The relevant proposed legislation is House Bill 1256. Given the budget situation in the State and in the various counties in the State, this hardly seems the time to be making it easier for people to cheat on their property taxes. Not that, like, there would be a good time. You can find contact information for your State legislators here.
Timothy B. Wheeler writes in the Baltimore Sun, Officials rethink home tax law:
Last year, convinced that landlords and owners of second homes were claiming tax breaks they didn’t deserve, legislators unanimously passed a law requiring all Maryland homeowners to apply for a valuable tax credit that they’ve gotten more or less automatically until now.
Since December, though, state lawmakers have been peppered with questions and complaints from homeowners about the new application requirement.
Now, they’re considering calling the whole thing off.
[…] in Montgomery County, one of a handful where rental homes have to be registered, officials checked the list a few years ago and found 2,700 improperly claiming the credit.
Statewide, budget analysts have estimated that if 2 percent of property owners are claiming the credit improperly, local governments might be missing out on $10 million a year in property tax revenue. The state, which also levies a small property tax, would miss out on $700,000 a year.
But that 2 percent estimate is just hypothetical, officials acknowledge. The percentage of improperly claimed credits - and the amount of taxes dodged - might be higher.