Homestead & Safe Senior Refunds

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Welcome to the home page for the County Clerk of Douglas County, Kansas.

• General Information
• Kansas Homestead Claim (K-40H)
• Property Tax Relief Claim ("Safe Senior") (K-40PT)
• Links
• Contact Us

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General Information

The County Clerk's office is happy to assist with filing the Kansas Homestead Claim, Property Tax Relief Claim ("Safe Senior"), or Food Sales Tax Refund for people who do not file income tax returns. Our office is located on the first floor of the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts Street, Lawrence.

Our hours for Homestead, Safe Senior, and Food Sales Tax Refund assistance are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Filing dates for 2012 returns are January 1, 2013 through April 15, 2013.

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Kansas Homestead Claim (K-40H)

The Kansas Homestead Claim program is for homeowners and renters who were residents of Kansas for all of 2012. The refund is based on your total household income and whether you own or rent your homestead.

Do I qualify for this refund?
As a Kansas resident the entire year, you may be eligible for this refund if your total household income is $32,400 or less and:

1. You were born before January 1, 1957, or;
   
   
2. You were blind or totally and permanently disabled all of 2012, or;
   
   
3. 3. You had a dependent child who lived with you the entire year who was born before January 1, 2012, and was under the age of 18 all of 2012.

You cannot qualify if your homestead is NOT subject to property taxes. In addition, if you own or occupy a homestead (that is not rental property) with an appraised valuation that exceeds $350,000 you are not eligible for this refund.

How much is the Homestead Refund?
The rebate is a percentage of either the property tax paid (for homeowners) or of 15% of the total "rent paid for occupancy" (for renters). The maximum refund is $700.

A homeowner may claim either the Homestead refund or Property Tax Relief Claim ("Safe Senior"), but not both. The Kansas Department of Revenue's WebFile determines which claim is most beneficial to the homeowner.

What information is needed to file?
To better assist you with Homestead or "Safe Senior" filings please bring the following information with you when visiting our office:

1. Your name, social security number, address, telephone number and date of birth.
   
   
2. Personal information for all other household members, including name, social security number, and date of birth.
   
   
3. Complete information regarding household income (for yourself and any others living with you in 2012) including these examples: taxable & nontaxable wages, salaries, self employment income, interest, dividends, earned income credit, social security, SSI benefits, disability payments, any retirement benefits, unemployment, alimony, welfare and temporary assistance payments, foster home care payments, gambling winnings, jury duty payments.
   
   
4. If receiving disability, know the amount of disability payment received and the date that the disability began. First-time filers should bring their Social Security Benefit Verification Statement or Schedule DIS form.
   
   
5. Homeowners: know the amount of 2012 property tax billed.
   
   
6. Renters: For each place you lived in 2012, please provide the address and zip code of the residence; the name address and telephone number of the owner/manager; the type of rental property; the amount of rent paid at each place; the number of months you lived at each place; information on bills paid by each landlord (gas, electric, water/sewer, trash) as well as any services provided by the landlord (furniture, stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, washer and dryer, heat, air conditioning, cable, laundry, meals, or any other service)
   
   
7. Your banking information if you would like to have your refund directly deposited into your bank account. (Bank routing number; bank account number and type of account)

To save time, please complete this form and bring it with you: 2012 Homestead Refund Information Form (PDF format)

What is the Homestead Refund Advancement Program?
This program allows eligible homeowners to apply their anticipated Homestead refund to help pay the first half of their property taxes. The advancement is sent directly to the County Treasurer, eliminating the need for the filer to physically deliver a homestead eligibility letter to the County Treasurer.
There is a question on Form K-40H asking the homeowner whether they want their next year's homestead advancement sent directly to their County Treasurer. If the box is checked on the 2012 K-40H, the 2013 homestead advancement will be sent directly from the Kansas Department of Revenue to the County Treasurer. If you do not check this box, your homestead refund will not be automatically applied to your property tax bill.

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Property Tax Relief Claim ("Safe Senior") (K-40PT)

The "SAFE Senior" Property Tax Relief Claim is a program for homeowners whose 2012 household income was $18,200 or less.

Do I qualify for this refund?

1. You, the homeowner, must have been 65 years or older and a resident of Kansas for all of 2012, and;
   
   
2. You must not have any delinquent property taxes in 2012

In addition, your home's appraised valuation for property tax purposes cannot exceed $350,000.

How much is the "Safe Senior" Refund?
Qualifying homeowners are eligible for a refund of 75% of their property taxes paid.

A homeowner may claim either the Property Tax Relief Claim ("Safe Senior") refund or Homestead, but not both. The Kansas Department of Revenue's WebFile determines which claim is most beneficial to the filer.

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Links

For more information on the Homestead or "Safe Senior" refund programs through the Kansas Department of Revenue:

• Homestead Refund Frequently Asked Questions (HTML format)
  
  
• Homestead Advancement Refund Information (PDF format)
  
  
• Safe Senior Frequently Asked Questions (HTML format)
  
  
• Homestead and Safe Senior Instructions (PDF format)
  
  
• K-40 Instructions & Food Sales Tax Qualifications (PDF format)
  
  
• Online Homestead Refund Claim Form (HTML format)
  
  
• Check Your Refund Status Online (HTML format), or call 1-800-894-0318 for automated refund status.

For a Kansas Department of Revenue agent, call (785) 368-8222 (Please Note: 1st menu press 4, 2nd menu press 2). Be sure to call this number if you move as the Post Office will not forward refunds.

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Contact Us

For more information about these programs, please use the contact information listed below:

Contact
Name	Job Title	Phone Number	Email Address
Kathleen Taylor	Homestead & Food Sales Tax Clerk	(785) 832-5167

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