Low-income seniors, pensioners to receive $90 million in tax payments

Treasury Secretary Ángel Pantoja Rodríguez

By THE STAR STAFF

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón and island Treasury Secretary Ángel Pantoja Rodríguez announced Wednesday the successful credit filing cycle for low-income seniors and pensioners, which resulted in payments totaling $90,343,643 for 193,515 tax returns.

“Individuals aged 65 and older, as well as low-income pensioners, began receiving their loans of $400 and $300, respectively, starting in July when the cycle commenced and concluding yesterday,” the governor said. “The results indicate that disbursements for the 2024 senior tax returns exceeded last year’s figures by $2,850,168 as of the same date. We are pleased with the response from these citizen groups in seeking assistance.”

Pantoja Rodríguez added that 205,612 tax returns were filed through SURI and other direct services aimed at reaching a majority of the senior population.

“We recognize the needs of our seniors, and to ensure they receive direct services, the Department of the Treasury established district offices and collaborated with various central government agencies, legislators, mayors and community organizations,” he said. “Service fairs were organized in municipalities to assist nearly 8,000 individuals with the preparation and filing of their tax returns.”

Pantoja Rodríguez also emphasized that Wednesday was the deadline for filing the 2024 Individual Income Tax return with an extension and for making the second installment payment.

He noted further that as of Sept. 30, a total of 1,284,415 income tax returns had been filed, an increase of some 27,727 returns over the same date last year.

The Treasury Department has issued 1,112,728 refunds for the 2024 returns, amounting to $2,259,950,610. That figure, the Treasury chief added, exceeds the disbursements for the 2023 returns made last year on the same date by $294,516,944.

In addition, the Earned Income Tax Credit program for the 2024 tax year provided payments of $1,450,400,000 to 734,619 payrolls, which is some $147,400,000 more than the same period last year. Corporate payrolls totaled 44,134 as of this past Sept. 30, an increase of 907 from 43,227 on the same date in 2024.