Legislator's bill offers seniors tax credits for volunteer work

Bill would let seniors earn up to $1,500 off their property taxes

Posted 5/1/18

Sen. Cynthia A. Coyne is proposing legislation that would allow seniors to put their time and skills to good use helping their cities and towns, while reducing their property taxes.

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Legislator's bill offers seniors tax credits for volunteer work

Bill would let seniors earn up to $1,500 off their property taxes

Posted

Sen. Cynthia A. Coyne is proposing legislation that would allow seniors to put their time and skills to good use helping their cities and towns, while reducing their property taxes.

The legislation would authorize cities and towns to establish programs to offer tax credits to property owners age 60 and older in exchange for volunteer hours. 

While each city and town adopting the program could set its own parameters, the legislation would allow them to let seniors earn up to $1,500 off their property taxes.

“Many older property owners, particularly retirees, struggle under the burden of their property taxes," said Sen. Coyne (D-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol and East Providence). "Allowing them to reduce their tax liability by volunteering for their city or town lets them use some resources they have — time and skills — to lighten the load. This could benefit municipalities too, because seniors are very dependable volunteers who have a lifetime of skills and experience to offer.

“This is an idea that would benefit seniors as well as municipalities, which can assign the volunteers to whatever they need done. In these days of tight municipal budgets, it could bring in some very valuable volunteers for cash-strapped towns.”

Under the bill (2018-S 2668), municipalities that adopt the program by a resolution would be authorized to allow property owners age 60 and older to volunteer in exchange for a reduction in their tax liability equal to the minimum wage per hour volunteered (currently $10.10, rising to $10.50 on Jan. 1). 

The legislation would cap the reduction at $1,500 annually, and the credits would not be considered income for tax purposes. 

The bill also allows towns, if they choose, to allow representatives to earn credits on behalf of seniors who are physically unable to volunteer. Newport already has a program that allows seniors to earn up to $500 off their taxes by volunteering for the city, and similar programs exist in Massachusetts, Maine and Pennsylvania.

The program’s financial benefits could better enable some seniors to afford to remain longer in the homes they love, said Sen. Coyne. 

The regular volunteer work would also have social and physical benefits to seniors, by keeping them connected to their communities, keeping them mentally and physically active and providing the fulfilling sense of purpose that comes with volunteer work.

The legislation, which had a hearing before the Senate Finance Committee April 26, is supported by AARP RI and is cosponsored by Sen. James A. Seveney (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol, Tiverton), Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton), Sen. Jeanine Calkin (D-Dist. 30, Warwick) and Sen. Marc A. Cote (D-Dist. 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield).

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