Man About Canton: Feb. 2 Preview
By Joe DeFeliceDid you know …
Tax assistance is available to low- and moderate-income Canton seniors through the Tax-Aide program of the AARP. A trained volunteer will be at the Canton Senior Center to help you with your return. You must bring your federal and state W2 forms, your real estate tax bill (for the circuit breaker tax credit), a water bill, proof of all tax-exempt income, check registers, if possible, and copies of your 2015 federal and state returns. To make an appointment, call the Council on Aging at 781-828-1323.
As was recently mentioned in the Canton Citizen, the Canton Board of Selectmen will once again offer to Canton senior citizens the “Senior Citizen Tax Credit Program.” Applicants for the program must be residential property owners in Canton and also be 60 years of age or older. The program affords seniors the opportunity to work for the community in various specific, temporary, part-time service areas. In exchange, the town will provide residential property tax credit up to $1,000 per year. To obtain an application, drop by the Senior Center at 500 Pleasant Street or call 781-828-1323. Applications must be submitted by February 13 to the attention of COA Director Diane Tynan.
At the 2017 annual town meeting in May, voters will be asked to approve a town bylaw, passed by the state in 2016, to increase the senior tax credit from $1,000 to $1,500. It will also increase from 125 to 175 the number of hours a senior can work to earn that $1,500. Under the state guidelines approved last year by legislators, participants’ hourly earnings may not exceed the minimum wage of $11.
The state’s current minimum wage increased to $11 on January 1, 2017. This was the third and final step-up outlined in a 2014 law. That law called for the minimum wage to increase incrementally from $8 an hour to $11 over three years.
The minimum hourly wage for tipped employees rose from $3.35 to $3.75 also effective on January 1, 2017.
As of January 1, 2017, medical expenses for people age 65 and over must exceed 10 percent of their income before they can claim a federal tax deduction. That’s an increase from the current threshold of 7.5 percent …
See this week’s Canton Citizen to read the full version of Man About Canton, or order your subscription today.
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=35392
Posted by Joe DeFelice
on Feb 3 2017. Filed under Man About Canton, Opinion.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
