(1) "County median RMV" means the median real market value entered on the last certified assessment and tax roll for all residential improved properties in the county in which a homestead is located that are classified as 1-0-1 pursuant to the rule adopted by the Department of Revenue under ORS 308.215.

(2) "Homestead" means the owner occupied principal dwelling, either real or personal property, owned by the taxpayer and the tax lot upon which it is located. If the homestead is located in a multiunit building, the homestead is the portion of the building actually used as the principal dwelling and its percentage of the value of the common elements and of the value of the tax lot upon which it is built. The percentage is the value of the unit consisting of the homestead compared to the total value of the building exclusive of the common elements, if any.

(3) "Household income" means the aggregate income of the taxpayer and the spouse of the taxpayer who occupy the homestead, that was received during the calendar year for which the claim is filed. "Household income" includes payments received by the taxpayer or the spouse of the taxpayer under the federal Social Security Act for the benefit of a minor child or minor children who occupy the homestead.

(4) "Income" means "adjusted gross income" as defined in the federal Internal Revenue Code, as defined in ORS 305.842, relating to the measurement of taxable income of individuals, estates and trusts, with the following modifications:

(a) There shall be added to adjusted gross income the following items of otherwise exempt income:

(A) The gross amount of any otherwise exempt pension less return of investment, if any.

(B) Child support received by the taxpayer.

(C) Inheritances.

(D) Gifts and grants, the sum of which are in excess of $500 per year.

(E) Amounts received by a taxpayer or spouse of a taxpayer for support from a parent who is not a member of the taxpayer’s household.

(F) Life insurance proceeds.

(G) Accident and health insurance proceeds, except reimbursement of incurred medical expenses.

(H) Personal injury damages.

(I) Sick pay that is not included in federal adjusted gross income.

(J) Strike benefits excluded from federal gross income.

(K) Worker’s compensation, except for reimbursement of medical expense.

(L) Military pay and benefits.

(M) Veteran’s benefits.

(N) Payments received under the federal Social Security Act that are excluded from federal gross income.

(O) Welfare payments, except as follows:

(i) Payments for medical care, drugs and medical supplies, if the payments are not made directly to the welfare recipient;

(ii) In-home services authorized and approved by the Department of Human Services; and

(iii) Direct or indirect reimbursement of expenses paid or incurred for participation in work or training programs.

(P) Nontaxable dividends.

(Q) Nontaxable interest not included in federal adjusted gross income.

(R) Rental allowance paid to a minister that is excluded from federal gross income.

(S) Income from sources without the United States that is excluded from federal gross income.

(b) Adjusted gross income shall be increased due to the disallowance of the following deductions:

(A) The amount of the net loss, in excess of $1,000, from all dispositions of tangible or intangible properties.

(B) The amount of the net loss, in excess of $1,000, from the operation of a farm or farms.

(C) The amount of the net loss, in excess of $1,000, from all operations of a trade or business, profession or other activity entered into for the production or collection of income.

(D) The amount of the net loss, in excess of $1,000, from tangible or intangible property held for the production of rents, royalties or other income.

(E) The amount of any net operating loss carryovers or carrybacks included in federal adjusted gross income.

(F) The amount, in excess of $5,000, of the combined deductions or other allowances for depreciation, amortization or depletion.

(G) The amount added or subtracted, as required within the context of this section, for adjustments made under ORS 316.680 (2)(d) and 316.707 to 316.737.

(c) "Income" does not include the following:

(A) Any governmental grant that must be used by the taxpayer for rehabilitation of the homestead of the taxpayer.

(B) Any refund of Oregon personal income taxes that were imposed under ORS chapter 316.

(5)(a) "Net worth" means the sum of the current market value of all assets, including real property, cash, savings accounts, bonds and other investments, after deducting outstanding liabilities.

(b) "Net worth" does not include the value of a homestead for which deferral is claimed under ORS 311.666 to 311.701, the cash value of life insurance policies on the life of a taxpayer or tangible personal property owned by a taxpayer.

(6) "Person with a disability" means an individual who has been determined to be eligible to receive or who is receiving federal Social Security benefits due to disability or blindness, including an individual who is receiving Social Security survivor benefits in lieu of Social Security benefits due to disability or blindness.

