Governor encourages Montana homeowners to apply for property tax rebate

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte issued a release Tuesday encouraging people to file for the property tax rebate issued by the Montana Legislature this year.

Montana had a massive — estimated at $2.5 billion — surplus in revenue this year. State budget analysts said the income tax growth was likely due to large influxes of money from the federal government in its COVID-19 relief funding and population growth including high-income people moving to the state.

Gianforte said his administration prioritized property tax relief in the session.

“I encourage folks to get online tomorrow and claim their rebate,” Gianforte said in Tuesday’s release.

Starting today, eligible Montana homeowners may claim their property tax rebate up to $675 at https://getmyrebate.mt.gov .

Claims must be filed by Oct. 1, 2023.

The release says that, to qualify for the rebate, taxpayers must have owned and lived in their home for at least seven months during 2022. The amount of the rebate is the property taxes paid on this principal Montana residence for 2022, up to $675.

Democrats in the Legislature attempted unsuccessfully to to include renters in the relief.

To claim the property tax rebate, taxpayers may apply at either getmyrebate.mt.gov or by paper form.

“The fastest way to get your rebate is to apply online,” Montana Department of Revenue Director Brendan Beatty said in the release. “Make sure to apply by the deadline of Oct. 1.”

The application requires the physical address, geocode, amount of property taxes paid as shown on the property tax bill, and the names and Social Security numbers of the taxpayer and any spouse or dependents.

The Department of Revenue has created several tools on getmyrebate.mt.gov to aid taxpayers in compiling this information, the release added, including a video demonstrating how to find a property’s geocode.

Taxpayers may choose how they receive the rebate during their application process. The quickest way to get the rebate is by direct deposit to a bank account. However, taxpayers can also have their rebate mailed to them as a check.

The department will process claims as they are received, and distribute rebates by Dec. 31, 2023, the release said.

Montana homeowners will be eligible for a second property tax rebate up to $675 in 2024 for property taxes paid on a principal residence for 2023.

For additional information about the property tax rebate or to check on the status of the income or property tax rebates, people can visit https://getmyrebate.mt.gov .