The Department of Revenue has planned an extensive two-month series of presentations to educate taxpayers 65 and older about the benefits of the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit.

For tax year 2011, the credit is worth as much as $980 for eligible taxpayers 65 and older who either own or rent their home. The credit is refundable, meaning that if a taxpayer does not have an offsetting state tax liability, or has a liability that is smaller than the credit, they receive a check from the Commonwealth for either the entire credit or for the portion left after taxes are paid.

Seniors who live in public or subsidized housing are not eligible for the credit.

In tax year 2009, 80,566 taxpayers received $61.1 million in tax credits, an average of $759 per taxpayers. For more information on how the credit works and is calculated, go to this OpenDOR blog post. 

Brian Lynch, of DOR's office of Advocacy, Training and Communication, will conduct informational sessions on the credit in various Massachusetts Council on Aging (COA) offices.  We hope to see you there!

Date/TimeLocation/AddressPhone
February 22, 1:00 p.m.Natick COA, 90 Oak St.508-647-6540
February 23, 1:00 p.m.Raynham COA, 2215 King Philip St.508-824-2740
February 28, 10:30 a.m.Hamilton-Wenham Public Library,
14 Union St.		978-468-5577
March 7, 10:30 a.m.Longmeadow COA, 231 Maple Rd.413-565-4150
March 7, 1:30 p.m.Hingham COA, 224 Central St.781-741-1458
March 8, 10:00 a.m.Whitman COA, 16 Hayden Ave.781-447-7619
March 12, 10:30 a.m.Salem COA, 5 Broad St.978-744-0924
March 13, 1:00 p.m.Weymouth COA, 182 Green St.781-682-6140
March 19, 10:30 a.m.Billerica COA, 25 Concord Rd.978-671-0916
March 20, 1:00 p.m.Needham COA, 83 Pickering St.781-455-7555
March 22, 1:30 p.m.Mashpee COA, 26 Frank E. Hicks Dr.508-539-1440