Property Tax Savings in the Sunflower State With a Kansas Safe Senior Property Tax Refund

Kansas is not a friendly place when it comes to property tax rates for its residents. The average property tax rate in Kansas sits at 1.37%, which is considerably higher than the U.S. national average of 1.07%.

Median property prices are currently around $160,000 and are rising by between 5% and 6% each year. This means that, as a resident, you are likely to be hit with an annual property tax bill of over $2,000.

If you are a senior citizen, this is going to hurt, and you may need help paying your property tax. Thankfully, Kansas is aware of the plight of its elder residents and offers the Safe Senior property tax refund to ease the burden.

DoNotPay is your partner in finding ways to lower your property taxes or securing property tax discounts. Check out our advice on property tax exemptions for Kansas senior citizens.

How Does Kansas Work Out Your Property Tax?

Your property tax in Kansas is calculated by multiplying the following two factors:

1. Assessed value
2. Property tax rate

Assessed Value

The property assessment of each home is performed by county assessors using a choice of three approaches:

For residential properties, county assessors in Kansas favor the sales comparison approach but will use the cost approach in areas where the property market is flat.

Kansas county assessors appraise your property each year and send you the assessed value by March 1. They are only required to visit your property every six years, though, meaning that your annual assessment may be inaccurate.

Tax Rate

The tax rate in Kansas is set each year according to the needs of each county, and the revenue is used to fund civic services and amenities.

The tax rate is expressed in mill levies, equivalent to $1 in every $1,000 of assessed value. If your property’s assessed value is $100,000 and your mill levy is 30, this will give you a property tax sum of $3,000.

Kansas charges a standard mill levy of 20 to fund public schools and colleges but offers an automatic exemption on the first $20,000 of your property’s assessed value. Each county then adds mill levies according to its funding requirements.

Kansas is not one of the states with low property tax rates, but help is available for those who most need it.

What Kansas Property Tax Relief Is Available for Senior Citizens?

All the above calculations can mean a serious issue for Kansas’ senior citizens, approximately 32,000 of whom live below the poverty line.

To alleviate property tax distress for low-income senior citizens in Kansas, the state has implemented the Safe Senior property tax refund program. Here’s how it works:

If you meet all the above criteria, Kansas will give you up to 75% of the property tax you have paid in the past year as a refund and will consider your future payments as well.

Your application will be adjudicated by the Kansas Department of Revenue, who will take into account your area, your financial status, and the value of your property.

Are There Any Kansas Homestead Property Tax Relief Programs Available?

The State offers the Kansas homestead property tax relief program if you meet one of the following criteria:

• Age 55 or older
• Blind or disabled of any age
• Living with a dependent child under the age of 18

The refund is calculated as a percentage of your property tax bill and will depend on the determination of the Kansas Department of Revenue.

A crucial stipulation, though, is that you cannot claim both the homestead refund program and the Safe Senior program.

Can DoNotPay Help You Claim Exemptions or Refunds?

DoNotPay can help you source and apply for property tax exemptions, refunds, and discounts in Kansas.

Our app can generate a customized property tax guide for you based on your location and circumstances. The guide has two sections:

How Can You Get Your DoNotPay Customized Property Tax Guide?

Your personalized guide is easy to access—here’s what to do:

1. Sign up for DoNotPay in your web browser
2. Click on the Property Tax feature
3. Give us some personal details
4. Wait briefly while your customized guide is generated

What Else Can You Do To Reduce Your Property Taxes in Kansas?

Besides obvious street-smarts, such as checking your property tax bill and maintaining your property at its current value, there is the option of appealing your property tax assessment.

DoNotPay can help you by clarifying the appeal process in your area, listing the documents you need, and telling you how and where to lodge your appeal.

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