A tax relief program has been approved by St. Joseph County, Indiana, to help senior citizens deal with the recent increase in home property taxes.
Applications for participation in the St. Joseph County property tax rebate programs are now open to qualified residents.
In November, the St. Joseph County Council sanctioned a tax relief program enabling residents aged 55 or older (as of December 31 of the preceding tax year) to request a credit, capping the annual property tax increase at 2%.
Eligibility for St. Joseph County Property Tax Rebate
Eligibility for the St. Joseph County property tax rebate program does not impose an income limit, but applicants must have owned and resided in their home for at least a decade.
Applicants must have received a homestead deduction for the same property in the preceding calendar year and continue to receive it in the current year.
Only one credit is allowable per household, and individuals receiving the state’s Over 65 Circuit Breaker Credit are ineligible for the new credit.
It is important to note that the credit does not extend to the portion of the house used for business purposes.
The St. Joseph County property tax rebate is applicable for three years until 2027, with the council retaining the authority to terminate it earlier.
Recipients are not required to reapply annually, except in the event of the sale of the property for which the credit is claimed.
Application Deadline
Commencing on January 1, 2024, applications for the St. Joseph County property tax rebate programs are now open, with the deadline for submission set for December 31, 2024.
If submitted before this deadline, the credit will be applied to the subsequent year’s tax bill.
To date, the county has received over 750 applications for the credit program.
County officials are actively promoting awareness of this property tax rebate initiative, with Tuesday’s session specifically designed for this purpose.
In this session, county officials addressed inquiries from the public pertaining to the credit program.
In an effort to encourage broader participation in the credit program, the county has arranged a public signup event at the St. Joe County Main Library this Thursday (from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
Alternatively, residents can submit their applications through the county auditor’s website. Each applicant will receive an email receipt as confirmation of their filing.