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What is the Homestead Exemption?

Homestead Exemption is a statewide program that offers a reduction in real property and manufactured home taxes to qualifying homeowners in Ohio.

Who is eligible?

There are three requirements for eligibility:

The applicant must be at least 65 years of age, or permanently and totally disabled, or a surviving spouse meeting certain conditions.

The applicant must own and occupy his or her home (having his or her name on the deed or a life estate) as of January 1 in the year of application.

The household income of the applicant must be $25,400 or less for 2005.

Own and occupy your home as of January 1 of the filing year as your principal place of residence.

Own and occupy your manufactured home on or before the filing date as your principal place of residence.

When can I apply?

Go to the county auditor’s office where you live, for an application. You can apply beginning the first Monday in January until the first Monday in June.

What is included as income?

Income of all owners whose names are on the deed (and their spouses) cannot exceed $25,400. If you file an income tax return, use your federal adjusted gross income from your 1040 tax form, your combined Social Security plus any non-taxable pension benefits and non-taxable interest. See your county auditor for special rules for disabled applicants and life estates.

How much of a reduction will I get?

There are two main factors that will determine you reduction amount:

The combined income of applicant and spouse.

The tax rate of your community.

Do I have to apply every year?

Your county auditor will mail you a “Continuing Homestead Exemption” form annually. You only have to return the form if your income has changed.

Is Homestead Exemption a statewide program?

Yes. The Homestead Exemption is available for residents of all 88 Ohio counties.

If I am accepted for Homestead Exemption, how will I be notified?

Ohio Law requires the county auditor’s office to review your application and determine if you qualify for Homestead Exemption. If you are eligible, the exemption will appear on the tax bill which you receive the following January. If your application has been denied, you will be notified before the end of the year.

What is meant by “permanently and totally disabled”?

“Permanently and totally disabled” means a person who has, on the first day of January of the year of application for reduction in real estate taxes, some impairment in body or mind that makes him or her unfit to work. Additionally, this inability to work will, with reasonable probability, continue for an indefinite period of at least 12 months without any present indication of recovery. Alternatively, this person has been certified as permanently and totally disabled by a state or federal agency having the function of so classifying persons. The definition is the same for manufactured home taxes.

Does being on Homestead Exemption affect other real estate or manufactured home tax deductions?

No. The Homestead Exemption is an additional reduction in real estate and manufactured home taxes beyond the other property tax deductions and rollbacks you may already be getting.

References

State of Ohio, Division of Tax Equalization