Montana taxpayers applying for a property tax rebate should be on the lookout for suspicious or fraudulent activity.

The best way for Montana taxpayers to avoid scams is to apply for the property tax rebate online at GetMyRebate.mt.gov as soon as possible. The application period is open and ends October 1, 2023, but the Department of Revenue encourages Montanans not to wait.

Similar to fraudulent tax returns, criminals may try to use stolen names and Social Security Numbers to file phony applications for property tax rebates. By applying early, taxpayers can reduce the risk that criminals will use their information to claim the rebate. Please contact the Montana Department of Revenue if you believe someone has filed a fraudulent claim on your behalf.

Montana property taxpayers do not have to pay for any information required to apply for the property tax rebate. The department has received reports of websites offering taxpayers the geocode of their principal residence for a fee. Geocodes are a unique 17-digit number that identifies a property. Taxpayers must report their residence’s geocode to claim a rebate. Geocodes are public information and available free of charge at cadastral.mt.gov. The department strongly discourages taxpayers from clicking on any website or link that charges a fee to access public information. For detailed information on how to locate a geocode, visit GetMyRebate.mt.gov.

The Montana Property Tax Rebate provides qualifying Montanans up to $675 of property tax relief on a primary residence in both 2023 and 2024. The qualifications to claim the rebate are at GetMyRebate.mt.gov.

Over 100,000 homeowners have successfully applied for their rebate online since the portal opened one week ago on August 15. The department anticipates it will take 30 to 90 days to process payments depending on whether the applicant selected direct deposit or a paper check by mail.