To qualify, homeowners must be at least 65 years of age, under age 65 and declared permanently and totally disabled, or a military veteran evaluated at 100% disability from a service-connected disability. Eligible applicants must also own and occupy their home as their principal place of residence as of January 1 in the year of application.
Due to the passage of Ohio House Bill 59, new applicants are subject to a means test. Eligible homeowners cannot have an annual household income over $30,500 if applying in 2014 or $31,000 if applying in 2015. Household income includes the Ohio adjusted gross income of the owner and the owner's spouse. The means test does not apply to military veterans or homeowners who were enrolled in the homestead exemption prior to tax year 2014.
Last year, additional changes in Ohio Law expanded homestead to include military veterans and raised the exemption amount for those participants. Typically, homestead provides an exemption on the first $25,000 of appraised value from taxation for a single family home. Under Ohio House Bill 85, military veterans will qualify for an increased exemption on the first $50,000 of appraised value.
“I am pleased to provide this tax relief to our veterans,” said Summit County Fiscal Officer Kristen M. Scalise CPA, CFE. “With the increased exemption, an eligible veteran who owns a home appraised at $150,000 will be taxed only on $100,000 of the value. That’s an average savings of approximately $1,000 per year.”
Homeowners who have moved to a new residence, but were enrolled in the homestead exemption for tax year 2013, may receive the tax reduction on their new residence without being subject to the means test. The new residence must be located in the state of Ohio and the homeowner is required to file a homestead addendum with the Fiscal Office by the first Monday of June in the year of application.
To find out if you are currently enrolled in the homestead exemption, visit the Fiscal Office Property Tax & Appraisal and use the property search to access your parcel information. For additional information, please call the homestead department at 330-643-2661 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Applications for Homestead Exemption must physically be in the Fiscal Office by close of business, 4 p.m. on Monday, June 1, 2015.