(7) "Tax-deferred property" means the property upon which taxes are deferred under ORS 311.666 to 311.701.

(8) "Taxes" or "property taxes" means ad valorem taxes, assessments, fees and charges entered on the assessment and tax roll.

(9) "Taxpayer" means an individual who has filed, as an individual or jointly, a claim for deferral under ORS 311.666 to 311.701.

(10)(a) "Transferee" means, without limitation, an heir, legatee, devisee, distributee of an estate of a deceased individual, the assignee or donee of an insolvent individual or a person acting in a fiduciary capacity on behalf of a transferee.

(b) "Transferee" does not mean a bona fide purchaser for value.

(11) "U.S. City Average Consumer Price Index" means the U.S. City Average Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (All Items) as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor. [1963 c.569 §7; 1977 c.160 §1; 1983 c.550 §1; 1999 c.1097 §1; 2001 c.184 §1; 2007 c.70 §77; 2011 c.723 §1; 2012 c.13 §3; 2015 c.348 §11; 2016 c.33 §16; 2017 c.315 §16; 2017 c.527 §17]

Note: Section 24 (3), chapter 723, Oregon Laws 2011, provides: Sec. 24. (3) A claim for an initial year of deferral, or for continued deferral, under ORS 311.666 to 311.701 may not be filed on or after April 16, 2021, and deferral may not be granted for a property tax year beginning after July 1, 2021. [2011 c.723 §24(3); 2011 c.723 §31(3)]

Note: Section 1, chapter 494, Oregon Laws 2013, provides:

Sec. 1. (1) Notwithstanding section 24 (1), chapter 723, Oregon Laws 2011, the amendments to ORS 311.670 by section 3, chapter 723, Oregon Laws 2011, relating to the five-year minimum requirement and the amendments to ORS 311.700 by section 16, chapter 723, Oregon Laws 2011, relating to reverse mortgages do not apply to a homestead that had been granted deferral under ORS 311.666 to 311.701 for any property tax years beginning before July 1, 2011.

(2) The Department of Revenue shall provide notice to all individuals with inactive deferral accounts of the following:

(a) The provisions of this section;

(b) That the individuals may be eligible to claim deferral under ORS 311.666 to 311.701 for their homesteads for property tax years beginning on or after July 1, 2014; and

(c) That reactivating the homestead for deferral pursuant to this section requires the individuals to file a claim for deferral in the manner prescribed in ORS 311.672.

(3) The department shall create and maintain a list of homesteads determined to be eligible under this section for reactivation for deferral under ORS 311.666 to 311.701. Homesteads shall appear on the list in the order in which the individuals who own the homesteads file a claim for deferral in the manner prescribed in ORS 311.672 on or after October 7, 2013.

(4) A determination of eligibility under this section has the effect of reactivating the homestead for deferral under ORS 311.666 to 311.701 beginning with the first property tax year that begins after the date on which the determination of eligibility is made and continuing for all subsequent property tax years for which the homestead and the individuals who own the homestead remain eligible for the deferral.

(5)(a) Notwithstanding subsection (4) of this section, for the property tax year beginning on July 1, 2014, the maximum number of homesteads appearing on the list created pursuant to subsection (3) of this section that may be reactivated for deferral under this section is 700.

(b) For the property tax year that begins on July 1, 2015, the cumulative maximum number of homesteads appearing on the list that may be reactivated for deferral shall increase by five percent of the maximum number allowable for the property tax year beginning on July 1, 2014, for a cumulative maximum total of 735.

(c) For each property tax year beginning on or after July 1, 2016, the cumulative maximum number of homesteads appearing on the list that may be reactivated for deferral shall increase by five percent of the maximum number allowable for the immediately preceding property tax year, in the manner prescribed in paragraph (b) of this subsection.

(6) ORS 311.670 (6)(a) applies to a homestead reactivated for deferral under this section if, as of April 15 of the year in which a claim for deferral is filed, the taxpayers have continuously owned and lived in the homestead less than seven years. [2013 c.494 §1; 2015 c.309 §10]