NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 12, 2002 Real Property Bills Reveal Unallowable Homestead Claims (Washington, DC) The District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) announced today that over 158,000 real property tax bills for the 2002 Second-Half Tax Year will be mailed on August 15 to District property owners. These tax bills will reflect current and past due real property tax liabilities. In addition, some of these tax bills will reflect a retroactive collection of real property taxes from those property owners who erroneously received the homestead and/or senior citizen tax credit. "It is against the law for property owners to receive the homestead and/or senior citizen credit if they do not meet the program requirements. In order for a property owner to be eligible for the program, they must have an approved application on file," said Herbert J. Huff, deputy chief financial officer. "When eligibility requirements have not been met, we must remove the property from the program and collect the taxes owed the District." Last year, OTR mailed over 18,000 homestead and/or senior citizen confirmation letters to property owners, requesting that they submit confirmation applications to verify their homestead eligibility or property status. For more information about the homestead and/or senior citizen program, a property owner may call (202) 727-4TAX (727-4829) or visit our website. However, if a property owner believes he or she is already eligible, they should make an appointment with a customer service representative in our Customer Service Walk-in Center at 941 North Capitol Street, NE, on the first floor, and bring along documentation to substantiate their eligibility.