2004 Legislation
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HOUSE BILL NO. 516 – Property tax relief, procedures

HOUSE BILL NO. 516

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H0516...............................................by REVENUE AND TAXATION
PROPERTY TAX RELIEF - Amends existing law to clarify procedures for
submitting, reviewing and finalizing claims for property tax relief.
                                                                        
01/22    House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
01/23    Rpt prt - to Rev/Tax
02/23    Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
02/24    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
02/26    3rd rdg - PASSED - 65-1-4
      AYES -- Andersen, Barraclough, Barrett, Bauer, Bayer, Bedke, Bell,
      Black, Block, Boe, Bolz, Bradford, Campbell, Cannon, Clark, Collins,
      Crow, Cuddy, Denney, Douglas, Eberle, Edmunson, Ellsworth, Eskridge,
      Field(18), Field(23), Gagner, Garrett, Harwood, Henbest, Jaquet,
      Jones, Kulczyk, Lake, Langford, Langhorst, Martinez, McGeachin,
      McKague, Meyer, Miller, Mitchell, Moyle, Nielsen, Pasley-Stuart,
      Raybould, Ridinger, Ring, Ringo, Roberts, Robison, Rydalch, Sali,
      Sayler, Shepherd, Shirley, Skippen, Smith(30), Smith(24), Smylie,
      Snodgrass, Stevenson, Trail, Wills, Wood
      NAYS -- Kellogg
      Absent and excused -- Deal, Naccarato, Schaefer, Mr. Speaker
    Floor Sponsor - Moyle
    Title apvd - to Senate
02/27    Senate intro - 1st rdg - to Loc Gov
03/02    Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
03/03    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
03/15    3rd rdg - PASSED - 29-0-6
      AYES -- Andreason, Bailey, Bunderson, Burkett, Burtenshaw,
      Calabretta, Compton, Darrington, Gannon, Geddes, Goedde, Hill,
      Ingram, Kennedy, Keough, Little, Lodge, Malepeai, Marley, McKenzie,
      McWilliams, Noble, Pearce, Richardson, Schroeder, Sorensen, Stegner,
      Sweet, Werk
      NAYS -- None
      Absent and excused -- Brandt, Cameron, Davis, Noh, Stennett, Williams
    Floor Sponsor - McKenzie
    Title apvd - to House
03/16    To enrol
03/17    Rpt enrol - Sp signed
03/18    Pres signed - To Governor
03/23    Governor signed
         Session Law Chapter 156
         Effective: 01/01/04

Bill Text


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ]]]]              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ]]]]
 Fifty-seventh Legislature                 Second Regular Session - 2004
                                                                        
                                                                        
                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                                                                        
                                     HOUSE BILL NO. 516
                                                                        
                             BY REVENUE AND TAXATION COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO PROPERTY TAX RELIEF; AMENDING  SECTION  63-602G,  IDAHO  CODE,  TO
  3        REVISE  THE DEFINITION OF "OWNER" BY DELETING REFERENCE TO GRANTOR TRUSTS,
  4        BY INCLUDING ANY PERSON WHO IS THE BENEFICIARY OF A REVOCABLE OR IRREVOCA-
  5        BLE TRUST, BY DELETING AFFIDAVIT PROCEDURES AND BY REFERENCING THE AFFIDA-
  6        VIT PROCEDURES IN CHAPTER  7,  TITLE  63,  IDAHO  CODE;  AMENDING  SECTION
  7        63-701, IDAHO CODE, TO REVISE DEFINITIONS  AND TO MAKE A TECHNICAL CORREC-
  8        TION;  AMENDING  SECTION 63-702, IDAHO CODE, TO CLARIFY THE DATES TO WHICH
  9        CONDITIONS APPLY WHEN FILING A CLAIM; AMENDING SECTION 63-703, IDAHO CODE,
 10        TO REVISE THE TERM "OWNER" BY INCLUDING PERSONS INVOLVED IN REVOCABLE  AND
 11        IRREVOCABLE  TRUSTS, PARTNERSHIPS, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES OR CORPORA-
 12        TIONS AND DEPENDING ON SPECIFIED CONDITIONS OF INVOLVEMENT WITH SUCH ENTI-
 13        TIES, TO PROVIDE FOR AN AFFIDAVIT FOR TRUST OWNERSHIP AND AN AFFIDAVIT FOR
 14        ENTITY OWNERSHIP  AND  TO  DELETE  REDUNDANT  LANGUAGE;  AMENDING  SECTION
 15        63-707,  IDAHO  CODE,  TO  REVISE THE INFORMATION COUNTY ASSESSORS PROVIDE
 16        WHEN PREPARING THE PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION ROLL, TO CLARIFY LANGUAGE RELAT-
 17        ING TO MARITAL STATUS AND TO SPECIFY INFORMATION THE STATE TAX  COMMISSION
 18        SHALL  CERTIFY  TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR AND TAX COLLECTOR REGARDING PROPERTY
 19        TAX REDUCTION CLAIMS FOR EACH COUNTY; AMENDING SECTION 63-709, IDAHO CODE,
 20        TO DELETE REDUNDANT LANGUAGE; AMENDING SECTION 63-710, IDAHO CODE, TO PRO-
 21        VIDE A CORRECT CODE REFERENCE; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND PROVIDING A RET-
 22        ROACTIVE EFFECTIVE DATE.
                                                                        
