Deadline Nears For Senior and Disabled Property Tax Deferral Programs

Senior and disabled people rally on capitol steps in 2005 Photo By: Tim King

(SALEM) - The Oregon Department of Revenue reminds Oregonians that April 17th is the filing deadline for the Senior and Disabled Citizen Property Tax Deferral programs.

These programs allow qualified taxpayers to defer payment of their property taxes on their homes. The state pays the taxes to the county, maintains the account, and charges the property owner 6-percent simple interest, which also is deferred. The deferral account balance is usually due when the taxpayer receiving the deferral dies, sells the property, permanently moves off the property—for reasons other than health—or if the property changes ownership. A surviving spouse may qualify to continue the property in deferral.

"The purpose of the program is to help keep senior and disabled citizens in their homes, and not worry about how they will pay their property taxes each year," said Debbie Saalfeld, program manager.

Applications and information are available by calling your county assessor's office or online at www.oregon.gov/DOR. You may also call the Department of Revenue, 503-378-4988 (Salem) or 1-800-356-4222 (toll-free from an Oregon prefix). Because the department receives so many calls this time of year, wait times maybe extended.