Want tax relief? You're not the only one.

Callers swamped the phone lines at the city's Real Property Assessment Division yesterday after an Advertiser news story reported that many homeowners may be paying too much in taxes.

Most of the callers wanted to be sure they were receiving all the property tax exemptions for which they are eligible.

"It was definitely a busy morning. Most of the callers wanted to know if we have their correct age on file so they can receive the additional exemptions as they get older," said Robert Magota, assistant administrator of the city's Real Property Assessment Division.

At times, it was nearly impossible to get through on one of several phone lines in the division.

"It was worse than calling 'American Idol,' " Hawai'i Kai resident Janet Heavenridge said. "I called and called, maybe more than 50 times and kept getting a busy signal. Our taxes have gone sky high in recent years, so that story sure got my attention. We're trying desperately as senior citizens to stay in Hawai'i on a fixed income, and it ain't easy."

Officials say there are more than a dozen exemptions available for low-income, elderly and disabled people that could save them money on their property tax bills. Many of the exemptions have been on the books for years but aren't always well known or publicized.

More than 134,000 people last year claimed at least one exemption in Honolulu. Officials don't don't know how many of the nearly 110,000 other property owners might qualify for one or more other exemptions.

Although many homeowners register for the initial $40,000 occupant-owner exemption when they buy their house and automatically receive additional exemptions as they get older, officials said, no one should assume they get all they are entitled to.

So Heavenridge, who already receives the maximum property tax exemption for elderly residents, spent several hours yesterday calling the tax office to find out if she also will qualify for a new tax credit for low-income property owners. She called the tax office numbers repeatedly and got busy signals, took a break for lunch, and finally got through in the afternoon, only to find out that the information wasn't available there.

Details of that program, which passed the City Council on Aug. 10 and was signed into law by Mayor Mufi Hannemann yesterday, are still being worked out, officials said.

The deadline to apply for a property tax exemption on next year's tax bill is Sept. 30. However, since the new tax credit does not go into effect until July 1, 2007, the deadline to file for that program is not until Sept. 30, 2006.

Eleanor Matsumoto of Kaimuki said she also tried unsuccessfully to reach the tax office yesterday.

"I honestly don't know if I'm already receiving the tax deduction or not. All I remember is sending in my check when the bill comes every year," she said.

Reach Mike Leidemann at mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.