LIHU‘E — The county’s deadline to file exemptions for 2022 real-property tax assessments is Sept. 30.
Those who are primary residents of Kaua‘i and are not currently receiving a home exemption or related tax credit may be eligible to file a claim to reduce taxes on their homes.
To qualify for a home exemption, a homeowner must occupy the Kaua‘i property as their principal home for more than 270 days, not hold another primary resident exemption elsewhere, and provide a 2020 full-time resident state income tax return (Form N-11), a Hawai‘i driver’s license or state ID.
Other exemptions are available to totally disabled veterans; persons with impaired sight or hearing; persons totally disabled; charitable organizations; low- and moderate-income housing dwellers; property owners with eligible safe rooms; kuleana landowners; and an additional home exemption relating to owner-occupants’ income.
Tax credits include the limitation of taxes for home preservation and the low-income tax credit.
The Long Term Affordable Rental program provides the homestead tax class, the lowest tax rate, for approved property owners who rent their properties at or below 90% of the Kaua‘i median household income as set forth in the County Housing Agency Affordable Rental Housing guidelines. Property owners now have the option to apply for this program online at connect.kauai.gov by Sept. 30.
If there are any questions regarding the continuing status of a multi-year-lease agreement, contact the county Department of Finance Real Property Assessment office or file prior to Sept. 30.
The residential investor tax classification includes properties with dwellings that are valued at over $1.3 million. An owner is required to file a Long-Term Lease/Rental Annual Application for all living units on the parcel to qualify for the lower residential tax rate.
Failure to notify the assessor of any change to current tax-relief status subjects the property to back taxes and a civil penalty for each year that the change is unreported.
Exemption and tax-credit claim forms are available at the Lihu‘e Civic Center’s Mo‘ikeha Building, 4444 Rice St., Suite 454, Lihu‘e, or at kauaipropertytax.com (click on “Forms & Instructions”). For additional information, call 808-241-4224.
