Press Release- May 04, 2007
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2007
Contact:
Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370
DISABLED VETERANS PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION
APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE
GOVERNOR SIGNS REF E IMPLEMENTATION INTO LAW
Gov. Bill Ritter signed HB 1251 (Ref 'E' Implementation Bill) into law at the 35th Annual United Veterans Committee Awards Banquet on April 15, 2007. Qualified disabled veterans are now entitled to a property tax exemption of 50 percent of the first $200,000 of value for their primary residence.
Qualifying vets are those who have a service-connected disability that has been rated as 100 percent permanent and total (P&T) by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as a result of a service-connected disability, and who have owned and occupied the property as their primary residence since Jan. 1, 2007.
A website link is now available for qualified veterans to download a copy of the application and instructions at:
http://www.dmva.state.co.us/viewpage.php?UGFnZUlEPTQz. Additional details about applying may be obtained from the Division of Property Taxation website at www.dola.colorado.gov/dpt/forms/index.htm.
Additional Information
The two step process for obtaining this exemption is as follows:
Step I - For this year, the Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs will provide and assist in the verification of the veteran¿s application for eligibility (100 percent service-connected and P&T rating). A completed and signed application, along with a copy of the veteran's VA (100 percent service-connected P&T) award letter may be mailed, fax or delivered to:
State of Colorado
Division of Veterans Affairs
7465 E. 1st Avenue
Suite 'C'
Denver, CO 80230
(303) 343 - 7238 (fax)
Should the veteran not have a copy of his/her VA P&T award letter, each County Veterans Service Officer may assist the qualified veteran by initiating the CVA-12 (Request for Preference Letter from the VA Certifying Eligibility).
Step II - Once the veteran's disability rating is verified, a letter of notification will be given/mailed to the veteran, and to the county assessor's office of the county in which the veteran resides.
The county assessor's office will then complete the application process
by verifying the owner-occupancy portion of the property tax exemption application.
Helpful Hints to Qualified Vets on Ref E's Application:
__ The exemption is effective January 1, 2007 on property tax bills sent
beginning in 2008.
__ Qualified disabled veterans must be rated at the 100% service-connected
disability, with at total and permanent disability rating.
__ For qualified disabled veterans: 50 percent of the first $200,000 of the
actual value of the veteran's PRIMARY residence is exempted.
__ Owners of multiple residences may only designate one property as their
primary residence.
__ Qualified disabled veterans DO NOT have to have a 10 year residency
requirement (as currently required for the Sr. property tax homestead
exemption).
__ Tax exemption for qualified disabled veterans is not transferable to
the veteran's spouse.
__ Application deadline is July 1, 2007. All applications must first be forwarded to the Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs.
Contact the Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs at (303) 343-1268, for any additional information:
R. 'Hutch' Hutchison
Deputy Director
Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs
(303) 343 - 1268, ext. 19
(303) 343 - 7238 (Fax)
richard.hutchison@dmva.state.co.us