Reducing your taxes

Homestead Exemption Provides Property Tax Relief for Senior Citizens and the Disabled:
The new, expanded Homestead Exemption provides additional property tax relief to qualified senior citizens and permanently and totally disabled Ohioans. The new Homestead Exemption is available to all homeowners 65 and older and all totally and permanently disabled homeowners.

Previously, most senior citizens and disabled Ohioans were excluded from the Homestead Exemption because of income tests. The new exemption offers eligible homeowners, regardless of income, the opportunity to shield up to $25,000 of the market value of their homestead (a dwelling and up to one acre of land) from property taxation. For example, if a home is valued at $100,000, the property tax will generally be billed as if the home were valued at $75,000.

Seniors and disabled Ohioans who weren’t previously eligible must apply with the county auditor in order to take advantage of the Homestead Exemption.. Applications are accepted after the first Monday in January and on or before the first Monday in June. In Ross County, the typical homeowner can expect to save between $300 and $400 on their annual real estate taxes.

For more details, including an application form and answers to frequently-asked questions, see the link below or contact the Ross County Auditor's office at 740-702-3080.

Click here for more information about the New Expanded Homestead Exemption

2 ½ % Tax Reduction for Owner-Occupied Home: To receive the 2 ½% tax reduction you must: (1) own the home, (2) occupy the home as your principal place of residence and (3) apply with the County Auditor between January 1st and the first Monday in June. The reduction applies to the home site and the home itself. It does not apply to: (1) rental homes or apartments, (2) homes occupied by someone other than the owner, (3) homes owned by corporations, partnerships, associations or groups, (4) units within a building primarily for retail, commercial or other non-residential purposes, (5) manufactured or mobile homes taxed under the depreciation method and (6) excess acreage over one acre.

Please check your tax bills to see if you are already receiving the reduction. Applications may be picked up from and filed with the County Auditor's office between January 1 and the first Monday in June each year.

Board of Revision: If you do not agree with the valuation of your property as determined by the County Auditor, you have the right to file an appeal with the Ross County Board of Revision. The Treasurer, the Auditor, and the President of the Board of County Commissioners are each members to the Board of Revision. Appeals must be filed with the County Auditor's Office between January 1st and March 31st.

The purpose of an appeal is to show that the valuation of your property, as set by the County Auditor, is incorrect. To do so you must present evidence of the property's fair market value. The best evidence is usually the recent sale price of your property (proven by relevant documents such as your closing papers). If your house has not been sold recently, you should be prepared to demonstrate the recent sale price of comparable homes. Evidence of the condition of the property, including photographs, may also be useful. For further information, please contact the County Auditor's office at 740-702-3080.

Penalty Remission: A taxpayer may request a remission (removal) of a penalty that has been assessed against real estate or manufactured home taxes. Penalties may be remitted for the following reasons:

Taxpayer did not receive a tax bill or a correct tax bill and attempted to obtain one.

Tax payment was mailed on or before the due date but was not delivered/processed by the Treasurer's office. (Evidence of a timely mailing must be submitted - a private meter postmark is not a valid postmark for establishing the payment date.)

Tax was not timely paid because of serious injury or death of the taxpayer, or hospitalization of the taxpayer within 60 days preceding the due date, but was paid within 60 days after the due date.

Tax was not paid by due date because of negligence or error of the Auditor or Treasurer.

Taxpayer's failure to make timely payment of the tax was due to reasonable causes and not willful neglect. Requests in this category will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis as long as the taxpayer has been timely in each of the last three years.

Application for remission of Real Property, Personal Property and Manufactured Home Late Payment Penalties must be submitted to the Treasurer using the following form:

Form 23A - Application for the Remission of Late-Payment Penalties
Form 23A - (Fillable version)

Please contact the Treasurer's office for additional information at 740-702-3080 or email us at rosstreas@bright.net.