In an effort to assist its residents, the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors will host a public hearing at its July 16 business meeting to make changes to its elderly and disabled tax relief program.

The Board recommends increasing the household income threshold from $25,000 to $35,000 a year. Additionally, the Board recommends increasing an individual’s net worth from $60,000 to $70,000 and raising the maximum tax exemption amount from $450 to $600.

“The Board wants to do all it can to ease the tax burden on its older and disabled residents who may lack the means to make those payments, especially after the recent property reassessment. The Board also encourages all those who qualify to apply to the program,” said Darrell Dalton, Chairman, Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors.

The program does include income from all the individuals living in the home, but the applicant may exclude the first $4,000 of income of each relative other than a spouse who also lives in the home and is not a bona fide caregiver of the applicant.
The net worth includes the value of the applicant’s assets such as stocks, bonds, savings and checking accounts, rental properties, land value in excess of one acre, vehicles, farm equipment, etc.

The net worth provision excludes the home and one acre of land that it sits on.

To qualify for the program, the applicant must meet the above criteria and be at least 65 years old by January 1 of the tax relief year. Those who are not 65 but are permanently or totally disabled may also be eligible. Those individuals must supply the Commissioner of Revenue with a letter from the Social Security office, other government office or two doctors indicating that that the applicant is permanently and totally disabled and unable to engage in any substantial gainful employment because of a disability. The applicant must still meet the income and net worth requirements.

To learn more about the program and obtain an application, click here.