What is the Program?

• The Missouri Circuit Breaker is a program now called the Missouri Property Tax Credit. The program is sometimes also called "rent tax credit" and "rent rebate." It is for disabled and senior citizens whose incomes fall below designated levels.
  
  

Income Limits

• Income limits for renters are different from income limits for property owners. For renters, the 2009 income limits are $27,500 for single taxpayers or $29,500 for married filing together. For homeowners, 2009 income limits are $30,000 for single taxpayers or $34,000 for married filing together. Veterans Administration payments do not count as income for 100 percent service-related disabled veterans.
  
  

Renters and Part-Year Owners

• For renters and part-year owners, the maximum credit is $750. However, they must rent from a facility that pays property taxes, not a facility exempt from payment of property taxes. Many nursing homes and low-income public housing facilities are exempt because they make "payments in lieu of taxes." Both income and 20 percent of the rent paid are calculated into the tax credit formula, and a portion of the rent paid, not the entire 20 percent, is credited. For example, a single renter whose income was $14,500 and who paid $3,750 rent (20 percent = $750) would get a credit of $728. That same renter, paying rent of $2,125 (20 percent = $425) would get a credit of $403.
  
  

Full-Year Home Owners

• For homeowners who occupied their homes for the entire year, the maximum credit is $1,100. Actual property tax paid and income are calculated into the tax credit formula, and like the credit available to renters, home owners get a portion of the tax paid. For example, a single homeowner with an income of $24,000 and who paid property tax of $525 would get a credit of $16. That same homeowner, if he paid property taxes of $1,100, would get a credit of $591.
  
  

Who is "Senior" or Disabled?

• Missouri's definition of disabled in regard to the Property Tax Credit is someone who is 100 percent disabled. If the disability is service-related, then Veterans Benefits are excluded from being counted toward the income guidelines. Missouri's definition of "a senior" in regard to the Property Tax Credit is age 65 before the end of the calendar year, or age 60 and receiving surviving spouse Social Security Benefits.