By now you should have received your Maryland Property Tax Assessment notice in the mail.  According to the Washington Post, there is an application inside the assessment which you need to fill out in order to apply for the Homestead Property Tax Credit.  This credit was automatically given to you in the past, if you were eligible, which most of us are eligible.  This year you must apply for the Tax Credit.  The homestead credit limits the amount of assessment increase on which a homeowner will pay property taxes in that tax year on the one property used as the owner's principal residence.

This year if you do not fill out the application you will not be granted the Homestead Tax Exemption and your tax bill will go up accordingly.

Please be sure to fill out this application completely and return it to the Department of Assessments.  If you have further questions you can visit the Maryland Department of Assessments website at http://www.dat.state.md.us/  or you can view the article at Washingtonpost.com http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/05/AR2008010500143.html?sub=AR .

Please pass this information along to your customers, neighbors, friends, family, and anyone who may not be aware of the application process that is needed this year to obtain the Homestead Property Tax Credit.