Ohio Homestead Tax Reduction Expanded For Military Veterans
The Homestead Exemption eligibility requirements for military veterans has been expanded.
Amended Senate Bill 10, from the 131st General Assembly, has added a provision to allow veterans to qualify for the benefit based on their rating for individual unemployment (also referred to as “IU”). Previously, veterans were qualified based only on a total (100 percent) disability rating. This expansion will allow more military veterans in Medina County to enroll in the homestead exemption program.
The Homestead Exemption allows low-income senior citizens and permanently and totally disabled Ohioans, to reduce their property tax bills by shielding some of the market value of their homes from taxation. The exemption, which takes the form of a credit on property tax bills, allows qualifying homeowners to exempt up to $25,000 of the market value of their homes from all property taxes. Example: A home with a market value of $100,000 is billed as if it is worth $75,000.
Many of our military veterans are unable to work due to a service-connected disability; however, under the previous law, these veterans did not qualify for a reduction in their property taxes because they failed to meet the strict 100 percent disability rating, We are very pleased that the eligibility requirements have been amended to include the veteran’s with IU status. This will provide a valuable savings to those who experienced disabling injuries while sacrificing for our country and are currently unable to work.
Complete the application form (DTE 105I, Homestead Exemption Application Form for Disabled Veterans and Surviving Spouses), then file it with your Medina County Auditor. The form is available on the Medina County Auditor’s website and at the office at the Medina County Administration Building, 3rd Floor, 144 N. Broadway, Medina. Applications are typically due by June 1.
Eligible veterans must include documentation of disability or IU status with their application. Veterans who have received a total rating for service-connected disabilities must submit a copy of the Veteran Affairs award letter assigning the disability rating. Those who have received a total rating for compensation for military service-connected disabilities based on a determination of individual unemployment must submit documentation granting the total compensation at the 100 percent level and a copy of the finding that their application of individual unemployability (IU) has been granted.
Click here for more information.