Southington Helps Disabled Veterans Seeking Tax Exemptions

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Town officials recently voted to make it simpler for disabled veterans locally to seek the tax breaks they are entitled to.

The Southington Town Council voted unanimously May 11 to support simplifying the annual renewal process for permanently and totally disabled veterans seeking local property tax exemptions.

The discussion centered on concerns raised by veterans who said they were unaware they needed to reapply annually for the exemption, according to Southington Town Manager Alex Ricciardone.

Ricciardone said the town currently requires veterans to recertify each year because eligibility can change if a resident moves, sells a home, transfers ownership, or experiences a change in disability status through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

“We’ve got a lot of folks contacting us saying, ‘Oh, I didn’t know I have to apply again,’” Ricciardone told council members.

Council Chair Paul Chaplinsky said the town should revise both the tone and requirements of the annual notification process.

He criticized a letter sent by the assessor’s office that stated veterans would not receive yearly reminders to renew their exemption.

Chaplinsky also questioned whether the town was requiring more documentation than necessary from disabled veterans.

He said permanently and totally disabled veterans qualify for the exemption based on disability status rather than income and argued applicants should not have to repeatedly provide adjusted gross income information or utility bills.

“This is a very small group of people in our town,” Chaplinsky said, estimating the number of affected residents at fewer than 100. “I think it’s incumbent upon us to remind them.”

Council member Kristen Guida asked whether tax forms could still be used to verify a veteran’s primary residence in Connecticut.

Ricciardone responded that the annual federal tax return is used to establish residency rather than income eligibility.

After discussion, Council member Michael Del Santo introduced a motion directing the town to remind applicants annually “with as few requirements as possible for approval.” Council member Joshua Serafino seconded the motion.

The motion passed unanimously in a roll call vote.

For the minutes of the May 11 Southington Town Council meeting, click on this link.