Departments of Insurance, Revenue Urge Property Owners to Claim Citizens Rebate Before December 31

BATON ROUGE, La., Dec. 14 -- St. Charles Parish issued the following news release:

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon and Department of Revenue Deputy Assistant Secretary Gary Matherne are urging those who have had a property and casualty insurance policy on their property during the last four years to claim the rebate for the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (Citizens) Assessment charged on their insurance policy.

Dec. 31, 2011 is the deadline to claim assessments paid for 2007. Eleven million, or 16 percent, of the $70 million Citizens Assessment for 2007 has not been claimed. Currently, almost $268.5 million, or 58 percent, of the total rebate amount currently available for 2007 through 2011 has not been claimed by individuals.

"Claiming the rebate is simple," Donelon said. "Just fill out the Louisiana Department of Revenue tax form for the year in which you paid the Citizens Assessment and mail or fax it in with your insurance declaration page showing the assessment has been included in the insurance premium. The whole process doesn't take more than ten minutes."

There is a deadline fast approaching for individuals to claim the rebates. People and businesses have until Dec. 31 to claim the Citizens Assessment paid in 2007. This can be claimed by completing the Department of Revenue 2007 Form R-540INS. This form is available online at http://revenue.louisiana.gov/forms/taxforms/540INS(7_07)F.pdf.

A copy of the insurance policy declaration page showing proof of the assessment amount must be attached to the form. You can choose to claim the rebate as soon as you pay the insurance premium that includes the Citizens assessment or when filing the State Tax Return due each May.

Be sure not to claim the rebate on both the INS form and the tax return, since this will delay your refund. The Department of Revenue reminds individuals not to claim the total insurance premium, only the Citizens Assessment.

This will delay the refund as well. LDR recommends that those who pay the Citizens Assessment on more than one property to send in a single INS form for all properties each year rather than a separate INS form for each property. An R-INS Supplement form should be used for more than one property.

Otherwise, the second claim will automatically be delayed for review. Comprehensive information about the Citizens Rebate is available on the website of the Louisiana Department of Revenue. Information includes how to estimate the rebate, how to claim the rebate and required documents. Find it at http://www.rev.state.la.us/sections/general/calac/default.aspx.

TNS C-Santpan-Santpan 111215-3715587 71Santosh