MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2020 Regular Session
To: Ways and Means
By: Representative Hopkins
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 27-33-67 AND 27-33-75, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ANY HOMEOWNER HAVING A SERVICE-CONNECTED, LESS THAN TOTAL DISABILITY AS AN AMERICAN VETERAN AND WHO HAS BEEN HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM MILITARY SERVICE SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM A PERCENTAGE OF AD VALOREM TAXES ON THE ASSESSED VALUE OF HOMESTEAD PROPERTY THAT IS EQUAL TO THE PERCENTAGE OF SUCH HOMEOWNER'S DISABILITY RATING; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 27-33-67, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-33-67. (1) Each qualified homeowner under sixty-five (65) years of age on January 1 of the year for which the exemption is claimed, and who is not totally disabled as herein defined shall be exempt from ad valorem taxes in the amount prescribed in Section 27-33-69, 27-33-71, 27-33-73 or 27-33-75, whichever is applicable to the year for which the exemption is claimed.
(2) Each qualified homeowner who has reached sixty-five (65) years of age on or before January 1 of the year for which the exemption is claimed, who is totally disabled or less than totally disabled as herein defined, or who is the unremarried surviving spouse of a homeowner referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection (2), shall be exempt from ad valorem taxes in the manner prescribed in Section 27-33-69, 27-33-71, 27-33-73 or 27-33-75, whichever is applicable to the year for which the exemption is claimed.
To qualify for the exemptions provided for in this article because of disability, the homeowner must present proper proof of any of the following:
(a) (i) Service-connected, total disability as an American veteran who has been honorably discharged from military service.
(ii) Service-connected, less than total disability as an American veteran who has been honorably discharged from military service.
(b) Classification as totally disabled under the federal Social Security Act (42 USCS Section 416(i)), the Railroad Retirement Act or any other federal act approved by the Department of Revenue.
(i) If a person is eligible for classification as totally disabled under the federal acts referred to in this subsection (2)(b), but does not qualify to receive benefits thereunder because his annual income exceeds an amount set as the maximum allowed in qualifying to receive the benefits, then he is eligible for the disability exemptions specified in this article. Proper proof of such eligibility shall be determined by the Department of Revenue.
(ii) If a person is eligible for classification as totally disabled under the federal Social Security Act (42 USCA Section 416(i)), but does not qualify to receive benefits thereunder only because he has not made the necessary social security contributions, then he is eligible for the disability exemptions specified in this article. Proper proof of such eligibility shall be determined by the Department of Revenue. The provisions of this subparagraph (ii) shall apply to any homeowner filing for the disability exemption on or after January 1, 1992.
(c) Classification as totally disabled under the provisions of a retirement plan that is considered to be qualified under the United States Internal Revenue Code. The determination of whether or not a retirement plan is so qualified shall be made by the Department of Revenue.
(d) Classification as totally disabled as determined by the Department of Revenue pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the Department of Revenue.
Proper proof of classification as totally disabled under the federal acts referred to in subsection (2)(b) or (2)(c), including proof of the total disability and of eligibility to qualify to receive benefits under the relevant federal act or qualified retirement plan, shall be determined by the Department of Revenue.
The property owned jointly by husband and wife and property owned in fee simple by either spouse, if either spouse shall fulfill the age or disability requirement, shall be eligible for the exemption allowed in this article in full. On all other jointly owned property, the amount of the allowable exemption shall be determined on the basis of each individual joint owner's qualifications and pro rata share of the property.
(3) Those homeowners and unremarried surviving spouses described in subsection (2) of this section and who qualify for the exemptions under this article shall also be exempt from the forest acreage tax authorized by Section 49-19-115 applicable to property included in the homestead.
