Between January 15th and March 15th, applications will be taken for the Giles County Tax Relief Program for the Elderly and/or Disabled. The main criteria in qualifying for the program is that an individual must be 65 years of age or older, or they must be totally disabled. Verification of income and disability is required.

The Tax Relief Program reduces the amount of taxes an individual pays on their real estate property or mobile home. Exemption is granted on an annual basis. All information is confidential and not open to public inspection. It can be best explained by breaking it down into 5 general areas. 

These areas are as follows:

• The Application Process

• General Criteria

• Income Criteria

• Asset Criteria

• Percentage of Tax Relief

The Application Process

Each year a new application must be filed. This is because income is subject to change. Applications are taken from January 15th through March 15th. All persons related to the applicant who occupy the dwelling must be listed along with their income papers and social security numbers. 

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General Criteria

General criteria to qualify for the tax relief program are that the applicant must be age 65 or older and/or totally disabled. To qualify for being totally disabled, the applicant must provide documentation from their physician or from the Social Security office. 

Applicants must also be a bona fide resident of Giles County 3 years prior. They must be the owner or partial owner of the real estate and this must be the sole dwelling of the applicant.

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Income Criteria

Beginning 2005, the total income of the entire household cannot exceed $25,000. This represents an increase of $5000 from 2004. Total gross income from all sources of the applicant and spouse must be reported. Any income in excess of $1500 of each relative living in the dwelling must be reported. Types of income would include:

Salaries, Wages, etc. Disability Pension Pensions Social Security SSI Interest Income Dividends Rent(s) Welfare/Fuel Assistance Gifts Capital Gains Other Sources Top

Asset Criteria

Total assets cannot exceed $35,000. This does not include the applicant's dwelling and dwelling site. (not more than 1 acre) Other assets would include:

Real Estate Personal Property (auto) Savings Account(s) Money Market Certificates Checking Account(s) Stocks U.S. Savings Bonds Insurance (cash value) Other Assets Top

Percentage of Tax Relief (effective 2005)