Sec. 1. 36 MRSA §5219-U is enacted to read:

§5219-U.__Maine Residents Property Tax Program credit

A refundable credit is allowed against the taxes imposed by this Part in the amount of benefits allowed under chapter 907.__ This credit is not available if the taxpayer has filed a separate application for benefits under chapter 907.

Sec. 2. 36 MRSA §6201, sub-§12, as amended by PL 1997, c. 557, Pt. A, §1 and affected by Pt. G, §1, is further amended to read:

12. Year for which relief is requested. "Year for which relief is requested" means the calendar year preceding that in which the claim is filed. For a claim filed in between January 1st and April 15th of any year, "year for which relief is requested" means the calendar year 2 years preceding that in which the claim is filed.

Sec. 3. 36 MRSA §6221 is enacted to read:

§6221.__Income tax credit option

A person eligible for benefits under this chapter may elect to receive those benefits as a credit against income tax as provided in section 5219-U if the credit is claimed on the claimant's annual income tax return.

SUMMARY

The bill permits claimants to claim benefits under the Maine Residents Property Tax Program as a refundable income tax credit and expands the time period for filing claims to include the income tax filing period.