Do you qualify for the homestead exemption?
The homestead exemption allows senior citizens and permanently and totally disabled Ohioans to reduce their property tax burden by shielding some of the market value of their home from taxation.
The exemption, which takes the form of a credit on property tax bills, allows qualifying homeowners to exempt $25,000 of the market value of their home from all local property taxes. For example, through the Homestead Exemption, a home with a market value of $100,000 would be billed as if it is worth $75,000.
The tax exemption is limited to the homestead, which Ohio law defines as an owner’s dwelling and up to one acre of land. The value of the exemption may not exceed the value of the homestead.
Changes made.....
The homestead exemption is available to all Ohio homeowners, regardless of income, who are either age 65 or older or permanently and totally disabled. These changes are the result of House Bill 119.
Eligibility for the homestead exemption was restricted through income tests that disqualified most senior citizens. This has been dropped.
Do you know someone who qualifies for the homestead exemption?
Any Ohio resident homeowner who:
- Is at least 65 years old or turns 65 in the year they apply ; or
- Is totally and permanently disabled as of Jan. 1 of the year they apply, as certified by a licensed physician or psychologist, or a state or federal agency; or
- Is the surviving spouse of a person who was receiving the previous homestead exemption at the time of death and where the surviving spouse was at least 59 years old on the date of death.
To qualify, an Ohio resident also must own and occupy a home as their principal place of residence as of Jan. 1 of the year they apply, for either real property or manufactured home property. For individuals who own more than one home, the principal place of residence is the home where the person is registered to vote and the person’s place of residence for income tax purposes.
If your spouse has passed away and you are the surviving spouse you may continue to receive the Homestead Exemption if the eligible spouse was at least 59 on the date of death.
Apply for the homstead exemption... click here for the form
To apply, complete the application form (DTE 105A, Homestead Exemption Application Form for Senior Citizens, Disabled Persons, and Surviving Spouses), then file it with the county auditor.
Deadline for filing for this year....
The applications window opens after the first Monday in January and closes on or before the first Monday in June .