Auditor - Deductions

401 East Main Street
Richmond, IN 47374
Located on the east end of the west wing on the second floor of the Wayne County Annex Building
Open Monday 8:30am - 5:00pm
Tuesday through Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Auditor: Mark Hoelscher
Phone: (765) 973-9318
FAX: (765) 973-9339
E-Mail: mhoelscher@co.wayne.in.us


DEDUCTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

The following is provided as general information, which may be of use to Wayne County residents. It is the responsibility of the taxpayer to inquire and file for any exemptions or deductions from assessed values.


$48,000 Homestead Deduction

  1. You must own or be buying under contract,
  2. You must live on the property of the Year for which you file, and it must be your principal place of residence. No other homestead can be claimed at the same time,
  3. Contracts must be recorded by the Wayne County Recorder’s Office,
  4. $48,000 deduction from assessed value or 60% of total residential assessed value (whichever is less),
  5. You must submit the last five of your SSN and DLN and the state it is issued for both you and your spouse regardless of name being on deed CAN BE COMBINED WITH ALL OTHER DEDUCTIONS.

$3,000 Mortgage Deduction

Effective January 1, 2023, individuals will no longer be able to apply for this property tax deduction, and county auditors will no longer be able to apply the mortgage deduction to property tax bills beginning with the 2023 Pay 2024 cycle due to the House Enrolled Act 1260-2022 (“HEA 1260”), Section 12 of HEA 1260 that was signed by Governor Eric J. Holcomb on March 21,2022. Instead, the General Assembly has added $3,000 to the homestead deduction, effective for assessment dates after December 31,2022. The homestead deduction amount for 2023 Pay 2024 will be the lesser of

  • Sixty percent (60%) of the assessed value of the real property, mobile home not assessed as real property, or manufactured home not assessed as real property; or
  • $48,000

$14,000 Over 65 Deduction

  1. You must be 65 prior to December 31st, of the year in which you file,
  2. Your assessment cannot be over $240,000,
  3. Your adjusted gross income cannot exceed $44,871.36 (joint) or $33,653.52 (single) DOES NOT INCLUDE NON-TAXABLE Social Security,
  4. If you file a federal or state income tax return, we must have a current copy of Tax return (1040 form) stating your adjusted gross income,
  5. 5. We must consider income from everyone that is living or deeded on the property. Everyone deeded on the property must live there to qualify. Can only be combined with Homestead deduction.

Over 65 Deduction Circuit Breaker

  1. You must be 65 prior to December 31st, of the year in which you file,
  2. Your assessment of your property cannot be over $240,000,
  3. Your adjusted gross income cannot exceed $44,871.36 (joint) or $33,653.52 (single),
  4. We have to consider income from anyone that is living or deeded on the property. Can be combined with any other deduction.

$12,480 Blind/Disabled Deduction

  1. You must be legally blind or disabled,
  2. We need a doctor’s statement or an award letter from Social Security stating disability or blindness,
  3. Your adjusted gross income cannot be over $17,000. DOES NOT INCLUDE Social Security,
  4. If you file federal or state income tax, we must have a current copy of your Tax Return. Cannot be combined with the Over 65 deduction.

Totally Disabled Veteran $14,000 Deduction Code #1

  1. Provide a pension certificate or an award of compensation issued from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; or Certificate of eligibility issued by the Indiana Department of Veterans’ Affairs,
  2. Your assessment (total real & personal) cannot exceed $240,000,
  3. Totally Disabled or at least 62 years old and 10% or more disabled,
  4. Can be combined with code #2 Veteran deduction if qualified. Cannot be combined with Over 65 deductions.

Partially Service-Connected Disabled Veteran $24,960 Deduction Code#2, Code#3

  1. Provide a pension certificate or an award of compensation issued from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; or Certificate of eligibility issued by the Indiana Department of Veterans’ Affairs,
  2. At least 10% service-connected disabled,
  3. Unmarried surviving spouses may qualify,
  4. Can be combined with code #1 Veteran deduction, if qualified. Cannot be combined with Over 65 Deduction,
  5. Add Codes #1 and #2 together = $38,960 if you qualify for both veteran deductions

Credit-Veteran Excise Tax

Two different credits for excise tax that may be available to veterans:

  • If, after application of a veteran’s deduction there is any portion of the deduction remaining, the unused portion may be applied first toward any personal property taxes owed and then as a credit toward vehicle excise taxes.
  • The unused portion of the veteran deduction reduces the annual vehicle excise tax in the amount of $2 on each $100 of taxable value or major portion thereof,
  • If a veteran qualifies for this credit, IC 6-6-5-5 states that the county auditor, upon request, will furnish a certified statement to the veteran verifying the credit allowable.

If you need assistance in filing for veteran’s deductions, Wayne County operates a Veteran’s Service Office. The Veteran’s Service Office can be reached at (765)973-9207.


Hertiage Barn Deduction

Hertiage Barn means a barn that on the assessment date:

  • Was constructed before 1950,
  • Retains sufficient integrity of design, materials, and construction to clearly identify the building as a barn; and,
  • Is a mortise and tenon barn*,
  • Barn designed to be used for: housing animals, storing, and maintaining agricultural equipment, or serving an essential or useful purpose related to agricultural activities conducted on the adjacent land.

*A mortise and tenon barn are barns built using heavy wooden timbers, joined together with wood-pegged mortise and tenon joinery, which form an exposed structural frame.

  • To claim the Heritage Barn Deduction, the taxpayer must complete Form 55706 and file it with the county auditor’s office.

Geothermal, Solar Energy System or Solar Wind, Geothermal, or Hydroelectric Deduction

  • In order to claim the Environmental deductions, you must complete Form 18865 (Statement for Deduction of Assessed Valuation (Attributed to Solar Energy System or Solar Wind, Geothermal, or Hydroelectric Power Device. It is to be filed with the county auditor’s office,
  • Provide a completed form along with the Make, Model Number, Serial Number of the Geothermal unit that is installed at the property and a daytime telephone number for the Assessor’s office to contact you,
  • File a claim with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management Office of Water Quality at 100 North Senate Ave, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204,

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management will review your claim for certification. Once IDEM certifies the claim, a certification letter will be sent to your county auditor and a copy will be sent to you. You need to be certified by the State only once.


Note: Pursuant to IC 6-1.1-12-2 deductions may be filed before DEC. 31st of the current year for the deduction to be effective for the following payable year. If any changes occur regarding the status of your deduction, it is your responsibility to call the Auditor’s Office to see if you need to re-file.

Questions? Call the Auditor's office at (765) 973-9317. We'll be glad to help!