October 24, 2013
Home Heating Rebate Announced for 2013-14
Effective today, residents of Newfoundland and Labrador can apply for the Home Heating Rebate. Application forms for the 2013-14 program can be downloaded immediately from the Department of Finance’s website.
“I am pleased to announce the availability of the Home Heating Rebate in October this year to allow individuals to qualify and access the rebate earlier than they would have in previous years,” said the Honourable Tom Marshall, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board. “Approximately 60,000 households received the Home Heating Rebate last year at a cost of approximately $15 million. We are very proud of this program along with other investments by our government that are putting money into the pockets of families and individuals.”
The parameters for the program are the same as last year with eligible households with an income of $35,000 or less qualifying for the maximum rebate of $250 ($500 for residents of coastal Labrador). A partial rebate is available to households with adjusted family income above $35,000 but less than $40,001, with a minimum rebate of $100.
The Department of Finance has entered into a new partnership with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) this year so that applicants who are registered and currently receive either their personal income tax refund or GST/HST credit by direct deposit from CRA will receive their home heating rebate by direct deposit into that same bank account. This will allow these individuals to receive their payment faster. This partnership reflects an ongoing effort by the Provincial Government to move towards direct electronic payments where possible. If applicants are not registered with CRA for direct deposit, they will receive their home heating rebate by cheque.
Complete details of the Home Heating Rebate Program, including the application form, 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 provincial newspapers, beginning next week, at regional offices of the Department of Advanced Education and Skills, Service NL Centres, and the Seniors Resource Centre in St. John’s.
The Home Heating Rebate is in addition to the Residential Energy Rebate announced in Budget 2011 which provides an eight per cent rebate on electricity and other eligible products. The rebate is available to all residents, regardless of income, who are invoiced for energy use in their residence. Both programs cost a combined amount of approximately $57 million annually.
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Media contact:
Tansy Mundon
Director of Communications
Department of Finance
709-729-6830, 693-1865
tansymundon@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Home Heating Rebate Program
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 2012 taxation year was $40,000 or less, 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 2012, adjusted income does not include net Universal Child Care Benefit payments received. If an applicant received income from a Registered Disability Savings Plan in 2012, 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. Otherwise, payment will be provided by cheque.
Rebate Amounts
Eligible households are those who have an adjusted family income of $40,000 or less for the 2012 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 2012 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 2012 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
Heating Oil,
Stove Oil or Propane |
|
|
|
Coastal |
|
|
$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 2013 to April 2014 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, 2014. 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.
2013 10 24 1:00 p.m.