provide assistance to TT users. Nothing I post is to be considered TAX ADVICE; I bear no legal liability for responses.***

hbl3973

Alumni - Champ

No prob. I've been a Colorado VITA and AARP Tax-Aide this season volunteering 6 days a week so am steeped in the details that particular credit! Of course we have to use TaxSlayer for those programs. My wife calls herself a tax widow but rather likes it as I'm retired and not underfoot much of the day for a few months 🙂