The homestead credit has been enacted to allow a property tax credit for a taxpayers primary residence. Read carefully the qualifying guidelines given below:

Notice of Homestead Credit
IC 6-1.1-12-37

DEFINITIONS:

"Dwelling" means residential real property improvements which an individual uses as his residence, including house and garage.

"Ownership" for exemptions purposes, begins as of the date stamped on the deed or contract by the Recorder's Office (referred to as the Recorder's date).

"Homestead" means an individual's principal place of residence and is established as follows:

WHO MAY QUALIFY:

As described in the definition of "homestead", the individual residence owner or contract buyer or the entity that owns the residence or is buying it under contract.

No portion of a residential dwelling which is income producing is eligible for the homestead credit, such as, but not limited to: one half a duplex side, or rented apartment which is a part of the structure, a beauty shop or crafts shop in one or two rooms of the structure, a dry cleaners or electronics shop beneath an apartment; an auto repair shop in the garage.

WHEN TO FILE:

Real property:
This exemption must be filed during the year for which the Homestead is desired.

Mobile Home (I.C. 6-1.1-7)
Between January 15 and March 31 of the year the deduction is to be effective.

HOW TO FILE:

Forms must be filed at the County Auditor’s office in the county where the homestead is located. If an individual desires to have the receipt returned, he must provide a self addressed, stamped envelope to the County Auditor’s office.

Only one individual may receive a credit for a particular homestead in a particular year. The portion above the “Signature of owner” must be completed in full before credit will be considered.

DISALLOWANCE OF MULTIPLE CLAIMS:

The County Auditor may not approve a claim if:

(1)The individual, for the same year, claims the credit on two (2) or more different statements;
and
(2)The statements claim the credit for different property.

CHANGE OF USE PENALTY:

An individual who changes the use of his real property and fails to file a certified statement with the auditor of the county notifying him of the change of use within sixty (60) days after the date of the change is liable for the amount of the credit he was allowed for that real property.

AMOUNT OF CREDIT:

The amount of the credit is is determined each year by the proper state office.

WARNING: You must click the "Submit" button after completing the Homestead Form!  Failure to do so may result in no filing and consequently, no exemption!  If you do not receive a confirmation of your filing by email within two (2) business days, call the Auditor's Office to confirm receipt of your filing!

* If you are married you must submit the last five digits of your Social Security number and the last five digits of your Driver's License for you and your spouse.

Online Homestead Deduction Application

(If you have trouble opening the online form, you may need to download Mozilla Firefox or an updated version of Internet Explorer by clicking on one of the two links: Mozilla Firefox or Internet Explorer 8.  If you continue having problems with the application after downloading one of the browsers, please check and make sure cookies are enabled for your computer.  Please click on the following link for directions to enable cookies: Directions for Enabling Cookies)