 23    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
 24        SECTION 1.  That Section 63-602G, Idaho Code, be, and the same  is  hereby
 25    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 26        63-602G.  PROPERTY  EXEMPT  FROM TAXATION -- RESIDENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS. (1)
 27    During the tax year 1983 and each year thereafter, the  first  fifty  thousand
 28    dollars  ($50,000)  of the market value for assessment purposes of residential
 29    improvements, or fifty percent (50%) of the market value for  assessment  pur-
 30    poses  of  residential  improvements, whichever is the lesser, shall be exempt
 31    from property taxation.
 32        (2)  The exemption allowed by this section may be granted only if:
 33        (a)  The residential improvements are owner-occupied and used as the  pri-
 34        mary  dwelling  place  of  the owner as of January 1, provided that in the
 35        event the residential improvements are owner-occupied after January 1  but
 36        before  April  15, the owner of the property is entitled to the exemption.
 37        The residential improvements may consist of part  of  a  multidwelling  or
 38        multipurpose  building  and shall include all of such dwelling or building
 39        except any portion used exclusively for anything other  than  the  primary
 40        dwelling of the owner. The presence of an office in an owner-occupied res-
 41        idential  property,  which office is used for multiple purposes, including
 42        business and personal use, shall not prevent the owner from  claiming  the
 43        exemption provided in this section; and
                                                                        
                                           2
                                                                        
  1        (b)  The tax commission has certified to the board of county commissioners
  2        that  all  properties  in the county which are subject to appraisal by the
  3        county assessor have, in fact, been appraised uniformly so as to secure  a
  4        just valuation for all property within the county; and
  5        (c)  The owner has certified to the county assessor by April 15 that:
  6             (i)   He is making application for the exemption allowed by this sec-
  7             tion;
  8             (ii)  That  the  residential  improvements  are  his primary dwelling
  9             place; and
 10             (iii) That he has not made application in any other  county  for  the
 11             exemption,  and  has  not  made  application for the exemption on any
 12             other residential improvements in the county.
 13        (d)  For the purpose of this section, the definition of owner shall be the
 14        same definition set forth in section 63-701(7), Idaho Code.
 15             When an "owner," pursuant to the  provisions  of  section  63-701(7),
 16        Idaho Code, is any person who as grantor, or whose spouse as grantor, cre-
 17        ated  a revocable or irrevocable trust and was named as is the beneficiary
 18        of that a revocable or irrevocable trust, or who is a partner of a limited
 19        partnership, a member of a limited liability company, or shareholder of  a
 20        corporation,  he  or  she may provide proof of the trust, limited partner-
 21        ship, limited liability company, or corporation in the manner set forth in
 22        section 63-703(4), Idaho Code. with an affidavit stating: (i) the name  of
 23        the  grantor,  partner,  member  or shareholder; (ii) a statement that the
 24        grantor, or the grantor's spouse, is the beneficiary of the trust, or  the
 25        person is a partner of the limited partnership, or a member of the limited
 26        liability company, or a shareholder of the corporation; (iii) the grantor,
 27        the  grantor's  spouse,  partner, member or shareholder is the occupier of
 28        the residential property and uses the property  as  the  primary  dwelling
 29        place of the grantor, the grantor's spouse, partner, member or shareholder
 30        as  of January 1; and (iv) if applicable, the person holds at least a five
 31        percent (5%) ownership in the limited partnership, limited liability  com-
 32        pany or corporation.
 33             The affidavit shall include the attaching of the copies of those por-
 34        tions  of  the  trust  or  other document which set forth the grantor, the
 35        grantor or the grantor's spouse as beneficiary and the signature  page  of
 36        the  trust  or other document; those portions of the articles of organiza-
 37        tion or operating agreement of the limited  liability  company  indicating
 38        the  person's  membership in the company and the ownership percentage held
 39        by such person; those portions of the  limited  partnership  agreement  or
 40        other  records  of  the limited partnership indicating that the person has
 41        been admitted to the partnership and the ownership percentage held by such
 42        person; or those portions of the articles of incorporation indicating that
 43        the person is a shareholder of the corporation and the ownership  percent-
 44        age held by such person.
 45        (e)  Any owner may request in writing the return of all copies of any doc-
 46        uments  submitted  with  the  affidavit set forth in paragraph (d) of this
 47        subsection section 63-703(4), Idaho Code, that are held by a county asses-
 48        sor, and the copies shall be returned by the county assessor upon  submis-
 49        sion of the affidavit in proper form.
 50        (f)  For  the purpose of this section, the definition of "primary dwelling
 51        place" shall be the same definition set forth in section 63-701(8),  Idaho
 52        Code.
 53        (g)  For  the  purpose of this section, the definition of "occupied" shall
 54        be the same definition set forth in section 63-701(6), Idaho Code.
 55        (3)  An owner need only make application for the  exemption  described  in
                                                                        
