Tax Reduction Programs

In many cases, Portage County taxpayers can reduce their property tax bills by taking advantage of tax reduction programs. A brief description of some of the available reductions, and application forms, follows:


Owner-Occupied Reduction

If your primary residence is located in Portage County, you can take advantage of a 2.5% reduction in your property tax bill for that residence. In many cases, buyers of new homes apply for this reduction during the real estate transfer process. Applications must be received by the first Monday in June, and are available here.


Homestead Exemption

The Homestead Exemption is a program that lowers real estate taxes for Ohio residents 65 years of age and above, and those with disabilities. It allows qualifying homeowners to exempt up to $25,000 of the market value of their homes from all local property taxes.

The program applies only to an applicant’s primary dwelling, and up to one acre of land. For most new applicants, the program is also means tested, or based on income. The program allows a maximum annual adjusted gross income of $31,500 for 2016, indexed to increase with inflation each year. Applications must be received by the first Monday in June, and are available here.

Persons with a disability applying for the Homestead Exemption on that basis must also submit a Certificate of Disability form, available here.

The Auditor will mail a renewal application to program participants, which must be completed and returned by the first Monday in June each year. The form is available here.


Current Agricultural Use Value (CAUV) Program

The Ohio Constitution allows special tax treatment for agricultural land, giving farmers a substantial tax break for the work they do in providing for Ohio families. The program applies to land being used commercially for farming. The land must cover at least 10 acres, or show a gross average income of at least $2,500 over the previous 3 years. Initial applications must be filed with the Auditor by the first Monday in March, along with a filing fee. Applications are available here.

Program participants must renew every year, as well. Renewal applications will be sent annually by the Auditor.

Completed applications for property tax reductions must be returned to the Auditor’s office by the dates specified on each form, along with any necessary application fees.

The above list of tax reduction programs is not complete, and only illustrates the most commonly used reductions in Portage County. Residents can also take advantage of reductions for forest lands (a part of the CAUV program), abatements for home or business renovations and construction, and many others.

For more information on tax reduction programs, and to see if you qualify, contact the Auditor’s office at 330-297-3569, 330-297-3570, or 330-297-3565.