Arizona Taxes That Are Included in Your Rent

Arizona Taxes That Are Included in Your Rent


Did you know that you might qualify for a credit from your Arizona property taxes that are already paid and included in your rent?

Hi, my name is Carletta Lino. I am a senior who after graduating from apartment complex living for the past ten years, I now pay rent to live in one of the Valley's private homes. When I first moved to Arizona from the east coast more than a decade ago, I was surprised to learn that the state adds a property tax charge onto rental payments. This includes payments made by seniors living on fixed Social Security income, which raises the cost of housing for many seniors who are already trying to stretch each penny as far as possible.

If you’re a senior renter 65 years of age or older, you’re probably paying this property tax as part of your monthly rental payment even if you didn’t realize it. If you’re always in need of more money and would appreciate even just one hundred more dollars in your hand, this website is going to help you file for a return of the property tax payments that the state collects from your monthly rental payments in 2022 and for each year thereafter that you live at your primary rental residence; or, if you live in a mobile home to claim the taxes you paid to rent your mobile home lot. So come back often to this site to learn how to file for a refund of property tax on rent in preparation for the spring tax season of 2023.

The information presented throughout this website will likely help many seniors moving to Arizona and renting an apartment unit, a private home, or a mobile home lot, but I know that many long-term residents of the state don’t yet know about this strategy for receiving a bit of extra money come tax time. My goal is to help all eligible seniors on fixed Social Security income claim their Arizona Property Tax Refund Credit for 2022 and beyond.

My Personal Story with Arizona Taxes

I have filed for this tax credit for eight consecutive years and have been rewarded with over $3,465 that would have otherwise become a contribution to the Arizona State Treasurer’s Office’s surplus, which is likely where your unclaimed tax credits rest.

The amount that you may receive from this tax credit each year depends on a variety of factors, but I will give you a general idea of what you might expect by revealing the breakdown of what I have received in the past eight years:

  • 2014 - $439 (rounded)
  • 2015 - $527
  • 2016 - $170
  • 2017 - $527
  • 2018 - $527
  • 2019 - $527
  • 2020 - $527
  • 2021 - $221

I have received $200 in total from increased excise taxes for single filing status, which adds $25 more to my return each year.  The increased excise tax is even more per year if you are filing with a spouse.

If you were offered over $200 or $500 today, what difference would it make to your life? If you can’t afford to continue leaving this money unclaimed, this website is dedicated to you. I’m going to show you how to find the forms that may allow you to claim hundreds of dollars each year on your tax returns for 2022 and every year to come that you rent.  Keep in mind that this is a special filing that is different from reporting earned income.  If you have no earned income to report, you can still claim this credit.

What Is the Arizona Property Tax Refund Credit?

To some degree, all major cities in Arizona except Flagstaff and Tucson impose a local rent tax, which is added to your total monthly rental payment. Each time you write out that rent check, you’re paying this tax. The Arizona Property Tax Refund Credit gives you the right to reclaim that money at tax time. While the tax may seem small each month, it can add up to hundreds of dollars per year.

Think of this tax credit as an opportunity to claim a government refund for the Arizona taxes added to your rental payment each month. By filing two simple forms with the state at tax time, you take back that small piece of your income and have the freedom to use it on something more to your advantage.

The deadline to file for the Arizona Property Tax Refund Credit is the same as the due date for other individual federal and state income tax filings:  April 15 of every year. Small grace periods or extensions are often issued, so it’s important to watch this site for updates on the filing dates to claim the Arizona property taxes you've paid on your rent in 2022.

Do You Qualify for the Property Tax Refund Credit?

You may qualify for this tax refund credit of Arizona taxes if you’re at least 65 years old and rent an apartment unit, a private home, or mobile home lot in which the state allows your landlord or property manager to add the property tax burden charge to your monthly rental payments. There are some additional qualifications that you must meet, and we’ll discuss that in depth within this website.

I want to stress upfront that you will not qualify for the Arizona Property Tax Refund Credit if you receive any of the following:

  • Public housing (tenant-based Section 8)
  • Government subsidized rental housing
  • Low-income tax-credit rental housing

If you receive any type of government assistance for housing, you likely won’t qualify. I don’t make those rules and wish this wasn’t the case, but it’s an unfortunate fact. You can also only receive the refund for your primary residence in Arizona, so filing on multiple rental homes won’t work and is disallowed.

How Can You Get Credit for the Property Tax You've Paid on Your Rent in 2022?

You cannot file for the Arizona Property Tax Refund Credit without a little help from someone who has successfully filed for the credit in the past. You need to find the right forms and fully understand your qualifications and how to complete your filing. This website was designed to give you all of that information in one convenient place.

I encourage you to read through this website with care. Take notes along the way or ask a loved one to help you follow the process that I’m going to explain. It’s time to take back a little piece of your income paid out to Arizona property taxes on rent in 2022! 

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