Senior homeowners can start applying this month for the new Seniors’ School Tax Rebate, the first step in the Manitoba government’s plan to eliminate school taxes for seniors by 2016. This announcement was made by Finance Minister Jennifer Howard.
“Seniors have spent decades helping to build Manitoba and our government is helping to make seniors’ lives more affordable this year with our new Seniors’ School Tax Rebate,” said Minister Howard. “With our new school tax rebate on top of existing education property tax credits, seniors can save up to $1,335 off their property taxes this year.”
Seniors can start applying when they receive their property tax statement from their local municipality. Residents of Winnipeg, Brandon and several other communities will receive their property tax statements this month, while some municipalities will send out their tax bills over the summer or early fall. To qualify for the new tax rebate, a senior must:
- own and live in their home,
- be at least 65 years of age by the end of 2014, and
- have school taxes not already fully covered by the existing Education Property Tax Credit.
Applications and more information are available online at www.manitoba.ca/seniorsrebate or by calling the tax assistance team at 204-945-7555 in Winnipeg or at 1-855-893-8266 (toll-free).
“We have been working hard to help seniors stay in their own homes longer,” said Healthy Living and Seniors Minister Sharon Blady. “Our government’s new Seniors’ School Tax Rebate will help make seniors lives more affordable and complements other supports such as our Caregiver Tax Credit and eliminating home-care user fees.”
There’s an estimated 80,000 homes owned by seniors in Manitoba. About 10,000 senior homeowners already have their school taxes fully covered by the Manitoba government’s Education Property Tax Credit (EPTC) and this year an additional 7,200 senior households will no longer pay school taxes with the new Seniors’ School Tax Rebate. A maximum rebate of $235 is available in 2014, in addition to the $700 in Education Property Tax Credit and up to $400 in the Seniors Education Property Tax Credit top-up, the minister said, adding the rebate will increase in 2015 and by 2016 will fully cover school taxes for seniors.
Based on concerns raised by several Manitobans, the province will be setting a rebate limit for luxury homes, a move that would affect less than one per cent of senior homeowners starting in 2016, Howard noted.
All Manitoba households, regardless of age and whether they rent or own, can receive the basic Education Property Tax Credit of up to $700. The Manitoba government has nearly tripled the EPTC since taking office, making it the second most generous property tax credit in Canada. More information about the EPTC is available at www.manitoba.ca/eptc.