                                           3
                                                                        
  1    subsection  (1)  of  this section once, as long as all of the following condi-
  2    tions are met:
  3        (a)  The owner has received the exemption during the previous  year  as  a
  4        result  of  his making a valid application as defined in subsection (2)(c)
  5        of this section.
  6        (b)  The owner or beneficiary, partner, member or shareholder,  as  appro-
  7        priate,    still  occupies the same residential improvements for which the
  8        owner made application.
  9        (c)  The residential improvements described in subsection (3)(b)  of  this
 10        section  are  owner-occupied or occupied by a beneficiary, partner, member
 11        or shareholder, as appropriate, and used as the primary dwelling place  of
 12        the  owner or beneficiary, partner, member or shareholder, as appropriate,
 13        as of January 1; provided however,  that  in  the  event  the  residential
 14        improvements  are owner-occupied after January 1, but before April 15, the
 15        owner of the property is entitled to the exemption.
 16        (4)  The exemption allowed by this section must be taken before the reduc-
 17    tion in taxes provided by sections  63-701  through  63-710,  Idaho  Code,  is
 18    applied.
 19        (5)  The legislature declares that this exemption is necessary and just.
 20        (6)  Residential  improvements  having  previously qualified for exemption
 21    under this section in the preceding year, shall not  lose  such  qualification
 22    due  to  the  owner's,  beneficiary's,  partner's,  member's  or shareholder's
 23    absence in the current year by reason of active military service in  a  desig-
 24    nated  combat zone, as defined in section 112 of the Internal Revenue Code. If
 25    an owner fails to timely apply for  exemption  as  required  in  this  section
 26    solely by reason of active duty in a designated combat zone by the owner, ben-
 27    eficiary,  partner,  member or shareholder, as appropriate, as defined in sec-
 28    tion 112 of the Internal Revenue Code, and such improvements would have other-
 29    wise qualified under this section, then the board of county  commissioners  of
 30    the  county  in  which  the  residential improvements are located shall refund
 31    property taxes, if previously paid, in an amount equal to the exemption  which
 32    would otherwise have applied.
                                                                        
 33        SECTION  2.  That  Section  63-701, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 34    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 35        63-701.  DEFINITIONS. As used in this chapter:
 36        (1)  "Claimant" means a person who has filed a claim under the  provisions
 37    of  sections  63-701 through 63-710, Idaho Code. Except as provided in section
 38    63-702(2), Idaho Code, on January 1 of the year or before April  15  in  which
 39    the claim was filed a claimant must be an owner of a homestead and be:
 40        (a)  Not less than sixty-five (65) years old; or
 41        (b)  A  child  under  the  age of eighteen (18) years who is fatherless or
 42        motherless or who has been abandoned by any surviving parent  or  parents;
 43        or
 44        (c)  A widow or widower; or
 45        (d)  A  disabled  person who is recognized as disabled by the social secu-
 46        rity administration pursuant to title 42 of the United States Code, or  by
 47        the  railroad  retirement  board pursuant to title 45 of the United States
 48        Code, or by the office of management and budget pursuant to title 5 of the
 49        United States Code; or
 50        (e)  A disabled veteran of any war engaged in by the United States,  whose
 51        disability  is recognized as a service-connected disability of a degree of
 52        ten percent (10%) or more, or who has a pension  for  nonservice-connected
 53        disabilities,  in accordance with laws and regulations administered by the
                                                                        
