In 1970, Ohio voters approved a constitutional amendment permitting a Homestead Exemption that reduced property taxes for lower income senior citizens.In 2007, the General Assembly expanded the program to include all homeowners who were either 65 or older or permanently and totally disabled, regardless of their income.
Beginning with the 2014 tax year, the State of Ohio: 1) returned to the originally approved system of applying means/income testing to determine eligibility for the Homestead Exemption; and 2) added an additional classification of recipient (disabled veteran), which allows for an increased reduction of $50,000.
TO QUALIFY FOR THE SENIOR AND
DISABLED PERSONS HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION,
A HOMEOWNER MUST:
- Own and occupy the home as their primary place of residence as of January 1st of the year for which they apply; and
- Be 65 years of age, or turn 65, by December 31st of the year for which they apply; or
- Be totally and permanently disabled as of January 1st of the year for which they apply, as certified by a licensed physician or psychologist; or
- Be the surviving spouse of a person who was receiving the homestead exemption at the time of death and where the surviving spouse was at least 59 years old on the date of death.
- Have a total income (for both the applicant and the applicant's spouse) that does not exceed the amount set by the law, which is adjusted annually for inflation. "Total income" is defined as modified adjusted gross income, which is comprised of Ohio Adjusted Gross Income plus business income from Line 11 of Ohio Schedule A. For the current 2022 application period, the maximum allowed is $34,600 total income in 2021. For late applications for the 2021 application period, the maximum allowed is $34,200 total income in 2020.
Please note: Homeowners who received a Homestead Exemption Credit for tax year 2013, or for tax year 2014 for manufactured or mobile homes, are not subject to the income requirement.
TO QUALIFY FOR THE DISABLED VETERANS
ENHANCED HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION,
A HOMEOWNER MUST:
- Own and occupy the home as their primary place of residence as of January 1st of the year for which they apply; and
- Be a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States (including the reserve components or the National Guard) who has been discharged or released from active duty in the Armed Forces under honorable conditions and who has received a total disability rating or a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability for a service-connected disability or combination of service-connected disabilities.
Previously, many veterans were frustrated when they learned they were not eligible for the expanded exemption because their total disability rating was at less than 100% although their compensation rating was at 100%. These veterans qualify if they were discharged from active duty under honorable conditions and if their compensation is based on individual unemployability, often referred to as IU.
Veterans eligible under this provision will have received a letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs stating that their application for the status of individual unemployability has been granted. The veteran should provide a copy of this document, along with a copy of the DD214, to establish eligibility under this expanded law.
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The exact amount of savings from the exemption will vary from community to community based on local tax rates. View an Estimated Reduction Schedule for the Senior and Disabled Persons Homestead Exemption for your tax district.
If you are interested in filing a Homestead Exemption Application, call the Franklin County Auditor's Office at 614-525-3240, visit the
Auditor's Office at 373 South High Street, 21st Floor, Columbus, Ohio, 43215, or visit the Auditor's website and select the appropriate link to download an application. Senior and disabled applicants also have the option to file an application electronically.
Those homeowners who already receive the Homestead Exemption do not need to reapply every year. However, if your circumstances change, you must notify the Auditor's Office.
A continuing homestead exemption application is sent each year to those homeowners who received the reduction for the preceding tax year. Please return this form only if there have been changes in eligibility status, e.g. you no longer own the home, no longer occupy it as your primary place of residence, or if your disability status has changed.