2018 Indiana Code
TITLE 6. Taxation
ARTICLE 1.1. PROPERTY TAXES
CHAPTER 12. Assessed Value Deductions and Deduction Procedures
6-1.1-12-17.8. Automatic carryover of deductions; termination of standard deduction by county auditor; jointly held property, trusts, and cooperative housing corporations

     Sec. 17.8. (a) An individual who receives a deduction provided under section 1, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17.4 (before its expiration), or 37 of this chapter in a particular year and who remains eligible for the deduction in the following year is not required to file a statement to apply for the deduction in the following year. However, for purposes of a deduction under section 37 of this chapter, the county auditor may, in the county auditor's discretion, terminate the deduction for assessment dates after January 15, 2012, if the individual does not comply with the requirement in IC 6-1.1-22-8.1(b)(9) (expired January 1, 2015), as determined by the county auditor, before January 1, 2013. Before the county auditor terminates the deduction because the taxpayer claiming the deduction did not comply with the requirement in IC 6-1.1-22-8.1(b)(9) (expired January 1, 2015) before January 1, 2013, the county auditor shall mail notice of the proposed termination of the deduction to:

(1) the last known address of each person liable for any property taxes or special assessment, as shown on the tax duplicate or special assessment records; or

(2) the last known address of the most recent owner shown in the transfer book.

     (b) An individual who receives a deduction provided under section 1, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, or 17.4 (before its expiration) of this chapter in a particular year and who becomes ineligible for the deduction in the following year shall notify the auditor of the county in which the real property, mobile home, or manufactured home for which the individual claims the deduction is located of the individual's ineligibility in the year in which the individual becomes ineligible. An individual who becomes ineligible for a deduction under section 37 of this chapter shall notify the county auditor of the county in which the property is located in conformity with section 37 of this chapter.

     (c) The auditor of each county shall, in a particular year, apply a deduction provided under section 1, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17.4 (before its expiration), or 37 of this chapter to each individual who received the deduction in the preceding year unless the auditor determines that the individual is no longer eligible for the deduction.

     (d) An individual who receives a deduction provided under section 1, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17.4 (before its expiration), or 37 of this chapter for property that is jointly held with another owner in a particular year and remains eligible for the deduction in the following year is not required to file a statement to reapply for the deduction following the removal of the joint owner if:

(1) the individual is the sole owner of the property following the death of the individual's spouse; or

(2) the individual is the sole owner of the property following the death of a joint owner who was not the individual's spouse.

If an unmarried individual who is receiving a deduction under section 37 of this chapter for a property subsequently marries, desires to continue claiming the deduction for the property, and remains eligible for the deduction, the individual must reapply for the deduction for the following assessment date. If a married individual who is receiving a deduction under section 37 of this chapter for a property with the individual's spouse subsequently divorces, desires to continue claiming the deduction for the property, and remains eligible for the deduction, the individual must reapply for the deduction for the following assessment date. However, the individual's failure to reapply for the deduction does not make the individual's former spouse ineligible for a deduction under section 37 of this chapter. If a person who is receiving a deduction under section 9 of this chapter for a property subsequently comes to own the property with another person jointly or as a tenant in common, desires to continue claiming the deduction for the property, and remains eligible for the deduction, the person must reapply for the deduction for the following assessment date. If an unmarried individual who is receiving a credit under IC 6-1.1-20.6-8.5 for a property subsequently marries, desires to continue claiming the credit for the property, and remains eligible for the credit, the individual must reapply for the credit for the following assessment date.

     (e) A trust entitled to a deduction under section 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17.4 (before its expiration), or 37 of this chapter for real property owned by the trust and occupied by an individual in accordance with section 17.9 of this chapter is not required to file a statement to apply for the deduction, if:

(1) the individual who occupies the real property receives a deduction provided under section 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17.4 (before its expiration), or 37 of this chapter in a particular year; and

(2) the trust remains eligible for the deduction in the following year.

However, for purposes of a deduction under section 37 of this chapter, the individuals that qualify the trust for a deduction must comply with the requirement in IC 6-1.1-22-8.1(b)(9) (expired January 1, 2015) before January 1, 2013.

