Sen. Ross, Sen. Rush, and Rep. Garlick Announce Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit Seminar

Senator Richard Ross, Senator Michael Rush, and Representative Denise Garlick are pleased to announce that they will be hosting an informational seminar on the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit which will be held at the Needham Center at the Heights (300 Hillside Avenue) on Wednesday, March 18th at 10:30am. They will be joined by Brian Lynch of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.

“Year after year, the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit offers much needed relief and savings to seniors across Massachusetts,” said Senator Ross. “As tax season approaches, I encourage all of my constituents who are eligible to attend this seminar, spread the word, and learn how they can take advantage of this great program.”

“We are always surprised that many seniors are not even aware they are eligible for the credit,” said Senator Mike Rush. “The Circuit Breaker has helped Massachusetts seniors save millions of dollars on property taxes since it was approved in 1999. We hope this seminar will raise awareness and help seniors to gain a better understanding of their eligibility and the real savings they can achieve.”

“Rep. Denise Garlick, the Chair of the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs believes that the Senior Circuit Breaker is a valuable tool and encourages seniors to attend for this information and to talk with their legislative delegation,” said Representative Garlick.

The Senior Circuit Breaker is a tax credit for senior citizens whose property payments account for more than 10% of their annual income. Eligible seniors will receive a dollar credit on their Massachusetts tax return for every dollar that their total property tax, water and sewer bills exceed 10% of their income. A maximum of $1050 credit is available. Additionally, if the taxpayer has not claimed the tax credit in the past, (s) he may claim it for the previous three years.

To be eligible, taxpayers, aged 65 years or older, must own or rent their residence in Massachusetts, and have an annual income of: $56,000 or less for a single filer; $70,000 or less for a head of household; and $84,000 or less for joint filers. If a taxpayer’s property is assessed at $691,000, (s) he is not eligible for the tax credit.

In 2013 the Circuit Breaker Tax Credit provided $83 million in credits to nearly 69,000 taxpayers. The event is open to all.

Please contact the office of Senator Ross with any questions or concerns at (617) 722-1555 or Richard.Ross@masenate.gov.

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