If you happen to drop past your county courthouse today, you might notice long lines.
The reason is a rush of homeowners
stopping by auditors' offices to verify records for their homestead tax deductions.
stopping by auditors' offices to verify records for their homestead tax deductions.
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But a spokeswoman for the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance says it's OK to mail in the form to your local auditor's office as long as it's post-marked today.
says it's OK to mail in the form to your local auditor's office as long as it's post-marked today.
But that won't be the last chance. Homeowners who have received the deduction previously but who fail to submit the form will receive a notice early next year of potential termination of the deduction -- along with instructions detailing how to reinstate it, said Jenny Banks, the DLGF spokeswoman.
State officials four years ago asked county officials to send out forms to homeowners seeking verification of information. The goal was to curtail the numbers of people receiving tax credits on homes that were not their primary residences. People who do not verify their records run the risk of losing their homestead deductions -- and paying hundreds more in property taxes as a result.
that were not their primary residences. People who do not verify their records run the risk of losing their homestead deductions -- and paying hundreds more in property taxes as a result.
Most counties now have sent forms three consecutive years -- sending out repeat forms only to those people who have not already filled them out properly and returned them.
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The homestead deduction is $45,000 on houses with an assessed value of $90,000 or more, according to state law, and 60 percent of the gross assessed value of houses under $90,000, according to the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance. Homeowners can receive an additional 35 percent of the remaining assessed value through the supplemental homestead deduction.
with an assessed value of $90,000 or more, according to state law, and 60 percent of the gross assessed value of houses under $90,000, according to the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance. Homeowners can receive an additional 35 percent of the remaining assessed value through the supplemental homestead deduction.