The Public Safety Officer Tax Credit Application, in its version for officers retired from service with Anne Arundel County, is issued by the Anne Arundel County Office of Finance. It is one of the Anne Arundel County property tax credit applications and is used by a retired County firefighter/emergency medical technician, detention officer, police officer or deputy sheriff to claim a credit against County real property taxes on a home. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the county publishes the original at aacounty.org.
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What is Public Safety Officer Tax Credit Application – Anne Arundel County, MD?
The Public Safety Officer Tax Credit Application (Retired from Service with Anne Arundel County) is the Anne Arundel County Office of Finance form a retired County public safety officer completes to request a credit against County real property taxes on the dwelling they own and live in.
The credit is created by County Code § 4-2-314, which the form attaches and asks you to read before you apply. It reduces the County real property taxes levied on the dwelling. The amount is the lesser of the total County tax due on the dwelling or the dollar limit set in the Code, so it can never exceed what you owe the County. The Code allows the credit for one taxable year at a time. It may be renewed on application for 24 additional taxable years, for a maximum of 25.
The application collects the applicant's and owners' names, the property address and Parcel ID, one eligibility statement, the retirement date, two yes/no questions about residence and any prior credit, and a signed certification under penalties of perjury.
Anne Arundel County publishes separate Public Safety Officer applications for full-time County employees and for volunteer members or retired volunteer members, and a separate application for 9-1-1 Specialists. This version is only for officers retired from service with the County.
County tax credits do not apply to the Solid Waste service charge, the Waterway Protection and Restoration Fund (WPRF) fee, State of Maryland property taxes or City of Annapolis property taxes.
Who needs to file Public Safety Officer Tax Credit Application – Anne Arundel County, MD?
Use this application if you have retired from service with Anne Arundel County as a Public Safety Officer and were formerly employed as a County firefighter/emergency medical technician, detention officer, police officer or deputy sheriff. Under § 4-2-314 you must also be eligible for the credit authorized by § 9-105 of the Tax-Property Article of the State Code for the dwelling. The form asks you to confirm that you own the property, use it as your principal residence and will occupy it for more than six months of the taxable year.
Only one applicant may be named on the form, even if several people own the property, and you select only one eligibility statement.
Do not use this version in these cases:
- You are employed full time or are a volunteer Public Safety Officer: use the application designated for your category.
- You are a 9-1-1 Specialist: use the 9-1-1 Specialist application.
The Code also says the credit may not be combined with other optional property tax credits permitted under Title 9 of the Tax-Property Article or the County's tax title. The form does not describe anyone signing for the applicant.
When to file Public Safety Officer Tax Credit Application – Anne Arundel County, MD
The Office of Finance must receive the application on or before April 1 immediately before the taxable year for which you want the credit. The taxable year runs from July 1 to June 30. The version of the form on this page says it must be received on or before April 1, 2027 to be considered for the taxable year beginning July 1, 2027 and ending June 30, 2028.
If the application arrives after April 1, the credit is disallowed for that year and the application is treated as one for the following taxable year. The County's tax credits page says the Office of Finance has no authority to waive or extend the deadline.
You must re-apply every year to receive the credit, for up to 25 taxable years in total. If you give an email address, the Office of Finance sends a receipt confirmation within 10 business days of receiving the application, and it notifies you when the application is approved or denied.
How to fill out Public Safety Officer Tax Credit Application – Anne Arundel County, MD
Confirm this is your version
This form is for officers retired from service with Anne Arundel County. Full-time employees, volunteers and 9-1-1 Specialists use their own applications.
Enter the applicant and owners
Write one applicant's name under Name of Applicant for Tax Credit (one applicant only). List every owner under Name(s) of Property Owner(s).
Enter the property address and Parcel ID
Fill in the property address, city, state and ZIP code. For Parcel ID#, give the District/Subdivision/Account Number, which you can find on your property tax bill or through the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.
Add contact details and mailing address
Enter primary and secondary telephone numbers and an email address. Give a mailing address only if it differs from the property address; the Office of Finance sends a receipt confirmation to the email you list.
Select your eligibility statement
Check only one statement: retired as a County firefighter/emergency medical technician, detention officer, police officer or deputy sheriff.
