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Butler County Ohio homeowners are beginning to feel the impact of higher property taxes. Eligible residents may find a little relief by checking to see if they qualify for the Homestead Exemption and/or Owner Occupancy Credits. (See information below from the Butler County auditors site.)
The backstory on this is that in January of this year (2023), the Butler County Ohio auditors office released a memo detailing the impact of the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals decision to raise property taxes based on increased property values. The Butler County Auditor’s office had been appealing this since 2020/2021 and recently received a decision from the Board of Tax Appeals. The Board of Tax Appeals (BTA) determined the increases must be met and the 2020/2021 property reappraisals and values are to be adjusted upward. Fairfield Twp, West Chester Twp, City of Fairfield and City of Hamilton homeowners are seeing these increases.
Homestead Exemption and Owner Occupancy Credit
The Homestead Exemption
The Homestead Exemption is a property tax reduction available by application to seniors (age 65 or older) and the disabled (permanent/total). In 1970, Ohio voters approved a constitutional amendment permitting this exemption that reduced property taxes for eligible lower income home owners. In 2007, the General Assembly expanded the program to include all seniors, regardless of income. In 2013, the General Assembly again applied an income limit to determine those eligible. However, homeowners enrolled in the program for tax year 2013 (2014 for manufactured homes) remain exempt from income verification even if they move and owner-occupy another home in Ohio.
In 2015, 100% disabled Veterans, regardless of income, qualified for up to twice the savings. New in 2016, disabled Veterans that have a total (100%) disability rating for compensation by the VA may qualify for the double benefit.
Read more details by clicking on the Who Qualifies and Disabled Veterans links at left. Application forms are also available at left.
Owner Occupancy Credit
To receive up to a 2.5% tax reduction on an owner-occupied home in Ohio, you must own and occupy that home as your principal place of residence (domicile) on January 1 of the year you file for the reduction. A homeowner and spouse are entitled to this credit on only one home.
