A photo of a property tax bill envelope.
Homeowners who are at least 70 years old may be eligible for property tax relief through a new program in partnership with Cuyahoga County and CHN Housing Partners. Credit: Jeff Haynes / Signal Cleveland

In an effort to help more seniors, Cuyahoga County has lowered the age requirement to help those who are behind on their property taxes. Now seniors who are at least 67 years old may qualify for up to $10,000 in assistance in 2026. The money can be used to help pay current taxes, late or delinquent taxes, foreclosure fees and tax lien certificates.

The Tax Assistance Program is for county homeowners who will be at least 67 years old on Jan. 1 with an active certified tax delinquency and a household income under $70,000 (not including Social Security benefits). A certified tax delinquency is a tax bill that hasn’t been paid for a full tax collection cycle. Taxpayers in that status should have received multiple  bills notifying them of their delinquency.

The funds can be used to pay certified delinquent, late or current property taxes; costs related to a pre-existing foreclosure; and pre-existing tax lien certificates. Applicants who are more than $10,000 behind must agree to pay the balance via a delinquent tax payment contract (which can be for up to 60 months).

People who make it into the program will be required to attend housing counseling and use EasyPay — an installment payment program — to pay future taxes.

Residents who previously received assistance from the Taxpayer Assistance Program or its predecessor program administered by CHN Housing Partners are not eligible.

There is no deadline to apply, but funds will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.

To apply, use this online form or visit the Treasurer’s Office at 2079 E. 9th St., Cleveland. Or you can mail your answers to all the questions on the online form to the Treasurer’s Office (ZIP code 44115).

This year, the Taxpayer Assistance Program has awarded $1 million in aid to 150 seniors. The reduced age requirement could make around 1,700 more people eligible, according to an estimate provided by the county.

For more information, contact the Treasurer’s Office at 216-443-7400 (Option 1) or email TAP@cuyahogacounty.gov.

We leave you with a haiku:

The taxman cometh
This time not to take but give
No, it’s not a scam

Associate Editor (he/him)
Important stories are hiding everywhere, and my favorite part of journalism has always been the collaboration, working with colleagues to find the patterns in the information we’re constantly gathering. I don’t care whose name appears in the byline; the work is its own reward. As Batman said to Commissioner Gordon in “The Dark Knight,” “I’m whatever Gotham needs me to be.”