New legislation increases senior and disabled persons income limits for tax purposes

||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS |||

San Juan County’s Assessor’s Office is alerting the public of new income limits that affect taxes for senior citizens and people with disabilities in San Juan County. 

Substitute House Bill 1355 passed the legislature and was signed by the governor, which increases the income limits for tax relief for senior citizens and disabled persons effective for 2024 taxes. The bill increased the limits for each county, based on median income in each county, recognizing the inequality between cost-of-living differences in counties across the state.

The preliminary new median incomes for each county were published by the Office of Financial Management. According to their data, San Juan County’s median income is now $68,932. 

What does this mean for taxes? 

• The threshold for qualifying for the tax exemption is 70% of the county median, or $49,000 for 2024 taxes. 
• The threshold for the tax deferral is 75% of the county median, or $51,699 for 2024 taxes. 

Interestingly, the legislature rounded the threshold to the next thousand dollars for the exemption, but not for the deferral program. It is important to note the threshold values are preliminary and subject to change. The Department of Revenue will publish the official income thresholds by August 1, 2023.

The San Juan County Assessor’s Office will be contacting individuals who applied last year but were denied because their income was too high. The office also encourages anyone who thinks they may qualify under the new limits to contact the office at assessor-mail@sanjuanco.com or 360-378-2172 between 10:00 – 4:00, Monday through Friday.

Learn more: Office of Financial Management data: https://ofm.wa.gov/washington-data-research/economy-and-labor-force/median-household-income-estimates

About the San Juan County Assessor’s Office 

The San Juan County Assessor’s Office identifies and assigns a taxable value to all business and personal property within San Juan County so that taxes are paid equitably according to State law. Property taxes allow our community to benefit from services like schools, libraries, parks, health services, fire protection, and law enforcement. The San Juan County Assessor’s Office is committed to a process that is professional, fair, and clearly understood. The department’s main office is located at 350 Court Street, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. For more information about San Juan County’s Assessor’s Office, visit www.sanjuanco.com/149/Assessor.