                                           4
                                                                        
  1        United States veterans administration; or
  2        (f)  A person, as specified in 42 U.S.C. 1701, who was or is  entitled  to
  3        receive benefits because he is known to have been taken by a hostile force
  4        as a prisoner, hostage or otherwise; or
  5        (g)  Blind.
  6        (2)  "Homestead"  means  the  dwelling,  owner-occupied by the claimant as
  7    described in this chapter and used as the primary dwelling place of the claim-
  8    ant and may be occupied by any members of the household as their home, and  so
  9    much  of the land surrounding it, not exceeding one (1) acre, as is reasonably
 10    necessary for the use of the dwelling as a home. It may consist of a part of a
 11    multidwelling or multipurpose building and part of the land upon which  it  is
 12    built.  "Homestead" does not include personal property such as furniture, fur-
 13    nishings or appliances, but a manufactured home may be a homestead.
 14        (3)  "Household" means the claimant and the claimant's  spouse.  The  term
 15    does  not  include bona fide lessees, tenants, or roomers and boarders on con-
 16    tract. "Household" includes persons described in  subsection  (8)(b)  of  this
 17    section.
 18        (4)  "Household  income" means all income received by the claimant and, if
 19    applicable married, all income received by the claimant's spouse, in a  calen-
 20    dar year.
 21        (5)  "Income" means the sum of federal adjusted gross income as defined in
 22    the  Internal  Revenue Code, as defined in section 63-3004, Idaho Code, and to
 23    the extent not already included in federal adjusted gross income:
 24        (a)  Alimony;
 25        (b)  Support money;
 26        (c)  Nontaxable strike benefits;
 27        (d)  The nontaxable amount of any individual retirement  account,  pension
 28        or annuity, (including railroad retirement benefits, all payments received
 29        under  the  federal  social  security act except the social security death
 30        benefit as specified in  this  subsection,  state  unemployment  insurance
 31        laws,   and  veterans  disability  pensions  and  compensation,  excluding
 32        rollovers as provided in section 402 or 403 of the Internal Revenue Code);
 33        (e)  Nontaxable interest received from the federal government  or  any  of
 34        its  instrumentalities  or a state government or any of its instrumentali-
 35        ties;
 36        (f)  Worker's compensation; and
 37        (g)  The gross amount of loss of earnings insurance.
 38    It does not include capital  gains,  gifts  from  nongovernmental  sources  or
 39    inheritances.  To  the  extent  not  reimbursed,  the  cost of medical care as
 40    defined in section 213(d) of the Internal Revenue Code, incurred  or  paid  by
 41    the  claimant  and/or,  if  applicable  married, the claimant's spouse, may be
 42    deducted from income. To the extent not reimbursed, personal funeral expenses,
 43    including prepaid funeral expenses and premiums on funeral insurance,  of  the
 44    claimant  and  claimant's  spouse  only,  may be deducted from income up to an
 45    annual maximum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) per claim. "Income" does  not
 46    include veterans disability pensions received by a person described in subsec-
 47    tion (1)(e) who is a claimant or a claimant's spouse if the disability pension
 48    is  received  pursuant  to a service-connected disability of a degree of forty
 49    percent (40%) or more. "Income" does not include lump sum death benefits  made
 50    by  the  social  security administration pursuant to 42 U.S.C. section 402(i).
 51    Documentation of medical expenses may be  required  by  the  county  assessor,
 52    board  of  equalization  and  state  tax commission in such form as the county
 53    assessor, board of equalization  or  state  tax  commission  shall  determine.
 54    "Income" shall be that received in the calendar year immediately preceding the
 55    year  in which a claim is filed. Where a claimant and/or the claimant's spouse
                                                                        
                                           5
                                                                        
  1    does not file a federal tax  return,  the  claimant's  and/or  the  claimant's
  2    spouse's federal adjusted gross income, for purposes of this section, shall be
  3    an  income equivalent to federal adjusted gross income had the claimant and/or
  4    the claimant's spouse filed a federal tax return, as determined by the county
  5    assessor. The county assessor, board of equalization or state  tax  commission
  6    may  require  documentation  of  income  in such form as each shall determine,
  7    including, but not limited to: copies of federal or state tax returns and  any
  8    attachments thereto; and income reporting forms such as the W-2 and 1099.
  9        (6)  years "Occupied" means actual use and possession.
 10        (7)  "Owner"  means a person holding title in fee simple or holding a cer-
 11    tificate of motor vehicle title (either of which may be subject  to  mortgage,
 12    deed of trust or other lien) or who has retained or been granted a life estate
 13    or  who is a person entitled to file a claim under section 63-702, Idaho Code.
 14    "Owner" shall also include any person who:
 15        (a)  As grantor, or whose spouse as grantor, created a revocable or irrev-
 16        ocable trust and was named as a beneficiary of that trust; or
 17        (b)  Is the beneficiary of a revocable or irrevocable trust which  is  the
 18        owner  of  such  homestead  and under which the claimant or the claimant's
 19        spouse has the primary right of occupancy of the homestead; or
 20        (cb)  Is a partner of a limited partnership, member of a limited liability
 21        company or shareholder of a corporation if such entity holds title in  fee
 22        simple  or  holds  a  certificate of motor vehicle title and if the person
 23        holds at least a five percent (5%) ownership in such entity, as determined
 24        by the county assessor; or
 25        (dc)  Has retained or been granted a life estate.
 26    "Owner" includes a vendee in possession under a land sale contract.  Any  par-
 27    tial ownership shall be considered as ownership for determining initial quali-
 28    fication  for property tax reduction benefits; however, the amount of property
 29    tax reduction under section 63-704, Idaho Code, and rules promulgated pursuant
 30    to section 63-705,  Idaho  Code,  shall  be  computed  on  the  value  of  the
 31    claimant's  partial  ownership.  "Partial ownership," for the purposes of this
 32    section, means any one (1) person's ownership when property is owned  by  more
 33    than  one (1) person or where the homestead is held by an entity, as set forth
 34    in this subsection, but more than one (1) person has the right of occupancy of
 35    such homestead. A person holding either partial title in fee simple or holding
 36    a certificate of motor vehicle title together with another person but who does
 37    not occupy the dwelling as his primary dwelling place, shall not be considered
 38    an owner for purposes of this section, if such person is a  cosignatory  of  a
 39    note  secured  by  the  dwelling in question and at least one (1) of the other
 40    cosignatories of the note occupies the dwelling as his primary dwelling place.
 41    The combined community property interests of both spouses shall not be consid-
 42    ered partial ownership so long as the combined  community  property  interests
 43    constitute  the entire ownership of the homestead, including where the spouses
 44    are occupying a homestead owned by an entity, as set forth in this subsection,
 45    and the spouses have the primary right of occupancy of the homestead. The pro-
 46    portional reduction required under this subsection shall not apply  to  commu-
 47    nity  property  interests. Where title to property is held by a person who has
 48    died without timely filing a claim for property tax reduction, the  estate  of
 49    the  deceased person shall be the "owner," provided that the time periods dur-
 50    ing which the deceased person held such  title  shall  be  attributed  to  the
 51    estate  for  the  computation  of  any time periods under subsection (8)(a) or
 52    (8)(b) of this section.
 53        (8)  (a) "Primary dwelling place" means the claimant's dwelling  place  on
 54        January  1 or before April 15 of the year for which the claim is made. The
 55        primary  dwelling place is the single place where a claimant has his true,
                                                                        
