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Delinquent
Taxes
Q.
What is the date, time and location of the tax sale?
A. Delinquent properties are offered for sale periodically
through a Sheriff's Sale at the Belmont County Courthouse.
Please contact the
Sheriff's Office at 740.695.7933 for more information.
Q. When and where are the tax sales advertised?
A. Properties being foreclosed due to either delinquent
taxes or mortgage foreclosures are advertised on Wednesday in the
Martins Ferry Times Leader three times prior to a sale.
Q. What happens to the properties that do not sell at
the Sheriff's sale?
A. There are two attempts to sell each property at a
Sheriff's Sale. Properties
not sold at the Sheriff's Sale are offered for a third time at the
Auditor's Forfeited Land Sale.
This sale is usually held once a year during the summer.
All the property to be sold is advertised in both the Martins
Ferry Times Leader and the Barnesville Enterprise two times prior to
the sale.
Dog
License
Q.
When should I License my dog?
A.
The annual license renewal period is December 1 - January 31.
If you have a new puppy, you must buy a license by the
time he or she reaches three months old.
If
you have just moved to Belmont County, or if you just acquired
a new dog, you must purchase a license.
Q.
Where do I purchase a dog license?
A.
You can purchase a license by mail.
Call 699-2131 for an application.
You can also purchase a license in person at the
Auditors Office, Courthouse, 101 W. Main Street, St.
Clairsville, Ohio 43950, at the local animal shelter, or at
one of our neighborhood agents. Call 699-2131 for
details.
Q.
Must my dog wear a license?
A.
YES. Ohio
law requires it, and dogs without a license may be impounded
by the dog warden.
Q.
Why do I need to license my dog?
A.
First, Ohio Law requires that you license your dog.
Second, a license tag attached to your dog's collar
proves ownership and is your pets ticket home if he gets lost.
Q.
What If I forget to buy my dog's license during the renewal
period of December 1 - January 31?
A.
Ohio law requires a late fee ($12.00 in Belmont County).
Simply pay the fee of $24.00 for the current years
License. The late fee for a kennel is $60.00 for a total fee of
$120.00. There are no provisions in the law to waive the fee.
Q.
Can
I let my dog run loose If he Is licensed?
A.
NO!
It is
against the law. Ohio
law specifies that all dogs must be confined to your property
or under reasonable control - such as on a leash when being
walked. It is not
safe to let your dog roam the neighborhood.
He can get hit by a car, become lost, damage a
neighbors' property, -or injure another animal or person.
Q. What if I move?
A.
If you move within Belmont County, please call 699-2131 with
your new address and telephone number so we can keep the
information up-to-date. If you move to another county, call
that county's Auditor for license information.
Q. What if I no longer own a
dog?
A.
If you no longer own the dog, please call the office at
699-2131 so your name may be removed from our list.
Q.
What do I do If my dog gets lost?
A.
Call the dog warden
at 695-4708.
Homestead Exemption
The Homestead Exemption allows senior citizens and permanently and totally disabled Ohioans to reduce their property tax burden by shielding some of the market value of their home from taxation. The exemption, which takes the form of a credit on property tax bills, allows qualifying homeowners to exempt $25,000 of the market value of their home from all local property taxes. For example, through the Homestead Exemption, a home with a market value of $100,000 would be billed as if it is worth $75,000. The exact amount of savings will vary from location to location. But overall, across Ohio, qualified homeowners should save an average of about $400 per year.
Q. How has the Homestead Exemption changed?
A. Starting July 2, 2007, the Homestead Exemption is now available to all Ohio homeowners, regardless of income, who are either age 65 or older or permanently and totally disabled. These changes are the result of House Bill 119, which was signed into law by Gov. Ted Strickland on June 30, 2007. Previously, eligibility for the Homestead Exemption was restricted through income tests that disqualified most senior citizens. For example, during the 2006 tax year, any senior citizen or disabled Ohioans with household income of more than $26,200 per year could not qualify for the savings. Another important change: All households who qualify for the Homestead Exemption will now receive a flat $25,000 property tax exemption on the market value of their home. Previously, benefits were tiered according to homeowners’ income and usually not as valuable. Because of these changes, the number of households eligible for the Homestead Exemption is expected to grow from 220,000 to an estimated 750,000. The average size of tax relief available to qualifying homeowners is expected to grow by about 25 percent per household.
Q. When does the new Homestead Exemption start?
A. The new Homestead Exemption starts with tax bills payable in 2008. For real property, bills paid in 2008 cover the 2007 tax year. For manufactured or mobile homes, bills paid in 2008 cover the 2008 tax year.
Q. Who qualifies for the new Homestead Exemption?
A. Any Ohio resident homeowner who:
- Is at least 65 years of age; or
- Is totally and permanently disabled as of January 1 of the prior year as certified by a licensed physician or psychologist, or a state or federal agency; or
- Is the surviving spouse of a person who was receiving the previous Homestead Exemption at the time of death and where the surviving spouse was at least 59 years old on the date of death.
To qualify, an Ohio resident also must own and occupy a home as their principal place of residence as of Jan. 1 of the prior year, for real property or January 1 of the current year for manufactured home property. For individuals who own more than one home, the principal place of residence is the home where the person is registered to vote and the person’s place of residence for income tax purposes.
