Homestead Community Outreach Locations
9 a.m. to noon, March 26 and 27, Lohrey Recreation Center, 2366 Glenarm Ave, Dayton
10 a.m. to noon, April 3, Vandalia Senior Citizen Center, 21 Tionda Drive South, Vandalia
2 to 4 p.m., April 3, Englewood Government Center, 333 W. National Road Englewood
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., April 10, Germantown Senior Center, 33 N Cherry St, Germantown
10 a.m. to 3 p.m., April 12, Kettering Rec Center, 2900 Glengarry Drive, Kettering
10:30 to 11:30 a.m., April 22, Wesley Center, 3730 Delphos Ave., Dayton
2 to 4 p.m., April 22, Miamisburg Senior Adult Center, 305 E. Central Ave, Miamisburg
10 a.m. to noon, April 23, Huber Heights Senior Center, 6428 Chambersburg Road, Huber Heights
2 to 4 p.m., April 23, Wright Memorial Public Library, 1776 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood
1 to 3 p.m., April 28, Phillips Temple, 3620 Shiloh Springs Road, Trotwood
Montgomery County Auditor Karl Keith is encouraging disabled and older residents to contact his office or attend one of 10 informational meetings to learn more about changes to Homestead Exemption rules.
More than 47,000 homeowners in Montgomery County currently receive the tax credit, which reduces the property tax liability of homeowners who are totally disabled or senior citizens. These residents will remain eligible for the deduction.
But the state budget bill included a provision that creates income requirements for participation in the program.
Officials said fewer residents will qualify for the program in the future, but some who qualify but never participated have until June 2 to apply and receive the tax credit under the old rules.
Starting today, the auditor’s office will begin hosting community meetings about homestead exemption at sites in Dayton, Englewood, Germantown, Huber Heights, Kettering, Miamisburg, Oakwood, Vandalia and Trotwood.
The meetings are intended to teach community members more about the homestead exemption, which provides seniors and totally disabled homeowners with a tax credit on their annual real estate tax bills, officials said. It exempts from taxation about $25,000 of a home’s market value.
In Montgomery County, the tax credit can be worth between $500 to $800, and the average savings is $600 for people who enroll and qualify, officials said.
Since 2007, there has been no income restriction to receive the home exemption credit. But state lawmakers have restored the income test to save the state money.
An Ohio Department of Taxation spokesman previously said the change in law is projected to save Ohio $9 million in 2015 and $27 million in 2016, with those savings likely to increase each year.
From this year forward, disabled and senior homeowners will only be eligible for the tax deduction if their total household income is $30,500 or less. Household income is the adjusted-gross income that is reported on state income tax return.
Current program participants will continue receiving the credit, and they can sell their current homes and move into a new house and still receive the deduction, Keith said.
“It’s portable, so it goes with them,” he said. “They don’t have to meet an income requirement.”
Residents who were eligible for the program in 2013 or earlier but failed to apply can still apply and qualify under the old rules, Keith said. But the deadline to apply under both the new and old rules is June 2.
Residents with questions can call the auditor’s homestead hotline at 937-225-4341.
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