                                           6
                                                                        
  1        fixed and permanent home and principal establishment, and to  which  when-
  2        ever  the individual is absent he has the intention of returning. A claim-
  3        ant must establish the dwelling to which the claim relates  to be his pri-
  4        mary dwelling place by clear and convincing evidence  or  by  establishing
  5        that  the  dwelling  is  where the claimant resided on January 1 or before
  6        April 15 and:
  7             (i)   At least six (6) months during the prior year; or
  8             (ii)  The majority of the time the claimant  owned  the  dwelling  if
  9             owned by the claimant less than one (1) year; or
 10             (iii) The  majority of the time after the claimant first occupied the
 11             dwelling if occupied by the claimant for less than one (1) year.  The
 12             county  assessor  may require written or other proof of the foregoing
 13             in such form as the county assessor may determine.
 14        (b)  Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of  this  subsection,
 15        the  property upon which the claimant makes application shall be deemed to
 16        be the claimant's primary dwelling place  if  the  claimant  is  otherwise
 17        qualified  and  resides in a care facility and does not allow the property
 18        upon which the claimant has made application to  be  occupied  by  persons
 19        paying  a consideration to occupy the dwelling. Payment of utilities shall
 20        not be payment of a consideration to occupy  the  dwelling.  A  claimant's
 21        spouse  who  resides  in  a care facility shall be deemed to reside at the
 22        claimant's primary dwelling place and to  be  a  part  of  the  claimant's
 23        household. A care facility is a hospital, nursing facility or intermediate
 24        care  facility  for  the  mentally retarded as defined in section 39-1301,
 25        Idaho Code, or a facility as defined in section 39-3302(16),  Idaho  Code,
 26        or  a  dwelling other than the one upon which the applicant makes applica-
 27        tion where a claimant who is unable to reside in the dwelling  upon  which
 28        the  application  is made lives and receives help in daily living, protec-
 29        tion and security.
                                                                        
 30        SECTION 3.  That Section 63-702, Idaho Code, be, and the  same  is  hereby
 31    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 32        63-702.  CLAIM  IS  PERSONAL  -- EXCEPTIONS. (1) The right to file a claim
 33    under the provisions of sections 63-701 through 63-710, Idaho Code,  shall  be
 34    personal  to  the claimant and shall not survive his death except as otherwise
 35    provided in this section. A property tax reduction shall be  allowed  pursuant
 36    to  the  provisions  of  sections  63-701 and 63-710, Idaho Code, if the owner
 37    occupies the residential improvements after January 1 but before April 15, and
 38    if no other property tax reductions have been claimed. Such right may be exer-
 39    cised on behalf of a living claimant by an agent authorized in writing  to  so
 40    act, by a guardian or other representative acting pursuant to judicial author-
 41    ity  or by any person or entity described in section 63-711(3), Idaho Code. If
 42    a claimant dies after having filed a timely claim, the amount thereof shall be
 43    allowed to his personal representative, if one is appointed, or  to  surviving
 44    heirs or to the trust or other entity owning the property, as appropriate.
 45        (2)  In  the case of property owned by an estate, revocable trust, irrevo-
 46    cable trust, limited partnership, limited liability  company  or  corporation,
 47    where  the  deceased person's widow or widower succeeds to the interest of the
 48    deceased person in that entity and occupies the dwelling as required  in  this
 49    chapter,  the  deceased  owner's  widow  or  widower,  or any person or entity
 50    described in section 63-711(3), Idaho Code, on behalf of that  widow  or  wid-
 51    ower:
 52        (a)  May  file  a  claim  on behalf of the deceased spouse if the deceased
 53        spouse qualified or would have qualified as a claimant  on  January  1  or
                                                                        
