Local residents could receive property tax refund

Local residents may be able to get some money back on their 2009 property taxes, and get it fast.

The Kansas Homestead Program is available to residents of Kansas and provides a refund of up to $700 on their property tax. Bourbon County officials said many people already take advantage of this refund, but there are still many people who qualify and do not know it is available.

"There is always people every year that were not aware of this program ... we try to get it out to them because that's money that absolutely they need and they are entitled to," Bourbon County Clerk Joanne Long said.

To qualify for the refund, the person filing must:

* Be a resident of Kansas for all of 2009, and

* Own or rent property on tax roll, and

* Have a total household income of $31,300 or less, and

* Be born before Jan. 1, 1954, or

* Be blind or totally and permanently disabled all of 2009, or

* Have a dependent child who lived at the residence the entire year who was born before Jan. 1, 2009 and was under the age of 18 for all of 2009.

Long said the Kansas Department of Revenue is making a push to promote electronic filing. She said that due to budget issues, the state has not hired the temporary workers to open paper returns and claims as in the past. This decrease in staff has delayed the process of filing the paper returns.

"The state is really cutting back on their expenses," Long said. "They are really trying to do away with the paper stuff as much as possible. If you do a paper return it is going to take up to six months to get your check."

Those who chose to file electronically as well as chose to have their refund deposited directly into their bank account should see the refund in five to seven business days, according to Long. Those who file electronically but request a manual check will receive their refund within three months.

The Bourbon County Clerk's Office will file Kansas Homestead Program applications as well as Food Sales Tax returns for the public at no charge. They will not file income tax returns.

Long said that when applying, residents will need to bring proof of household income and a tax statement or a copy of the rent receipt from 2009. If residents want to have the refund deposited directly into their account a copy of a check or savings account number will be needed. Long said that resident's banking information will not be kept on record after the filing is complete.

The Bourbon County Clerk's Office is located on the second floor of the Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National Ave., and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, contact Long at (620) 223-3800, or visit the Kansas Department of Revenue's Web site at www.ksrevenue.org.