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

Auditors’ Assoc. of Ohio Press Release

Clark County Auditor John S. Federer announced that the 2015 Clark County Dog Tags will go on sale beginning December 1, 2014 through February 2, 2015.  Again this year, three-year or permanent (lifetime of dog) licenses are available for dog(s) in addition to the traditional one-year license. The fee for the one-year tag is $20.00, $60.00 for the three-year tag, and the permanent tag is $200.00.

“Please consider taking advantage of the convenient, hassle-free option of purchasing or renewing dog tags on-line” said Auditor Federer.  Simply access the Auditor’s website at www.clarkcountyauditor.org and then click on “Dog License”.  You will then be directed to a link to complete either a new or renewal registration and purchase your tag(s) via a secure site.   On-line purchases require an additional fee of $2.54 per license for processing and postage.

Owners may also mail in their application, along with the proper fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope to:  John S. Federer, Clark County Auditor, P. O. Box 1325, Springfield 45501-1325 or they may purchase their tags in person at the Clark County Auditor’s Office, 31 N. Limestone Street, Springfield or at other remote locations.  Please see the Auditor’s website for a listing of locations.

All dogs over three months old and that have been owned for more than 30 days are required to be licensed per the State of Ohio.  Tags purchased after February 2, 2015 will be subject to a penalty.

November 17, 2014

The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to Clark County by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR).  The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

An Award of Financial Reporting Achievement is awarded to the individual(s), department or agency designated by the government as primarily responsible for preparing the award-winning CAFR, and this has been presented to John S. Federer, Clark County Auditor.

The CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR.

The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving approximately 17,500 government finance professionals with offices in Chicago, Illinois and Washington, D.C.

For Information Contact:  Stephen Gauthier, GFOA

(312) 977-9700

November 13, 2014

Representatives from school districts and other taxing entities were at the Clark County Auditor’s Office on October 8, 2014 to commemorate the refund of a surplus of real estate assessment dollars.  “I am proud to work with and support those entities in need,” said Federer.  He further added that “a refund of surplus funds is the right thing to do to help move our community forward.”

Clark County Auditor, John S. Federer, announced recently that he has authorized a refund of $1,000,117.32 from the “Real Estate Assessment Fund” to the various taxing authorities within Clark County.

The REA Fund is a special restricted fund maintained on the Auditor’s books to help defray the expenses associated with appraisal of property and the related assessment of taxes.  The REA account receives its funding by deducting a small percentage of property taxes from settlements to local schools, townships, municipalities, ambulance districts, etc.

In all, 35 taxing entities will receive refunds.  The amount to be received by the various entities was calculated on a pro-rata basis based upon the amount of taxes collected on behalf of each taxing authority for the 2013 and 2014 tax years.

In a letter to the financial managers of the various taxing authorities, Federer said, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who work so hard to deliver efficient and effective services of many kinds to local citizens.”  He went on to say “I also want to thank the employees of the Auditor’s Office for their unfailing and ongoing efforts to keep our costs under control.  That efficiency played a large part in making this refund possible.”

Clark County Auditor John S. Federer announced today that Ohio Legislators approved Amended Substitute House Bill 85.  The bill regarding Disabled Veterans’ Homestead Exemption was signed by the Governor on June 12, 2014 and enhances the exemption for military veterans who are 100% disabled 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)

ELIGIBILITY:

To receive the increased exemption under the bill, a homeowner must be a veteran of the armed forces of the United States, including reserve components thereof, or of the national guard, who has received a permanent total disability rating or a total disability rating for a service-connected disability or combination of service-connected disabilities for which the schedule for rating disabilities in Schedule 38, Part 4 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as amended, prescribes a 100% evaluation. When applying for the exemption, the veteran must provide written confirmation of the disability from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

WHEN TO FILE:

The application with appropriate paperwork should be filed with the County Auditor between January 6, 2015 and June 1, 2015.

“We are extremely grateful for the sacrifices made by these brave men and women,” said Federer.  Please visit our website at: www.clarkcountyauditor.org for updated information as it becomes available.

July 11, 2014

Second half tax bills were mailed out on June 9^th .  The tax bills are due for the second half by July 11^th at 6:00pm  The Treasurer’s office will remain open later than usual that day (usually close at 4:30 pm) to accommodate taxpayers.

John S. Federer, Clark County Auditor, is scheduled to visit the United Senior Services Center – Springfield on Thursday, April 10, 12:00 noon, to discuss Ohio’s Homestead Exemption Program.  “As a resident of our County, I have seen firsthand the challenges faced by many of our elderly and disabled residents, and I want to do all I can to assist everyone in understanding the benefits available under Ohio’s tax laws and the changes that have recently taken place,” said Federer.  State mandated changes regarding eligibility and pending legislation regarding tax relief for disabled veterans will be discussed.  The session will take place at the United Senior Services Center, 101 S. Fountain Avenue.  Light refreshments will be served.

Clark County Auditor John S. Federer applauds the March 11^th recommendation of the Ohio House Finance Committee to move Amended House Bill 85 forward.  If enacted by the Ohio House and Senate, H.B. 85 would offer additional property tax relief to disabled veterans in Ohio. The bill, sponsored by Representatives Anne Gonzalez and Louis Terhar, increases, from $25,000 to $50,000, the amount of the homestead exemption that is available to qualified homeowners who are disabled veterans.

According to Franklin County Auditor Clarence Mingo, who testified in support of the bill on behalf of the County Auditors’ Association of Ohio, “Ohio is one of only four states that did not offer any sort of property tax relief for veterans.  We can and should do more in Ohio to help and assist our disabled military veterans.”

The homestead exemption is a statewide program, administered by County Auditors, which allows qualified senior citizens and permanently and totally disabled homeowners to reduce their property tax burden by shielding some of the market value of their home from taxation.

The Disabled Veterans’ Exemption allows qualifying homeowners to exempt $50,000 of the market value of their homes from all local property taxes. For example, an eligible owner of a home with a market value of $100,000 will be billed as if the home were valued at $50,000.

To receive the increased exemption under the bill, a homeowner must be a veteran of the United States armed forces, reserves, or National Guard who was honorably discharged with a service-connected total and permanent disability certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or other federal agency. When applying for the exemption, the veteran must provide written confirmation of the disability from the federal government.

 County Auditor Federer believes the additional savings included in the bill to disabled veterans would be substantial and warranted.  Auditor Federer urges members of the Ohio General Assembly to enact the measure quickly.