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A constitutional amendment was passed in 1998 to freeze the assessment value for senior citizens provided they meet the requirements
of legislation. This bill was amended in 2002 to simplify the process of applying for the assessment freeze.
The purpose of this legislation was to provide senior citizens with some protection from increasing property taxes due to inflation in property values in their senior years.
This bill will not freeze your property taxes.
Under current law all residential homeowner property with an assessment "market value" of $75,000 or less is exempted from paying Parish property taxes. If your property is
within the boundary lines of any city in Tangipahoa, you will have to pay city taxes on your property. Homestead exemption does not exempt you from city taxes.
The assessment freeze only freezes the assessment value. It does not freeze the property tax rate. Property taxes are voted on by the public. If property owners continue to
approve new taxes, your taxes will continue to increase.
To qualify for the senior citizens assessment freeze, you must meet both of the following conditions:
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1. You must be 65 or older by the end of the current assessment year.
2. You must meet the income requirement. The income level for 2003 must be less than $55,779. |
The assessment freeze will be canceled, if you do one of the following:
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1. You sell your home.
2. You increase the value of your primary home by more than 25% of the value that the Assessor has for your house on the current tax roll. Usually this is done by adding
additional square footage to the house or adding a secondary building to your residence. |
If the assessment freeze is cancelled, your property will be revalued as of the current date and then you would be able to apply again for the freeze on your new home or on
the increased value of your modified home.
To apply for the Freeze you can come to any one of the three offices listed on the main web page. You should bring proof of age and a copy of your tax return. The Assessor
must verify that the adjusted gross income amount shown on your tax return meets the requirements of law. Each year the income limit is adjusted for inflation.
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