                                           7
                                                                        
  1        before April 15 of the year in which the claim is filed; or
  2        (b)  The widow or widower shall be deemed the owner of the property in any
  3        year after the year of the death of the spouse.
                                                                        
  4        SECTION  4.  That  Section  63-703, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
  5    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
  6        63-703.  PROCEDURE FOR FILING CLAIMS. (1) Any claim filed shall be  signed
  7    by  the  claimant  or  by any person or entity described in section 63-711(3),
  8    Idaho Code. By signing such claim, the claimant  or  other  person  or  entity
  9    signing  such claim shall attest to the truth of such claim, and shall be sub-
 10    ject to the penalties provided by section 18-5401, Idaho Code, for stating  as
 11    true  any  material  fact known to be false. All claims shall be made on forms
 12    prescribed by the state tax commission and shall be  in  triplicate.  One  (1)
 13    copy  of  the  form  shall be provided to the claimant or the person or entity
 14    acting on behalf of the claimant, one (1) copy shall be kept  for  all  county
 15    purposes, and one (1) copy shall be forwarded to the state tax commission with
 16    the  property  tax reduction roll. Except as provided in section 63-707, Idaho
 17    Code, the claim and its documentation shall not be deemed to be public records
 18    and may not be used for any commercial purpose; provided  however,  the  state
 19    tax commission and the county assessor may use the contents of such claims and
 20    documentation  for general statistical analysis and may publish such analysis,
 21    or any part of such analysis, as appropriate.
 22        (2)  By filing a claim, a claimant does not relinquish any right he or any
 23    member of his household may have to apply for a cancellation of property taxes
 24    pursuant to section 63-711, Idaho Code. The county commissioners may grant any
 25    such claimant, or any member of his  household,  a  cancellation  of  property
 26    taxes, late charges and interest under such section, if a claim has been filed
 27    under the provisions of sections 63-701 through 63-710, Idaho Code.
 28        (3)  If  two  (2)  or more individuals of a household are able to meet the
 29    qualifications of a claimant, they  may  decide  between  themselves  who  may
 30    obtain  a  reduction in property taxes under the provisions of sections 63-701
 31    through 63-710, Idaho Code, and shall certify such division in writing to  the
 32    county assessor in such form as the county assessor shall require, but if they
 33    do  not decide between themselves, then the reduction shall be divided equally
 34    among or between the claimants in the household or shall be divided as  deter-
 35    mined under section 63-701(7), Idaho Code, whichever is appropriate.
 36        (4)  When  an  "owner"  is  any  person who as grantor, or whose spouse as
 37    grantor, created a revocable or irrevocable trust and was named as is the ben-
 38    eficiary of that a revocable or irrevocable trust, or is a partner of  a  lim-
 39    ited  partnership, or member of a limited liability company, or shareholder of
 40    a corporation, if such entity holds title in fee simple or holds a certificate
 41    of motor vehicle title, and if said person holds at least a five percent  (5%)
 42    ownership in such entity, he or she, or any person or entity described in sec-
 43    tion 63-711(3), Idaho Code, may provide proof of the foregoing as follows:
 44        (a)  If  the  owner  of the homestead is a revocable or irrevocable trust,
 45        with by an affidavit stating:
 46             (i)   the name of the grantor, (ii) a statement  tThat  the  grantor,
 47             claimant  or the grantor's claimant's spouse, is the a beneficiary of
 48             the trust; and
 49             (iii)  That the grantor claimant, or the grantor's claimant's spouse,
 50             is the occupier of the residential property and uses the property  as
 51             the  primary dwelling place of the occupier as of January 1 or before
 52             April 15.
 53             The affidavit shall include the attaching of copies of those portions
                                                                        
                                           8
                                                                        
  1        of the trust which set forth the name of the grantor, the  status  of  the
  2        grantor  claimant  or  the  grantor's claimant's spouse as beneficiary and
  3        which contain the signature page or pages of the trust. The county  asses-
  4        sor may require such additional documentation as is necessary to carry out
  5        the provisions of this chapter including, but not limited to:
  6        (b)  If  the owner is a limited partnership, limited liability company, or
  7        corporation, by an affidavit stating the entity holds title in fee  simple
  8        or holds a certificate of motor vehicle title, and if said person holds at
  9        least  a  five  percent (5%) ownership in such entity. The affidavit shall
 10        include the attaching of:
 11             (ai)   Proof of the current status of the entity owning the property,
 12             including statements from the secretary of state as to such status if
 13             appropriate;
 14             (bii)  Copies of any documents, or portions thereof, relating to  the
 15             entity  including, but not limited to, those portions of the articles
 16             of organization or operating agreements of the entity indicating  the
 17             person's  membership or ownership in the entity and the membership or
 18             ownership percentage held by such person; and
 19             (ciii) Copies of any contracts or other agreements between the entity
 20             and the claimant or the claimant's spouse including, but not  limited
 21             to,  any  portions  thereof  that  show the right of occupancy of the
 22             homestead by the person.; and
 23        (dc)  Any other documentation which the county assessor  determines  would
 24        aid the county assessor in carrying out the provisions of this chapter.
                                                                        
