MARVIN MANDEL, Governor

13

49C of this article.

(f) In Wicomico County, there shall be allowed
upon the application of any homeowner who has attained
the age of 65 years by July 1 of any year, which is the
first day of the taxable year for which the credit is
sought, and whose gross income, or whose combined gross
income, as the case may be, is not in excess of $6,000
for the calendar year immediately preceding the fiscal
year of application, or any homeowner who has not
attained the age 65 years and who receives benefits as a
result of a finding of permanent and total disability
under the Social Security Act or under the Railroad
Retirement Act and whose gross income including social
security and railroad retirement benefits does not exceed
$6,000 for the calendar year immediately preceding the
fiscal year application, a single tax credit from county
real property taxes upon the dwelling for which the
application for tax credit is made, which tax credit
shall equal 50% of the assessed value of the dwelling or
$5,000, whichever is the lower amount, multiplied by the
county tax rate. The minimum tax credit granted to
qualified applicants shall be $3,000 multiplied by the
county rate. In order to qualify, applicants may deduct
from civil service retirement benefits an amount equal to
the average annual benefit received in Maryland by
persons who retired at the age of 65 or older under the
Social Security and Railroad Retirement Acts for the
prior calendar year. The Comptroller shall determine the
amount of the average benefit annually. Application for
a tax credit shall be as provided in § 49C of this
article. The definitions in subsection (b) of this
section shall be applicable to any credit granted under
this subsection.]

[12F-1.

(a)   For taxable year 1975—1976 and each year
thereafter, there is created a program of property tax
credits from real property taxation imposed by the State,
the county or Baltimore City, municipal corporations and
special taxing districts for certain homeowners by reason
of income.

(b)   Definitions.— As used in this section, the
following words have the meanings specified:

(1)  "Homeowner" means every person who actually
resides in a dwelling in which he has a legal interest,
including any life estate, whether as sole owner, joint
tenants, tenants in common, tenants by the entireties or
through membership in a cooperative.

(2)  "Gross income" means total income from all