Barkley works to make exemption claims easier

Published 12:12 pm Friday, October 4, 2013

Marengo County citizens who are receiving a homestead exemption because of total disability, or who are over 65 with income limitations, will receive an affidavit with their tax bills and personal property renditions that were mailed at the end of September.

The affidavit will allow these citizens to claim their ad valorem exemption without having to go to the courthouse to sign the exemption form. They can now sign and mail the return instead.

The revenue commissioner’s office is offering this assistance to help customers who have difficulty making it into the office.

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The card will have a few questions to mark, asking if the customer is totally and permanently disabled or over 65. For those that are not totally and permanently disabled, they are asked if they can file a tax return and if their combined federal taxable income was less than $12,000, or if their combined state adjusted gross income was less than $12,000.

Customers also have the option to pay their taxes online this year at www.marengocountyal.com, or they can use their credit and debit cards by phone or in the office. Cash and money orders are also accepted.

“It is our aim to meet the changing needs of the public,” Revenue Commissioner Sharon Barkley said in a press release. “It is also our desire to keep the public informed of exemptions, etc. that can be beneficial to them. We want to make the process of paying taxes as quick and pleasant as possible.”