Enter your date of retirement
Write the date you retired from Anne Arundel County as a Public Safety Officer on the line provided.
Answer the residence question
Check Yes or No to whether you own the property, use it as your principal residence and will occupy it for more than six months of the taxable year named on the form.
Answer the prior credit question
Check Yes or No to whether you received the Public Safety Officer Credit on any other property in Anne Arundel County. If Yes, write that property's address.
Read the certification and sign
Read County Code § 4-2-314 and the certification, then sign and date the application as the applicant. The certification is made under penalties of perjury.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check that one eligibility statement is selected and that every question is answered. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and send it as described under How to submit.
How to submit Public Safety Officer Tax Credit Application – Anne Arundel County, MD
You can return the completed application to the Anne Arundel County Office of Finance by email or by mail.
- Email: send it to [email protected].
- Mail: Anne Arundel County, Office of Finance, Attn: Tax Credits, 44 Calvert Street, Room 110, Annapolis, MD 21401.
The application must be received by April 1 to count for the next taxable year. If you mail it less than 14 days before the deadline, the form suggests a traceable form of delivery, because the County is not responsible for delays in mail delivery. If you list an email address, the Office of Finance sends a receipt confirmation within 10 business days; if you do not receive it, contact the office.
For questions, call 410-222-1748 (Hearing/Speech Impaired 711) or email [email protected]. The Office of Finance lists its hours as 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Sending the application so it arrives after April 1 and expecting the credit that year; a late application is treated as one for the following taxable year.
- Using this version while still employed full time or serving as a volunteer Public Safety Officer, instead of the application designated for that category.
- Using this form as a 9-1-1 Specialist; the form directs 9-1-1 Specialists to their own application.
- Naming more than one applicant or selecting more than one eligibility statement; the form allows one applicant and one selection only.
- Not re-applying the next year; the credit must be applied for every year.
- Leaving the yes/no question on ownership, principal residence and more than six months of occupancy unanswered.
- Answering Yes to the prior-credit question without giving the address of the property that previously received the credit.
- Submitting the form unsigned or undated, or filling it out in pencil; the form asks for ink only.
- Failing to notify the Office of Finance after you no longer own or live in the dwelling or no longer meet the eligibility requirement.
Frequently asked questions
What is the retired Public Safety Officer tax credit application?
It is the Anne Arundel County Office of Finance form for retired County firefighters/EMTs, detention officers, police officers and deputy sheriffs to request a credit against County real property taxes on their home. The credit is created by County Code § 4-2-314.
What is the deadline for the Public Safety Officer tax credit?
The application must be received on or before April 1 before the taxable year (July 1 to June 30) it applies to. A later application is treated as one for the next taxable year, and the County says it cannot waive or extend the deadline.
Do I have to re-apply for the credit every year?
Yes. The form says you must re-apply each year. The credit is available for one taxable year at a time and may be renewed for 24 additional years, up to 25 taxable years in total.
Can I fill out the Public Safety Officer tax credit application online?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not submit the application; you send it to the Office of Finance by email or mail.
Where do I send the Public Safety Officer tax credit application?
Email it to [email protected] or mail it to Anne Arundel County, Office of Finance, Attn: Tax Credits, 44 Calvert Street, Room 110, Annapolis, MD 21401. Call 410-222-1748 with questions.
Can I combine this credit with other Anne Arundel County tax credits?
Not with other optional property tax credits. County Code § 4-2-314 says the credit may not be combined with other optional credits permitted under Title 9 of the Tax-Property Article or the County's tax title.
How will I know if my application was approved?
The County sends notification when the application is approved or denied. If you give an email address, the Office of Finance also sends a receipt confirmation within 10 business days. You can call 410-222-1748 to ask about status.
When does the Public Safety Officer tax credit end?
It ends at the earliest of 25 taxable years of credit, ceasing to be employed as a Public Safety Officer for a reason other than retirement or a service-related disability, or no longer living in or owning the dwelling. Tell the Office of Finance if you no longer qualify.
Which form do full-time or volunteer officers use?
Anne Arundel County publishes separate Public Safety Officer applications for full-time employees and for volunteer or retired volunteer members. 9-1-1 Specialists have their own application. This one is only for officers retired from service with the County.
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