New in 2010: Homestead verification forms

In 2009, the General Assembly set out a process under HEA 1344 to ensure that all homeowners are receiving the appropriate property tax deductions and to address potential tax fraud. Beginning with the Pay 2010 property tax statements, all Indiana residents who own a home will be receiving a Homestead Verification Form. The verification form, or “Pink Sheet,” will be used to verify residency and eligibility for homeowners who claim the Indiana Homestead Deduction.

The information that is collected will be used to compile a secure database that County Auditors can use to determine that every homeowner, as an individual or married couple, only receives one Homestead Deduction.

Each county will have a different due date for submission of the verification form for each year based on when tax bills are mailed, so homeowners should pay close attention to the date on the Pink Form that they receive.

Additional forms will be mailed out with tax statements in 2011 and 2012. Homeowners will need to ensure that their forms are accurately submitted to the County Auditor at least once before 2013, or risk losing the Homestead Deduction on their property.

Questions?
Check out the Department of Local Government Finance’s Fact Sheet on the Homestead Verification Form.

Open for Questions: Your top five questions answered

We recently hosted our first online question and answer session. A total of 177 questions were submitted and over 13,000 votes were cast. Now members of the Senate Democrats answer the five questions that received the most support.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the discussion!

Audio: Debate on property tax caps continues

The Senate Tax and Fiscal Committee voted to move SJR 1 – a proposal to place already enacted property tax caps in the state constitution – for further consideration by the full Senate. The vote was 9 to 3, with three Senate Democrats voting against the measure.

State Senator Tim Skinner of Terre Haute told the committee the caps are currently in statute and those who are going to benefit are already doing so. He said the amendment is being sold to the public as a tax savings but he questions that assertion, citing the increase in sales tax, user fees, and local income taxes. He says this is merely a tax shift and that the state should not rush to put the language into the state constitution.

Listen to Skinner’s statement:

State Senator John Broden of South Bend says he applauds the intent of reducing the reliance on property taxes, but he does not believe that this plan targets the relief to the homeowner as intended. Broden noted recent figures that indicate only 4% of the relief from property tax caps is going to homeowners.

Listen to Broden’s statement:

Open Letter from Sen. Karen Tallian: Dear county officials…

November 24, 2009

Dear county officials:

This is an invitation. It is free. No hidden gimmicks. County governments all over the state are invited to use a free tool provided by the Indiana General Assembly. In 2008, I authored legislation to allow, on a voluntary basis, monthly payment of real estate taxes by automatic deduction from a checking account.  Millions of people choose to pay bills this way. I stress: This is voluntary, solely at the option of the taxpayer. The county only need pass an ordinance. A free model is available. Help yourself. Get that money rolling in every month instead of once or twice a year. And Porter County … please let me be the first to sign up.

Karen Tallian
State Senator
District 4