Homestead Exemption Program Sign-Up Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Clark County Auditor

OHIO HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION PROGRAM SIGN-UP PERIOD STARTS

Applications may be filed from January 6, 2015 until JUNE 1, 2015

The Homestead Program is designed to provide tax credit to citizens who are at least 65 years of age or permanently and totally disabled. To qualify for the program, a homeowner must:

1. Own and occupy the home as their primary place of residence as of January 1 of the year of the application; AND
2. Applicants must have an Adjusted Gross Income (line 3 of the Ohio Income Tax Return) of $31,500 or less if filing for the 2015 tax year and for late filers for the 2014 tax year the OHIO AGI is $30,500 or less and meet one of the requirements below:

• Turn 65 years of age, or older, by December 31 of the year of the application; or
• Be permanently and totally disabled as of January 1 of the year of application*NOTE* must include appropriate paperwork. or;
• Be the surviving spouse of a person who was receiving the Homestead Exemption at the time of death and where the surviving spouse was at least 59 years old on the date of death.

Persons who are already on the Homestead program but moved last year may file

• FORM 2 –DTE 105G Transferring Homestead application

Newly Expanded Homestead Exemption Information for Disabled Veterans

& Surviving Spouses

HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION has been enhanced for military veterans who have a 100% disability rate from a service connected disability.

BILL SUMMARY:

• H.B 85 Increases the homestead exemption amount from $25,000 to $50,000 to qualified disabled veterans.
• The bill also exempts disabled veterans from the newly established income limit.
• If a disabled veteran dies while receiving the exemption, the exemption continues for the homestead if a surviving spouse acquires ownership of the homestead and resides there. No age restriction is placed on surviving spouses. The exemption continues through the year in which the surviving spouse dies, ceases to own or occupy the homestead, or remarries.
• Homeowners would first receive the exemption for tax year 2014 (or tax year 2015 for manufactured homes)

How to apply:

Along with the application you must submit a letter or other written confirmation from the Department of Veterans Affairs, its predecessor or successor agency, evidencing 100% disability rate, either from a single service-connected disability or from a combination of service-connected disabilities for which the Department of Veterans Affairs has granted 100% disability.

While the Department of Veterans Affairs certifies both a compensation rating and a disability rating, the auditor will only consider the veteran’s disability rating. The compensation rating will not qualify a veteran for homestead even if the compensation rate equals 100%.

For more information please contact Regina Rollins at 937-521-1862 or visit our website at www.clarkcountyauditor.org