 25        SECTION  5.  That  Section  63-707, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 26    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 27        63-707.  PROCEDURE AFTER CLAIM APPROVAL. (1) Immediately after claims have
 28    been approved by the board of equalization, the county assessor shall  prepare
 29    a  property  tax  reduction  roll,  which shall be in addition to the property
 30    roll, the subsequent property roll and missed property  rolls  which  property
 31    tax reduction roll shall show:
 32        (a)  The name of the taxpayer;
 33        (b)  The  description  of  the  property for which a reduction in property
 34        taxes is claimed, suitably detailed to meet the requirements of the  indi-
 35        vidual county;
 36        (c)  The  property's  prior year's market value for assessment purposes or
 37        the assessor's best estimate of current market value, and any prorated net
 38        taxable value of the eligible portion of  the  property's  current  market
 39        value for assessment purposes; and
 40        (d)  The  amount  of  tax reduction for which the applicant is eligible as
 41        determined by the income of the claimant and, if applicable  married,  the
 42        claimant's spouse, pursuant to sections 63-704 and 63-705, Idaho Code.
 43        (2)  As  soon  as  possible,  but in any event by no later than the fourth
 44    Monday of June, the property tax reduction roll  shall  be  certified  to  the
 45    county  auditor  and  to  the state tax commission in the manner prescribed by
 46    rules promulgated by the state tax commission. The property tax reduction roll
 47    shall be accompanied by a copy of the claim forms for disapproved claims, when
 48    requested by the state tax commission and a copy of the approved claims form.
 49        (3)  (a) As soon as possible, but in any event by no later than the fourth
 50        Monday of October, the county auditor  shall  complete  the  property  tax
 51        reduction roll by adding the following information:
 52             (i)   The current year's levy for the code area in which the property
 53             is situated;
                                                                        
                                           9
                                                                        
  1             (ii)  The  amount of property tax reduction claimed based on the cur-
  2             rent year's market value for  assessment  purposes  and  the  current
  3             year's levy; and
  4             (iii) The current year's market value for assessment purposes.
  5        (b)  As soon as possible, but in any event no later than the fourth Monday
  6        of  October,  the  county auditor shall certify the completed property tax
  7        reduction roll to the state tax commission in  the  manner  prescribed  by
  8        rules promulgated by the state tax commission.
  9        (4)  The  state  tax commission shall calculate determine the total number
 10    of all claims for reduction in property taxes  from  current  year's  property
 11    taxes, evidenced by the abstracts and claims forms from all the counties. Each
 12    to be allowed in each county, the dollar amount of each claim allowed, and the
 13    total  dollar  amount  for  all claims for each county. These amounts shall be
 14    certified to the county auditor shall be notified and  tax  collector  by  the
 15    state  tax  commission  by  no later than the third Monday in November. of the
 16    amount of property tax reduction to be granted.
 17        (5)  The state tax commission may audit each and every claim submitted  to
 18    it,  and,  any  other provision of law notwithstanding, may utilize income tax
 19    returns filed by the claimant or by the claimant's  spouse  to  determine  the
 20    income of the claimant or the claimant's spouse.
 21        (6)  If it is determined by the state tax commission that a claim is erro-
 22    neous,  the  tax commission shall disapprove so much of the claim as necessary
 23    in order to conform with statutory standards. The tax commission shall provide
 24    the claimant, or the person or entity acting on behalf of the claimant,  writ-
 25    ten  notice  of  the tax commission's intent to disapprove all or a portion of
 26    the claim. The claimant, or the person or  entity  acting  on  behalf  of  the
 27    claimant,  shall  have  fourteen  (14) days to make written protest to the tax
 28    commission of the intended action. The claimant, or the person or entity  act-
 29    ing  on  behalf  of  the  claimant,  may submit additional information and may
 30    request an informal hearing with the commission. If the claimant, or the  per-
 31    son  or entity acting on behalf of the claimant, fails to make written protest
 32    within fourteen (14) days, the tax commission shall provide written notice  of
 33    disapproval  to  the claimant, or the person or entity acting on behalf of the
 34    claimant, by the fourth Monday of October and to the  county  auditor  of  the
 35    county  from  which  the claim was received. Any claimant, or person or entity
 36    acting on behalf of the claimant, whose claim is disapproved in  whole  or  in
 37    part by the state tax commission may:
 38        (a)  File a claim with the county commissioners for a special cancellation
 39        pursuant to section 63-711, Idaho Code;
 40        (b)  Appeal  such  disapproval by the state tax commission to the board of
 41        tax appeals or to the district court of the county  of  residence  of  the
 42        taxpayer within thirty (30) days.
                                                                        