     (f) A cooperative housing corporation (as defined in 26 U.S.C. 216) that is entitled to a deduction under section 37 of this chapter in the immediately preceding calendar year for a homestead (as defined in section 37 of this chapter) is not required to file a statement to apply for the deduction for the current calendar year if the cooperative housing corporation remains eligible for the deduction for the current calendar year. However, the county auditor may, in the county auditor's discretion, terminate the deduction for assessment dates after January 15, 2012, if the individual does not comply with the requirement in IC 6-1.1-22-8.1(b)(9) (expired January 1, 2015), as determined by the county auditor, before January 1, 2013. Before the county auditor terminates a deduction because the taxpayer claiming the deduction did not comply with the requirement in IC 6-1.1-22-8.1(b)(9) (expired January 1, 2015) before January 1, 2013, the county auditor shall mail notice of the proposed termination of the deduction to:

(1) the last known address of each person liable for any property taxes or special assessment, as shown on the tax duplicate or special assessment records; or

(2) the last known address of the most recent owner shown in the transfer book.

     (g) An individual who:

(1) was eligible for a homestead credit under IC 6-1.1-20.9 (repealed) for property taxes imposed for the March 1, 2007, or January 15, 2008, assessment date; or

(2) would have been eligible for a homestead credit under IC 6-1.1-20.9 (repealed) for property taxes imposed for the March 1, 2008, or January 15, 2009, assessment date if IC 6-1.1-20.9 had not been repealed;

is not required to file a statement to apply for a deduction under section 37 of this chapter if the individual remains eligible for the deduction in the current year. An individual who filed for a homestead credit under IC 6-1.1-20.9 (repealed) for an assessment date after March 1, 2007 (if the property is real property), or after January 1, 2008 (if the property is personal property), shall be treated as an individual who has filed for a deduction under section 37 of this chapter. However, the county auditor may, in the county auditor's discretion, terminate the deduction for assessment dates after January 15, 2012, if the individual does not comply with the requirement in IC 6-1.1-22-8.1(b)(9) (expired January 1, 2015), as determined by the county auditor, before January 1, 2013. Before the county auditor terminates the deduction because the taxpayer claiming the deduction did not comply with the requirement in IC 6-1.1-22-8.1(b)(9) (expired January 1, 2015) before January 1, 2013, the county auditor shall mail notice of the proposed termination of the deduction to the last known address of each person liable for any property taxes or special assessment, as shown on the tax duplicate or special assessment records, or to the last known address of the most recent owner shown in the transfer book.

     (h) If a county auditor terminates a deduction because the taxpayer claiming the deduction did not comply with the requirement in IC 6-1.1-22-8.1(b)(9) (expired January 1, 2015) before January 1, 2013, the county auditor shall reinstate the deduction if the taxpayer provides proof that the taxpayer is eligible for the deduction and is not claiming the deduction for any other property.

     (i) A taxpayer described in section 37(k) of this chapter is not required to file a statement to apply for the deduction provided by section 37 of this chapter for a calendar year beginning after December 31, 2008, if the property owned by the taxpayer remains eligible for the deduction for that calendar year. However, the county auditor may terminate the deduction for assessment dates after January 15, 2012, if the individual residing on the property owned by the taxpayer does not comply with the requirement in IC 6-1.1-22-8.1(b)(9) (expired January 1, 2015), as determined by the county auditor, before January 1, 2013. Before the county auditor terminates a deduction because the individual residing on the property did not comply with the requirement in IC 6-1.1-22-8.1(b)(9) (expired January 1, 2015) before January 1, 2013, the county auditor shall mail notice of the proposed termination of the deduction to:

(1) the last known address of each person liable for any property taxes or special assessment, as shown on the tax duplicate or special assessment records; or

(2) the last known address of the most recent owner shown in the transfer book.

As added by Acts 1982, P.L.44, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.125-1999, SEC.1; P.L.291-2001, SEC.141; P.L.154-2006, SEC.18; P.L.95-2007, SEC.1; P.L.144-2008, SEC.24; P.L.87-2009, SEC.2; P.L.182-2009(ss), SEC.109; P.L.5-2015, SEC.12; P.L.250-2015, SEC.5; P.L.255-2017, SEC.12.