Homestead Deductions At Risk Without Forms
Kosciusko County residents must have their homestead verification forms turned in before Jan. 1, 2013. If the verification form is not received by the Kosciusko County Auditor’s Office before Jan. 1, homestead deductions will be removed.
For the past three years the homestead verification form has been included with the tax statement.
Individuals and married couples are limited to one homestead standard deduction. As the receipt of this deduction becomes more beneficial, there is more incentive than ever for homestead fraud, according to the auditor’s office.
Homestead fraud causes result in higher tax bills for everyone, therefore, HEA 1344-2009 requires taxpayers who receive the homestead standard deduction to verify they are eligible to receive the benefit and to provide additional identifying information necessary to allow county government to better monitor homestead filings.
This information will be kept confidential and can only be accessed by authorized county officials. The Department of Local Government Finance will use the information to create tools to help county officials eliminate homestead fraud.
For questions, or if anyone does not agree with the removal of a homestead deduction, an appeal may be filed with the county’s property tax assessment board of appeals by calling the auditor’s office at 574-372-2316.
Download the form here: Homestead Tax Deduction Form