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More than 31,000 applications have been received for the Farmland School Tax Rebate program for the 2008 tax year, with a total of more than $30 million in rebates expected to be paid to Manitoba farm families, Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Rosann Wowchuk announced today.

 

“Farmland owners who have paid their 2008 property taxes are eligible for a 70 per cent rebate on the school tax they paid,” said Wowchuk.  “Since the program began in 2004 through to the end of March 2009, the province has put more than $108 million back into the pockets of Manitoba farm families.”

 

The province launched the farmland school tax initiative in 2004 with a 33 per cent rebate on school taxes.  The tax reduction was increased to 50 per cent in 2005, 60 per cent in 2006, 65 per cent for the 2007 tax year and 70 per cent for 2008.  The government committed in this year’s budget to further increase the rebate to 75 per cent for 2009, said Wowchuk.

 

“This rebate program provides support to the agriculture sector at a time when finances have been strained by economic uncertainty,” said Wowchuk.  “The financial benefits from reduced farmland taxes through rebates continue to have a positive economic impact in Manitoba’s rural communities and on the disposable income of farm families.”

 

The rebate applies to the farmland portion of the landowner’s school taxes and does not apply to residences or other buildings.

 

Applications for the 2009 rebate will be mailed to all landowners who received the rebate in 2008. Applications for the Farmland School Tax Rebate are also available at Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation offices or Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives GO Offices, most rural municipal offices and online at www.gov.mb.ca/farmland.

 

The deadline for submitting an application for the rebate is three years after the end of a taxation year.  Applications for the 2006 rebate must be received by December 31, 2009.

 

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