Last chance for some homeowners to qualify for tax break
COSHOCTON COUNTY – The county auditor’s office is now accepting applications for enrollment in the Homestead Exemption Program for 2014, and, according to Coshocton County Auditor Chris Sycks, this may be the last chance for some homeowners to qualify for this property tax break.
“An income restriction imposed by state lawmakers last year under House Bill 59 will limit who is eligible for this reduction in the future,” Sycks said. “However, there is still a window of opportunity for anyone who was eligible last year to enroll in the program without income restrictions. In Coshocton County, this reduction saves between $300 and $400 per year on taxes. Anyone who qualified in 2013 and failed to apply for one reason or another may still enroll under the old rules.”
If a homeowner was 65 any time during 2013 or was permanently and totally disabled on Jan. 1, 2013, and both owned and lived in their home on Jan. 1, 2013, a late application can still be filed through June 2, 2014, without income testing.
Sycks said that if you are a new applicant, meaning that you owned and lived in your home as of Jan. 1, 2014 and will turn 65 years of age any time in or after 2014 or were permanently and totally disabled as on or after Jan. 1, 2014, you will now be subject to an income test to qualify. The new rules require applicants to have income of $30,500 or less to be eligible. This amount includes the Ohio Adjusted Gross Income of the owner and the owner’s spouse and will be reviewed for change annually by the Tax Commissioner.
Sycks also stated that past recipients will continue to qualify for the reduction under the old rules. Current recipients do not need to re-apply and will not be subject to the income test. They will continue to receive the benefits of the program, even if they sell their current residence and purchase a new home in the future, as long as they notify the Auditor’s Office of the change.
The reduction is not automatic as you must apply for the Homestead Exemption. All applications, either under the old rules or the new income-tested rules, must be made at the Auditor’s Office during the application period by the first Monday in June. Just stop in to the Auditor’s Office at 349 Main Street with proof of age or disability and proof of income, if qualifying under the new rules. The Auditor’s Office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please call 740-622-1243 with any questions.
Category: Government
