Additional tax exemptions available

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BFTownHall2BEACON FALLS — The deadline is approaching for eligible residents to file for additional tax exemptions.

The Assessor’s Office issued a reminder to veterans who have not filed their discharge papers yet with the town clerk that the deadline to do so is Oct. 1 to establish eligibility for the military exemption. Veterans must have served 90 days active duty during a time of war or have a service-related disability to qualify.

Current active duty members are also eligible for tax relief on one motor vehicle. Veterans with disability ratings are eligible for additional exemptions.

The deadline to apply for filing additional veteran exemptions is Oct. 1. To be eligible veterans must meet income requirements of no more than $33,500 for a single person and $40,900 for a married couple.

Totally disabled taxpayers, who have not yet applied for exemptions, may do so at the Assessor’s office. Documentation from the Social Security Administration must be presented as proof of disability.

New applications are also being accepted for the blind tax exemption. Blindness certification from the state Board of Education and Services for the Blind is required. The deadline to apply is Oct. 1.

The filing period for new applicants for farm and forestland designation benefits is Sept. 1 to Oct. 31. To qualify for farmland, land must be used primarily for farming and a certain amount of income or expenses must derive form its use.

To qualify for a forestland exemption, the property owner must hire a state certified forester to examine the land. The total acreage of forestland must exceed 25 acres. This report must be filed by Oct. 1.

For more information, call the Assessor’s Office at (203) 723-5253.