Rep. Jones: Circuit Breaker Offers Up To $2,730 For Qualifying Seniors

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) is encouraging Massachusetts residents who are 65 or older to investigate whether they qualify for the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit when filing their 2024 state tax returns.

Created by the Legislature in 1999, the Circuit Breaker offers financial relief to seniors by providing a refundable tax credit to help offset rent and property taxes paid on a principal residence in Massachusetts. As recently as 2022, the tax credit was capped at $1,200, but a comprehensive tax relief law signed in October of 2023 provided for an increase in the cap, which has been set at $2,730 for the 2024 tax filing season.

“The Circuit Breaker offers significant financial relief for older residents by reducing their overall tax burden,” said Representative Jones. “This program provides a critical safety net for qualifying seniors who are facing rising housing costs and struggling to pay their property taxes.”

Jones noted the tax credit is available to Massachusetts residents who are 65 or older by December 31, 2024, and who own or rent residential property in Massachusetts which they occupy as their primary residence. For married couples filing jointly, only one person needs to be 65 or older by December 31, 2024, to qualify. The tax credit applies to residential properties with an assessed valuation (before residential exemptions but after abatements) of $1,172,000 or less as of January 1, 2024.

In addition to complying with the program’s age restrictions and property valuation limits, applicants must also meet certain income eligibility requirements to qualify for the tax credit. Total annual income is currently capped at $72,000 for single individuals who are not the head of a household, $91,000 for heads of households, and $109,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly.

For homeowners to qualify, their Massachusetts property tax payments, together with half of their water and sewer expenses, must exceed 10% of their total Massachusetts income for the tax year. For renters, 25% of their annual Massachusetts rent must exceed 10% of their total Massachusetts income for the tax year. Seniors living in public or subsidized housing are not eligible for the Circuit Breaker.

To claim the tax credit, applicants must complete a Schedule CB (Circuit Breaker Credit) tax form and file it along with their 2024 state income tax return. Jones noted that applicants must file a Massachusetts state tax return to receive the tax credit, even if they do not owe taxes. Copies of the Schedule CB tax form are available through Representative Jones’ office and can be obtained by calling 617-722-2100 or e-mailing Bradley.Jones@mahouse.gov.

Additional details on the Circuit Breaker are available at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-senior-circuit-breaker-tax-credit. For more information, seniors can also contact the Department of Revenue’s Customer Service Bureau at 617-887-6367 (toll-free at 1-800-392-6089) between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.