Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon Launches
Citizens Rebate Public Awareness Campaign

This month, Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon launched a public awareness campaign on the Louisiana Citizens Insurance rebate and other cost saving opportunities.  The statewide campaign includes a speaking tour of local organizations, local media appearances, and radio spots that are airing on stations across Louisiana.  During the tour, Commissioner Donelon will take the opportunity to discuss the Citizens rebate and residential property storm mitigation incentives including tax deductions and insurance premium discounts that are available to homeowners who are willing to strengthen their homes against storms and hurricanes.  These are important savings available to the public this tax season and thereafter.

The Louisiana Citizens assessment may be claimed as a state rebate as soon as it is paid by a property and casualty policyholder on their insurance policy.  Policyholders should check their policy’s declaration page to see if the Citizens assessment is listed as a charge.  “If property owners have not yet claimed their Citizens rebate, tax time is certainly a good time to do it,” said Commissioner Donelon.  “Three-hundred and sixty-two million dollars or 63 percent of all available money has not been claimed. Almost $133 million or 69 percent of the amount available for 2006 was not claimed and expired on December 31, 2010.  You can still submit your rebate claim form for assessments paid in 2007 – 2010.  It is not too late to do so.” 

You may also be eligible for state tax deductions for voluntarily retrofitting your home and insurance premium discounts for voluntarily building or retrofitting your home to comply with the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code, which will make your home more hurricane resistant.  This includes but is not limited to such building applications as roof deck attachment, roof bracing, roof covering, roof-to-wall connections, secondary water barrier, and opening protection.

For more information on the Citizens rebate go to the Department of Insurance web site at www.ldi.la.gov for frequently asked questions and answers and a link to the Department of Revenue web site for forms that are needed to file for this rebate. Click on the Louisiana Citizens Insurance Tax Credit newsreel link at the top of the page. 

For more information on the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code state tax deduction and insurance premium discounts visit the Louisiana Department of Insurance Web site and click on Media/Consumer Publications/Residential Property Storm Mitigation Incentives. 

Louisiana Department of Insurance
Citizens Assessments Unclaimed as of December 31, 2010

*Estimated figure

The tax forms are available from the Department of Insurance home page at www.ldi.la.gov  by clicking on the newsreel link, “Louisiana Citizens Insurance Tax Credit.” 

-30-