1. A. The Department has established procedures to apply for the Program.

2. B. Application Procedures.

   1. (1) An applicant shall report the combined income corresponding to the dwelling for which application is made.
   2. (2) An applicant may be required to submit copies of corresponding federal income tax returns and accompanying schedules and forms, along with other proof of combined income, as requested by the Ombudsman.
   3. (3) An applicant having a substantial ownership interest in a business or partnership shall submit a complete copy of the federal tax return filed for that business or partnership.
   4. (4) An applicant may be requested to complete an affidavit to substantiate any information reported on the application.
   5. (5) An applicant seeking to exclude the income of a spouse on the basis of a marital separation shall submit a legal separation agreement or, if none exists, an affidavit stating the date of separation and whether their estranged spouse is likely to return to the dwelling house.
   6. (6) An applicant claiming a person is a dependent who does not file a federal income tax return shall submit verification of the dependency status to the Ombudsman in an affidavit.
   7. (7) An applicant failing or refusing to submit any information requested by the Ombudsman shall be denied enrollment for failure to substantiate the information reported.
3. C. The Department may establish application procedures in addition to those set forth above if not inconsistent with these regulations.

Authority: Tax-Property Article, §§2-201 and 14-885, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: December 12, 2022 (49:25 Md. R. 1052)