Assessor's staff available to help complete form

35Regarding Cecilia Gors letter (Bee, Feb. 1), I had on my desk an application for Idaho Property Tax Reduction Program (Circuit Breaker), one page long plus a two-page worksheet to itemize the various medical expenses. How does that become 12 pages? Yes, it requires keeping a record of medical expenses like insurance premiums/drugs, doctors’ visits, ambulance, travel to and from hospitals, hospital bills not covered by insurance, etc. as well as various items of income. Do you require the assistance of a professional tax preparer? Are you 65 or older? Do you have a disability? And a few other things but once you know what records have to be saved, it might take a couple of hours to complete. I can’t see how that could possibly require 12 pages — unless you have multiple income sources. But they provide 1099 forms at the end of the year, which you copy and attach. And there is help available at the Assessor’s Office. What is the big deal?

This is a state program for the elderly and/or disabled. The state reimburses the various taxing entities that would normally collect that money (i.e. the county), so the overall county collections are not reduced.

For more information you may contact the Idaho State Tax Commission — toll free — at 1 (800)-334-7756, ext. 7736 or tax.idaho.gov if you have access to the Internet.

Perhaps Cecilia could help that elderly person who is having difficulty understanding what is required.

CHRIS STORY

Cocolalla