Homeowners in Montgomery County must apply by May 1 to get the county’s Income Tax Offset Credit (ITOC) they may have automatically received in previous years.
The state now requires every homeowner to apply for the Maryland Homestead Tax Credit before they may qualify for the county’s $692 ITOC, according to a release Tuesday from the county. Those who previously received the ITOC and who do not apply before May 1 will lose the credit and will be billed $692 on their July property tax bill.
They will not receive the credit until their application is processed, and then it would apply to future years.
According to the release, more than 80 thousand homeowners here have not yet applied for their credit.
Many people have reached out via email for help without success. MyMCM reached out to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) who said in part: “We will respond to these emails as soon as possible, but regrettably it may take up to three weeks for us to do so. Sending multiple emails may result in a more delayed response. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes and appreciate your patience.”
Candace DeFalco, a spokeswoman for SDAT, advises using the paper option. The downloaded application does not require an access number relieving that logjam in the process. After applicants have completed the form, they can mail it to the address listed at the bottom to meet the May 1 deadline.
The county’s ITOC program gives homeowners a $692 tax credit if it is their primary residence.
Homeowners can apply for the Homestead Tax Credit on the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation website or by calling the department at 410-767-2165.
