MEDIA RELEASE

Any taxpayer who experienced destruction or damage to their real property from the March 11 tsunami should file a claim for remission of real property taxes, Mayor Billy Kenoi announced.

The deadline for filing this claim for tax relief is June 30, 2011, but taxpayers should file their claims as soon as possible.

According to County Finance Director Nancy Crawford, taxpayers should access the Real Property Tax website at http://www.hawaiipropertytax.com under the Forms and Instructions tab and Miscellaneous to obtain the appropriate form and information about the remission of taxes.

Taxpayers can also contact the appraisal section of the Real Property Tax Office at 75-5706 Kuakini Highway, Suite 112, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 or call 323-4881 to obtain forms and information. Taxpayers may also contact the Hilo office at 961-8354.

This method of filing is the only way to recover a portion of the real property taxes paid on property for the current tax year (July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011).

Each parcel is subject to a minimum tax in the amount of $100 and any remission will not reduce the total tax below the minimum. The real property tax assessment does not include personal property such as furniture, carpets or draperies, and no remission will be made for this type of loss or damage.