EASTON, MARYLAND — Oct. 1 is the State Department of Assessments and Taxation filing deadline for the 2026 Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit application. That program is not the Homestead Tax Credit. Talbot’s county tax bill is still due Sept. 30; interest starts Oct. 1 if the bill is unpaid. Talbot’s local code citation on the Homeowners’ form is 21.

Two different credits. The Homestead Tax Credit limits how fast the taxable assessment on a principal residence can rise from year to year — every county and municipality must cap that increase at 10% or less. The separate Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit is an income-based credit against the tax bill. SDAT’s Homeowners’ page states: “Only the taxes resulting from the first $300,000 of assessed valuation.” Households must apply for the Homeowners’ credit and disclose income; Homestead eligibility is a one-time principal-residence application tracked on the Real Property record.

Local supplements. Talbot does not add a local supplement to the Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit. Caroline and Kent are among the jurisdictions that do offer a local supplemental credit administered with the state HTC form — SDAT’s 2026 application and recent fiscal notes list both. The SSA-1099 is an SSA income document for the Homeowners’ filing; it is not a Homestead letter.