SECTION 2. Section 27-33-75, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-33-75. (1) Qualified homeowners described in subsection (1) of Section 27-33-67 shall be allowed an exemption from ad valorem taxes according to the following table:
ASSESSED VALUE HOMESTEAD
OF HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION
$ 1 - $ 150........................................... $ 6.00
151 - 300........................................... 12.00
301 - 450........................................... 18.00
451 - 600........................................... 24.00
601 - 750........................................... 30.00
751 - 900........................................... 36.00
901 - 1,050........................................... 42.00
1,051 - 1,200........................................... 48.00
1,201 - 1,350........................................... 54.00
1,351 - 1,500........................................... 60.00
1,501 - 1,650........................................... 66.00
1,651 - 1,800........................................... 72.00
1,801 - 1,950........................................... 78.00
1,951 - 2,100........................................... 84.00
2,101 - 2,250........................................... 90.00
2,251 - 2,400........................................... 96.00
2,401 - 2,550........................................... 102.00
2,551 - 2,700........................................... 108.00
2,701 - 2,850........................................... 114.00
2,851 - 3,000........................................... 120.00
3,001 - 3,150........................................... 126.00
3,151 - 3,300........................................... 132.00
3,301 - 3,450........................................... 138.00
3,451 - 3,600........................................... 144.00
3,601 - 3,750........................................... 150.00
3,751 - 3,900........................................... 156.00
3,901 - 4,050........................................... 162.00
4,051 - 4,200........................................... 168.00
4,201 - 4,350........................................... 174.00
4,351 - 4,500........................................... 180.00
4,501 - 4,650........................................... 186.00
4,651 - 4,800........................................... 192.00
4,801 - 4,950........................................... 198.00
4,951 - 5,100........................................... 204.00
5,101 - 5,250........................................... 210.00
5,251 - 5,400........................................... 216.00
5,401 - 5,550........................................... 222.00
5,551 - 5,700........................................... 228.00
5,701 - 5,850........................................... 234.00
5,851 - 6,000........................................... 240.00
6,001 - 6,150........................................... 246.00
6,151 - 6,300........................................... 252.00
6,301 - 6,450........................................... 258.00
6,451 - 6,600........................................... 264.00
6,601 - 6,750........................................... 270.00
6,751 - 6,900........................................... 276.00
6,901 - 7,050........................................... 282.00
7,051 - 7,200........................................... 288.00
7,201 - 7,350........................................... 294.00
7,351 and above......................................... 300.00
Assessed values shall be rounded to the next whole dollar (Fifty Cents (50˘) rounded to the next highest dollar) for the purposes of the above table.
One-half (1/2) of the exemption allowed in the above table shall be from taxes levied for school district purposes and one-half (1/2) shall be from taxes levied for county general fund purposes.
(2) (a) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, qualified homeowners described in subsection (2) of Section 27-33-67 shall be allowed an exemption from all ad valorem taxes on not in excess of Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($7,500.00) of the assessed value of the homestead property.
(b) From and after January 1, 2015, qualified homeowners described in subsection (2)(a)(i) of Section 27-33-67 and unremarried surviving spouses of such homeowners shall be allowed an exemption from all ad valorem taxes on the assessed value of the homestead property.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph (c), a qualified homeowner claiming an exemption under paragraph (a) of this subsection shall be allowed an additional exemption from all ad valorem taxes on an amount equal to the difference between (i) the assessed value of the homestead property on January 1, 2018, or January 1 of the first year for which the qualified homeowner claims an exemption for the homestead property under paragraph (a) of this subsection, and (ii) any increase in the assessed value of the homestead property resulting from a subsequent update in valuation of the homestead property that is completed during the time the qualified homeowner owns the property. In addition, if a subsequent update in valuation of the homestead property that is completed during the time the qualified homeowner owns the property results in the assessed value of the homestead property being less than the assessed value of the property on January 1, 2018, or January 1 of the first year for which the qualified homeowner claims an exemption for the homestead property under paragraph (a) of this subsection, then the exemption authorized under this paragraph (c) shall be on an amount equal to the difference between (i) such lower assessed value and (ii) any increase in the assessed value of the homestead property resulting from a subsequent update in valuation of the homestead property that is completed during the time the qualified homeowner owns the property. However, except for renovations, expansions, improvements or additions to promote energy efficiency, safety or access to the homestead property, the exemption authorized in this paragraph (c) shall not apply to any portion of increase in the assessed value of the homestead property that is attributable to renovations, expansions or improvements of or additions to the property during such time. For the purposes of this paragraph (c), an update in valuation of the homestead property occurs when a county has completed an update in the valuation of Class I property, as designated by Section 112, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, in the county according to procedures prescribed by the Department of Revenue and in effect on January 1, 2018, and for which the Department of Revenue has certified that such new valuations have been implemented for the purposes of ad valorem taxation.
(d) From and after January 1, 2021, qualified homeowners described in subsection (2)(a)(ii) of Section 27-33-67 and unremarried surviving spouses of such homeowners shall be allowed an exemption from all ad valorem taxes on a percentage of the assessed value of the homestead property that is equal to the percentage of such homeowner's disability rating.
(3) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, this section shall apply to exemptions claimed in the 2001 calendar year for which reimbursement is made in the 2002 calendar year and to exemptions claimed for which reimbursement is made in subsequent years. The exemption provided for in subsection (2)(b) of this section shall apply to exemptions claimed in the 2015 calendar year for which reimbursement is made in the 2016 calendar year and to exemptions claimed for which reimbursement is made in subsequent years. The exemption provided for in subsection (2)(c) of this section shall apply to exemptions claimed in the 2018 calendar year for which reimbursement is made in the 2019 calendar year and to exemptions claimed for which reimbursement is made in subsequent years. The exemption provided for in subsection (2)(d) of this section shall apply to exemptions claimed in the 2021 calendar year for which reimbursement is made in the 2022 calendar year and to exemptions claimed for which reimbursement is made in subsequent years.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2020.