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By Ms. L'Italien of Andover, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2996) of Barbara A. L'Italien and others relative to providing for income tax relief for senior citizens. Revenue. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
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By Ms. L'Italien of Andover, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2996) of Barbara A. L'Italien and others relative to providing for income tax relief for senior citizens. Revenue. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
Mark C. Montigny
Ruth B. Balser
James B. Eldridge
Bruce J. Ayers
William N. Brownsberger
Tom Sannicandro
Denise Provost
Louis L. Kafka
Richard J. Ross
Thomas J. Calter
Susan C. Tucker
Cory Atkins
Brian A. Joyce
Steven J. D'Amico
Benjamin Swan
Bradford Hill
Linda Dean Campbell
Timothy J. Toomey, Jr.
Jennifer M. Callahan
William Lantigua
Michael F. Rush
John V. Fernandes
Douglas W. Petersen
John P. Fresolo
David M. Torrisi
David B. Sullivan
Christine E. Canavan
Alice Hanlon Peisch
Joseph R. Driscoll
Michael E. Festa
Stephen Stat Smith
Mary E. Grant
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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Said paragraph (1) of said subsection (k) of said section 6 of said chapter 62 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking the definition of “Taxpayer
Income” and inserting in place thereof the following two definitions:— “Senior Property Tax Relief Credit”, the credit provided by this subsection. “Taxpayer’s total income”, the sum of the taxpayer’s Part A adjusted gross income, Part B adjusted gross income and Part C adjusted gross income, as defined in section 2, increased by, to the extent they are excluded or subtracted from adjusted gross income, the following: the total amount of income and receipts from social security, retirement, pension, or annuities, cash, but not in-kind, public assistance, tax-exempt interest and dividends, capital gains deducted pursuant to subparagraph (K) of paragraph (1) of subsection (d) of section 2, income from a partnership or trust not included therein and gross receipts from any other source other than assistance received by this subsection; and reduced by the total amount of the exemptions allowed by subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (1), subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (1A), subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (2), and paragraph (3), of subsection (b) of section 3.
SECTION 2. Paragraph (2) of said subsection (k) of said section 6 of said chapter 62 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 32, the figure
“10” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:— 8.
SECTION 3. Paragraph (2) of said subsection (k) of said section 6 of said chapter 62 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out subparagraph (ii) and
inserting in place thereof the following subparagraph:— (ii) the assessed valuation of the residence does not exceed $750,000.
SECTION 4. Subsection (k) of said section 6 of said chapter 62 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out paragraph 4 and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:— (4) For a taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2001, the
income, valuation and credit limits in this subsection shall be increased by amounts equal to such income, valuation and credit limits multiplied by the cost-of-living adjustment for the calendar
year in which such taxable year begins. For a taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2006, the valuation limit in this subsection shall be increased by amounts equal to such valuation credit
limit multiplied by the price of housing adjustment for the calendar year in which such taxable year begins. If any such increase in an income or valuation limit is not a multiple of $1,000, such
increase shall be rounded to the next lowest multiple of $1,000. If the increase in the credit limit is not a multiple of $10, such increase shall be rounded to the next lowest multiple of $10.
SECTION 5. There is hereby established the elderly persons tax relief outreach program for the purposes of assisting elderly residents of the commonwealth in obtaining information about
available options designed to provide relief from state and local taxes. The secretary of the commonwealth shall administer the program in conjunction with the secretary of the executive office of elder affairs and the commissioner of the department of revenue. In order to assist interested persons in obtaining such information, the outreach program shall: (a) create and distribute literature outlining all tax relief programs for the elderly and disabled, including those providing relief from state and local taxes and describing the benefits and eligibility criteria for each option; (b) organize presentations and workshops to better facilitate the awareness and education of elderly and disabled persons in the tax-related issues that concern them, what relief is available to them and the application process for such relief programs; and (c) create and maintain a statewide toll free telephone number staffed by individuals qualified to inform and advise interested and potentially eligible persons about available options designed to provide limited relief from state and local taxes. (d) work in conjunction with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program and the Councils on Aging to facilitate tax preparation assistance for seniors who qualify for the Senior Property Tax Relief Credit. The secretary of the Commonwealth, the secretary of the executive office of elder affairs and the commissioner of the department of revenue shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to implement the elderly persons tax relief outreach program.