 43        SECTION  6.  That  Section  63-709, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 44    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 45        63-709.  REIMBURSEMENT BY STATE TAX COMMISSION. (1) The state tax  commis-
 46    sion  shall determine the total number of claims to be allowed in each county,
 47    the dollar amount of each claim allowed, and the total dollar amount  for  all
 48    claims for each county. These amounts shall be certified to the county auditor
 49    and  tax collector by the state tax commission by no later than the first Mon-
 50    day in November.
 51        (2)  By no later than December 20 of each year the  state  tax  commission
 52    shall  pay  to  the  county tax collector of each county one-half (1/2) of the
 53    amount due each county as reimbursement for reduction  in  property  taxes  as
                                                                        
                                           10
                                                                        
  1    provided  in  sections  63-701  through  63-710,  Idaho  Code, as shown on the
  2    abstract of property tax reduction roll and claims forms approved by the state
  3    tax commission, and shall pay the second one-half (1/2) of such amount by  not
  4    later than June 20 of the following year.
                                                                        
  5        SECTION  7.  That  Section  63-710, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
  6    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
  7        63-710.  PROCEDURE AFTER REIMBURSEMENT. (1) Upon receipt of the notice  of
  8    percentage  reduction  from the state tax commission, the county auditor shall
  9    immediately notify the county commissioners, and the  commissioners  may  take
 10    this  reduction  into consideration in making its property tax levies, and the
 11    county commissioners are authorized, but not required, to increase any levy to
 12    the extent necessary to compensate for the percentage reduction.
 13        (2)  The money received by the county tax collector under  the  provisions
 14    of  section 63-709(2), Idaho Code, may be considered by the counties and other
 15    taxing districts and budgeted against at the same time, in the same manner and
 16    in the same year as revenues from taxation.
                                                                        
 17        SECTION 8.  An emergency existing  therefor,  which  emergency  is  hereby
 18    declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after its
 19    passage and approval, and retroactively to January 1, 2004.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact


                                
                                
                      STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
                            RS13575
                                
Major revisions to the circuit breaker and "50-50" homeowners tax
reduction provisions of the Idaho Code were made in 2001.  This
bill is furtherance of those prior revisions by making further
changes to carry out the best administration and purpose of the
prior changes.  The changes are:

(1)  In 63-701, Definitions, parts 4 and 7, and other sections in
the bill, reference to grantor trusts is eliminated, since that
status is no longer required to receive the benefits of the
property tax reductions.

(2)  In 63-701, part 4, the definition of income in relation to
dual principal residence applications is clarified.

(3)  In 63-703, procedure for filing claims, the application
procedure is simplified, especially as to the affidavit in
support of the application, by limiting the information to only
information actually needed.  The difference between an affidavit
for trust ownership and an affidavit for entity ownership is also
clarified. The use of the word "grantor" is changed to "claimant"
since, as noted above, grantor status is no longer relevant. 
Section d is redundant and is eliminated.

(4)  In 63-707, procedure after claim approval, part 1(c) is
amended to properly state what the assessor shall include on the
property tax reduction roll.  Part 4 of 63-707, and part 1 of 63-
709, reimbursement by State Tax Commission, are contracted and
amended to eliminate dual reference to the same determination and
to provide a single date, the third Monday in November, for the
provision of such data and payment by the State Tax Commission to
the county.  This makes the layout of the two sections more
logical and compact and eliminates the conflict in dates in the
two sections.

(5)  In 63-602G, property exempt from taxation   residential
improvements, lengthy affidavit procedures are eliminated, since
the same informational requirements are already set forth in
section 63-703(4), and a cross-reference to that section is
substituted.  This also eliminates differences and conflicts in
the two code sections as to what information and supporting
documents were required to be submitted.

Since making the change in the midst of a tax year would be
difficult, the bill also declares an effective date of January 1,
2004.

All of the language of the bill has been submitted to the state-
wide organization of the Assessors, including to their
legislative committee, and to the State Tax Commission, and has
been reviewed by them and approved by them.

                          FISCAL NOTE
                                
This bill will have no fiscal impact.  The bill will greatly
clarify and simplify the administration of the property tax
reduction procedures of the State of Idaho which may lead to
administrative savings.

CONTACT:  Robert L. Aldridge
          1209 North Eighth Street
          Boise, Idaho 83702-4297
          Telephone: office: (208) 336-9880  home: (208) 888-4668
cell: (208) 631-2481
          Fax: (208) 336-9882
          e-mail: rlaldridge@hotmail.com
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