30 / 56
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY
ELIGIBLE COSTS?
Eligible costs are those that:
(1) Are incurred within 12 months before
the application for the credit;
(2) Are for a feature described in question I,
including reasonable costs to install the
feature;
(3) Were paid by you and were not, and will
not be, reimbursed by any entity; and
(4) Exceed $500.00
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE CREDIT
IS MORE THAN MY TAXES?
If the credit exceeds the County
property tax, the County will apply
the excess to future tax years until you
receive the full amount of the credit.
THE LAW SAYS THAT THERE IS
A LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF
CREDITS THE COUNTY MAY
GRANT?
Yes, during a fiscal year, the total of
all tax credits granted may not exceed
$100,000, but in the event that the
County hits that limit, approved
applications will be granted in later
years according to the order that the
applications were received.
WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO
RECEIVE A CREDIT?
To receive the credit, you must first
obtain a permit from the Department
of Inspections, Licenses, & Permits
(DILP) for the work (even if the scope of
the work would not normally require a
permit and inspections), and complete
the work. You must then submit an
application to the Department of
Finance on the application form that is
available on the County web site. The
application must include a copy of the
building permit for the installation of
the feature. The application must be
signed by you and the contractor who
installed the feature unless you did the
installation yourself.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I
SUBMIT AN APPLICATION?
The Countywill evaluate the application
and, if it is approved, the credit will be
used to reduce your County property
tax bill.
I WANT TO INSTALL MORE
THAN ONE FEATURE. WILL I GET
A CREDIT FOR EACH?
Only one application for a credit may
be accepted for each property during a
single tax year. If the cost of the feature
installed is greater than $5,000, to get
a credit for more than one feature,
you will need to install each feature in
a separate year. If the cost of a single
installed feature is less than $5,000,
you may install multiple features
during the same year to receive the
maximum credit.
WHAT IF I HAVEMORE QUESTIONS?
Call the Howard County Tax Credit
Line at 410-313-4076 between 8am and
5pm Monday – Friday or, see the web
page
https://www.howardcountymd.gov/Departments/Finance/Billing-
and-Payments/Real-Property-Taxes/
Tax-Credits/Other-Residential-Credit
30
H OWA R D C O U N T Y C A R E G I V E R G U I D E