Senior Property Valuation Protection Option Qualification Guidelines

Arizona voters approved Proposition 104 in the November 2000, General Election, amending the Arizona Constitution. The amendment provides for the “freezing” of the full cash valuation of homes owned by seniors who meet ALL of the following requirements

• At least one of the owners must be 65 years of age at the time the application is filed.
  
  
• The Property must be the primary residence of the taxpayer (primary residence is defined as "that residence which is occupuied by the taxpayer for an aggregate of nine months of the calendar year"). A taxpayer can only have one primary residence. Rentals, Duplexes, apartments, mixed use properties and properties on over ten acres do not qualify for this program.
  
  
• The owner must have lived and owned the home for at least two (2) years prior to applying for the option.
  
  
• The household total income from ALL sources, including non-taxable income, cannot exceed $30,576.00 individuals and $38,220.00 for joint ownership.

All information listed on the application will be verified by the Assessor’s Office.

If the owner meets all of these requirements the valuation of the primary residence will remain fixed for a three (3) year period. To remain eligible the owner is required to renew the option during the last six (6) months of the three (3) year period upon receipt of a notice of re-application from the County Assessor. The freeze terminates if the owner sells the home, adds new construction or otherwise becomes ineligible. The property then reverts to its current full cash value as determined by the County Assessor.

Please be aware that, while the FULL CASH VALUE will be frozen, the TAX RATES that are set by the Board of Supervisor for your area will NOT be frozen and your taxes can continue to fluctuate.

If you file a Petition for Review (appeal) of your value while the value is frozen under this Prop.104 program, your frozen value may be eliminated depending on the reviewing authorities’ decision.

Application period runs from March 1, 2008 to September 1, 2008.

Mail your application to:
Pima County Assessor’s Office
Exemption Section
21 E. Congress
Tucson, AZ 85701

For more information please call (520) 243-6255

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING

The property owner may submit an application beginning March 1, 2008, after reviewing the 2009 valuation notice. Please review your valuation card closely and be sure that your 2009 value will be higher than your 2008 value.


If your 2009 value is lower than your 2008 value, it is not to your benefit to freeze your valuation for 2009.

Please consider current and anticipated market conditions when making your decision to freeze your value or not. Consult a real estate professional if needed.

Documents Required

Documents to verify age may be one of the following:
A copy of an Arizona Driver’s License, or a copy of a Passport, or a copy of a Birth Certificate.

Documents to verify income sources should include:
copies of your federal tax returns pages 1 & 2 (if you have business income or rent income please provide either schedule C or E or both), copies of your Social Security benefits statements, 1099 forms from your financial institutions or copies of year end statements from your financial institution listing interest. Income documents must be submitted for all three years listed on the application.

You can contact the Social Security Administration for copies of your statement at 1-800-772-1213.

All documents verifying all household income, age and residency MUST be submitted along with initial application. Each income source listed on the application must have documentation. Applications not providing documentation will be returned.

Please be sure to sign and date your application before submitting it to our office. All unsigned applications will be returned.

The deadline for submitting the application is September 1st 2008. You will be notified no later than December 1st on the decision of your application. Please do not call prior to December 1st to inquire about your application.

Applications can be obtained here or by calling 520-243-6255

Mail applications to:
Pima County Assessor’s Office
Exemption Section
21 E. Congress
Tucson, AZ 85701