Finance
October 31, 2014
Helping Families Meet Home Heating Costs
Home Heating Rebate Continuing for 2014-15
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is continuing the $15 million Home Heating Rebate this winter with applications for the 2014-15 season now available on the Department of Finance website.
“The Home Heating Rebate helps thousands of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians each winter. Last year, approximately 58,000 households received rebates ranging from $100 to $500. This year, the Home Heating Rebate, along with the Residential Energy Rebate, will see a combined total investment of $62 million. As a government, we are extremely proud of these programs because they put cash back into the hands of individuals and families, helping them meet the costs of staying warm.”
- The Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Finance
The Home Heating Rebate is available to residents of the province who directly incur costs to heat their home. Eligible households with an adjusted family income of $35,000 or less qualify for a maximum rebate of $250 ($500 for coastal Labrador). For most people, adjusted family income is the net income (Line 236 of the income tax return) of the applicant plus, if applicable, the net income of that applicant’s spouse or partner. Partial rebates are available to households with adjusted family income above $35,000 but less than $40,001, with a minimum rebate of $100.
The Residential Energy Rebate is available to all households and provides a point-of-sale rebate equivalent to the eight per cent provincial portion of the 13 per cent Harmonized Sales Tax charged on consumption of energy for residential purposes.
Details and applications for the Home Heating Rebate can be found online at www.gov.nl.ca/fin/homeheating, by calling toll-free at 1-855-223-7432 or by email at homeheatprogram@gov.nl.ca. Application forms will also be available in local newspapers, beginning next week, at regional offices of the Department of Advanced Education and Skills, Service NL Centres across the province and the Seniors Resource Centre in St. John’s.
QUICK FACTS
- The Provincial Government is continuing the $15 million Home Heating Rebate this winter with applications for the 2014-15 season now available on the Department of Finance website.
- Eligible households with an adjusted family income of $35,000 or less qualify for a maximum rebate of $250 ($500 for coastal Labrador). Partial rebates are available to households with family income above $35,000 but less than $40,001, with a minimum rebate of $100.
- The Home Heating Rebate is offered in addition to the Residential Energy Rebate, which is provided to all households in the province at an annual investment of $47 million.
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Media contact:
|
John Tompkins Director of Communications Department of Finance 709-729-6830, 728-7762 jtompkins@gov.nl.ca |
BACKGROUNDER
Home Heating Rebate
The Home Heating Rebate is available to residents of the province who directly incur costs to heat their home and whose adjusted family income for the 2013 taxation year was less than $40,001, regardless of the primary source of heat.
For most people, adjusted family income is the net income (Line 236 of the income tax return) of the applicant plus, if applicable, the net income of that applicant’s spouse or partner. If an applicant had a child under the age of six in 2013, adjusted income does not include net Universal Child Care Benefit payments received. If an applicant received income from a Registered Disability Savings Plan in 2013, the adjusted income does not include the net amount of payments received from that plan.
If applicants currently receive either their personal income tax refund or GST/HST credit by direct deposit from the Canada Revenue Agency, payment of their Home Heating Rebate will be by direct deposit into that same bank account. If applicants are not registered with the Canada Revenue Agency for direct deposit, they will receive their home heating rebate by cheque.
Rebate Amounts
Eligible households are those who have an adjusted family income of $40,000 or less for the 2013 taxation year. Regardless of the energy source purchased to heat the home, eligible households will receive a maximum rebate of $250, where adjusted family income for 2013 is $35,000 or less. Eligible households in coastal Labrador communities will receive a maximum rebate of $500. A partial rebate is available to households with adjusted family income for 2013 of more than $35,000 but $40,000 or less, with a minimum rebate of $100.
Example of Sliding Scale
| Adjusted Family Income | Rebate Amount Electricity, Wood or Wood Products, Heating Oil, Stove Oil or Propane |
|
| Newfoundland and Labrador communities except coastal Labrador communities |
Coastal Labrador communities | |
| $35,000 or less | $250 | $500 |
| $36,000 | $220 | $420 |
| $37,000 | $190 | $340 |
| $38,000 | $160 | $260 |
| $39,000 | $130 | $180 |
| $40,000 | $100 | $100 |
How to Apply
Eligible individuals or families must apply for the rebate. In addition to a completed application form, applicants must provide either an electricity or heating fuel invoice (depending on the primary source of heat) for any month from September 2014 to April 2015 in the name of the applicant or the applicant’s spouse. If wood or wood products are the primary source of heat, an electricity invoice as well as a copy of the cutting permit or a receipt/invoice for a purchase of wood or wood products must also be submitted. Only one person per household may apply for the rebate. Rental properties with heat included in the rent do not qualify for the rebate.
The deadline for submitting applications is September 30, 2015. Most applications will be processed within 10 weeks of when they are received by the department.
Home Heating Rebate application forms are available through the following:
- Department of Finance website – www.gov.nl.ca/fin/homeheating;
- Department of Finance and the Seniors’ Resource Centre in St. John’s;
- Throughout the province at the regional Department of Advanced Education and Skills offices and Service NL centres; and
- Local newspapers
Applications must be sent to:
Home Heating Rebate
Department of Finance
Tax Administration Division
P.O. Box 6000, 32 Queensway
Grand Falls-Windsor, NL
A2A 0B8
For further information on the home heating rebate, please contact the Department of Finance toll-free at 1-855-223-7432 or by email at homeheatprogram@gov.nl.ca.
2014 10 31 10:40 a.m.