Homestead Refund
The Homestead Refund is a rebate program for the property taxes paid by homeowners and renters. The refund is based on a portion of the property tax paid on a Kansas resident’s homestead. If you own your home, the refund is a percentage of your general property tax. If you rent your home, 15% of the rent paid for occupancy is used as the property tax amount. The maximum refund is $700.
To qualify you must be a Kansas resident, living in Kansas the entire year. Your total household income must be $29,700 or less.
You must also meet one of the following requirements:
- Be 55 years of age or older, OR
- Be blind or disabled, OR
- Have a dependent child under 18 who lived with you all year whom you claim as a personal exemption
SAFE SENIOR - Kansas Property Tax Relief for Low Income Seniors
SAFE SENIOR is a property tax refund program administered under the provisions of the Kansas Homestead Act (property tax refund). SAFE SENIOR is also referred to as, "Kansas Property Tax Relief for Low Income Seniors".
The refund is 45% of the 2008 general property tax paid or to be paid - as shown of the 2008 real estate tax statement for the residence in which the claimant lived in 2008. The 2008 property tax consists of the 1st half which is due December 20, 2008 and the 2nd half which is due May 10, 2009. The 2008 property tax is the total of both the 1st and 2nd half taxes.
A claimant may receive either a Homestead or a SAFE SENIOR refund but not both.
You must meet all the following requirements for the SAFE SENIOR refund -
- Kansas resident all of 2008,
- Owned a home in Kansas during 2008,
- Aged 65 years or older for all of 2008 (born before January 1, 1943) and
- "Household income" of $16,800 or less in 2008.
Safe Senior - Frequently Asked Questions and worksheet
Homestead Refund Advancement Program
This program provides eligible homeowners with the opportunity to apply a portion of their anticipated Homestead refund to help pay the first half of their property tax.
There is a question on form K-40H asking the homeowner whether they want their next year’s homestead advancement sent directly to their County Treasurer. If the box is checked on the 2008 K-40H, the 2009 homestead advancement will be sent directly from Kansas Department of Revenue to the County Treasurer. This eliminates the need for the homestead claimant to physically deliver the homestead eligibility letter to the County Treasurer.
If you do not check this box, you can not participate in the homestead advancement program, and none of your homestead refund will be used to pay your 2009 property taxes.
Links to Homestead Information:
- Forms
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Refund Status Online - Individual Income/Food Sales and Homestead