Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

House File 2076 - Introduced
                                  HOUSE FILE 2076
                                  BY STAED
                            A BILL FOR
An Act modifying provisions relating to the filing date for the
  disabled veteran homestead property tax credit and including
  effective date provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
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                                H.F. 2076
    Section 1. Section 425.1, subsection 4, Code 2022, is
 amended to read as follows:
    4. Annually the department of revenue shall certify to
 the county auditor of each county the credit and its amount
 in dollars. Each county auditor shall then enter the credit
 against the tax levied on each eligible homestead in each
 county payable during the ensuing year, designating on the tax
 lists the credit as being from the homestead credit fund, and
 credit shall then be given to the several taxing districts in
 which eligible homesteads are located in an amount equal to the
 credits allowed on the taxes of the homesteads. The amount
 of credits certified and amounts given to the several taxing
 districts shall be adjusted, if necessary, as the result of
 claims filed under section 425.2, subsection 1, paragraph “c”,
 following the date for certification. The amount of credits
 shall be apportioned by each county treasurer to the several
 taxing districts as provided by law, in the same manner as
 though the amount of the credit had been paid by the owners of
 the homesteads. However, the several taxing districts shall
 not draw the funds so credited until after the semiannual
 allocations have been received by the county treasurer, as
 provided in this subchapter. Each county treasurer shall show
 on each tax receipt the amount of credit received from the
 homestead credit fund.
    Sec. 2. Section 425.2, subsection 1, Code 2022, is amended
 to read as follows:
    1. a. A person who wishes to qualify for the homestead
 credit allowed under this subchapter shall obtain the
 appropriate forms for filing for the credit from the assessor.
 The person claiming the credit shall file a verified statement
 and designation of homestead with the assessor for the year for
 which the person is first claiming the credit.
    b. The claim shall be filed not later than July 1 of the
 year for which the person is claiming the credit. A claim
 filed after July 1 of the year for which the person is claiming
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                               H.F. 2076
 the credit shall be considered as a claim filed for the
 following year.
    c. For a person filing a claim under this subchapter who
 qualifies for the credit amount provided under section 425.15,
 the credit shall be applicable immediately to property tax
 payments due and payable beginning with the fiscal year during
 which the claim was filed and for which the person claiming
 the credit is responsible for payment on or after the date of
 filing.
    Sec. 3. Section 425.3, subsection 3, Code 2022, is amended
 to read as follows:
    3. Not later than July 6 of each year, or for claims filed
 under section 425.2, subsection 1, paragraph “c”, as soon as
 practicable following the date of filing, the assessor shall
 remit the statements and designation of homesteads to the
 county auditor with the assessor’s recommendation for allowance
 or disallowance. If the assessor recommends disallowance
 of a claim, the assessor shall submit the reasons for the
 recommendation, in writing, to the county auditor.
    Sec. 4. Section 425.4, Code 2022, is amended to read as
 follows:
    425.4 Certification to treasurer.
    All claims which have been allowed by the board of
 supervisors shall be certified on or before August 1, in each
 year, or for claims filed under section 425.2, subsection 1,
 paragraph “c”, as soon as practicable following the date of
 allowance, by the county auditor to the county treasurer,
 which certificates shall list the total amount of dollars,
 listed by taxing district in the county, due for homestead
 tax credits claimed and allowed. The county treasurer shall
 forthwith certify to the department of revenue the total amount
 of dollars, listed by taxing district in the county, due for
 homestead tax credits claimed and allowed.
    Sec. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of immediate
 importance, takes effect upon enactment.
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                                        H.F. 2076
                                    EXPLANATION
         The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
         the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
    This bill relates to veterans benefits by modifying
 provisions relating to the filing date for the disabled veteran
 homestead property tax credit.
    Current Code section 425.2 provides that a person who wishes
 to receive the homestead property tax credit must file the
 claim with the assessor not later than July 1 of the assessment
 year for which the person is claiming the credit and a claim
 filed after July 1 of the assessment year for which the person
 is claiming the credit shall be considered as a claim filed
 for the following year. Consequently, for example, a claim
 filed on July 1, 2021, would be allowed for the assessment year
 beginning January 1, 2021, for property taxes calculated using
 valuations from that assessment year that are due and payable
 during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022, and ending June
 30, 2023.
    The bill modifies the timeline for which a homestead credit
 is allowed if the person claiming the credit is eligible for
 the disabled veteran homestead credit amount under Code section
 425.15. For such a claimant, the credit shall be applicable
 immediately to property tax payments due and payable beginning
 with the fiscal year during which the claim was filed and for
 which the person claiming the credit is responsible for payment
 on or after the date of filing. For example, a claim filed on
 July 1, 2021, would be allowed for property taxes that are due
 and payable during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021, and
 ending June 30, 2022, for which the claimant is responsible for
 payment.
    The bill takes effect upon enactment.
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Statutes affected: 
Introduced: 425.1, 425.15, 425.2