Q. How do I apply for the Homestead Exemption?
A. To apply, complete the application form DTE 105A Homestead Exemption Application Form for Senior Citizens, Disabled Persons, and Surviving Spouses then file it with your local county auditor. The form is available from county auditors and from the Ohio Department of Taxation’s Web site at tax.ohio.gov.
Q. What’s the deadline to apply?
A. Applications for first time filers must be filed with the county auditor by the first Monday in June.
Q. Where do I apply?
A. The application must be filed with the county auditor of the county in which the property is located.
Q. May I file electronically?
A. Not at this time. A paper copy of the application bearing your original signature must be filed with the county auditor of the county in which your home is located.
Q. How will I know if my application has been approved?
A. If the county auditor approves your application, your reduction will appear on the first tax bill you receive for payment in the current year. If the county auditor denies your application, you will receive a notice informing you of and explaining the reason for the denial. If you believe your application was improperly denied, you may appeal the auditor’s decision to the county Board of Revision by filing form DTE 106B, Homestead Exemption and 2.5% Reduction Complaint, on or before the deadline for paying the first-half taxes (in most counties, the due date is in January or February). Owners of manufactured or mobile homes may also appeal the denial of a Homestead Exemption application, but their complaint forms must be filed no later than January 31of the current year. The complaint form is available from the county auditor or at the Ohio Department of Taxation’s Web site at tax.ohio.gov.
Q. How do I show proof of age?
A. The application form requires individuals to report their age and date of birth, and it is signed under penalty of perjury. Ohio law also provides that anyone who makes a false statement for purposes of obtaining a Homestead Exemption is guilty of a fourth-degree misdemeanor. Individuals convicted of such a misdemeanor are ineligible to receive the Homestead Exemption for the three years following the conviction and must pay any improperly exempted tax, plus interest. Your county auditor may require some evidence of age, such as a driver’s license or birth certificate.
Q. What documentation do I need to provide to prove my disability?
A. If you are claiming a physical disability, you must file form 105E signed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in Ohio. If you are claiming a mental disability, you must have the certificate signed by a physician or psychologist licensed to practice in Ohio. You may also submit a certificate from any state or federal agency that classifies you as permanently and totally disabled. File Form 105E with Form 105A Homestead Exemption Application Form for Senior Citizens, Disabled Persons, and Surviving Spouses. The form is available from your county auditor or at the Ohio Department of Taxation’s Web site at tax.ohio.gov.
Q. For estate planning purposes, I placed the title to my property in a trust. Can I still receive the Homestead Exemption?
A. You are eligible for the Homestead Exemption if all of the following are true:
- You created the trust to be effective during your lifetime (an inter vivos trust).
- You provided the assets for the trust (you are the settlor). • You can terminate the trust at any time (it is a revocable trust).
- The trust agreement contains a provision that says you have complete possession of the property.
Most of the other common forms of property ownership (such as survivorship deeds) also qualify for the exemption. If you have questions about what constitutes eligible home ownership for the Homestead Exemption, consult your county auditor.
Q. Will I have to apply every year to receive the Homestead Exemption?
A. No. However, if your circumstances change and you no longer qualify for the Homestead Exemption, you must notify the county auditor by the first Monday in June. In January the county auditor will mail you a copy of the continuing application form (DTE 105B, Continuing Homestead Exemption Application Form for Senior Citizens, Disabled Persons, and Surviving Spouses). Please return this form to the auditor only if you no longer own the home, no longer occupy it as your primary place of residence, or if your disability status has changed.
Q. I’ll save quite a bit of money through the Homestead Exemption. Will this hurt my local schools?
A. The State of Ohio reimburses school districts and local governments for the amount of revenue taxpayers save through the Homestead Exemption. Local governments and schools do not lose out.
Manufactured
Homes
Q.
How do I transfer a manufactured home title?
A.
The title must be stamped by the County Treasurer verifying
that all manufactured home taxes due are paid in full.
You must file a conveyance fee or exemption statement in the
County Auditor's office, pay any fees due, and have the title
stamped. The new owner must then take the title to the Clerk
of Courts Title Department to be processed.
Q.
How are manufactured home taxes calculated?
A.
Anyone who owned a manufactured home prior to January 1, 2000,
have the taxes calculated under the old "depreciation
Schedule" system. The taxes are based on the purchase
price on the title.
Anyone who purchases a manufactured
home after January 1, 2000, are taxed under the new
"Treated Like Real Property" System. The taxes are
based on the appraisal value of the home. What township and
school district the manufactured home is located also
determines what tax rate is used when calculating the taxes.
Personal
Property Tax
Q.
Who is required to file a return?
A.
Anyone who owns a business on January 1, in the State of Ohio.
Q.
What do I have to report?
A. Any
inventory or equipment used in the business.
Q.
Where can I obtain a tax return?
A. You
may call or visit the Auditor's office.
Q.
Is there help available to fill out the return?
A. Yes,
the auditor's staff will help you.
Real
Estate
Q.
I just bought my property. Why does the website still show the
previous owner as the legal owner?
A.
The website will reflect transfers on the transfer screen but
the legal owner is the current taxpayer. The new owner will
appear as legal owner the following year.
Q.
How are my real estate taxes figured?
A.
Real estate taxes are based on current market value of the
property. You are then assessed 35% of your market value,
which is your taxable value. Your taxable value is multiplied
by the tax rate in your taxing district (where your property
is located.) This gives you the dollar figure you then
subtract the reduction factor and the rollback amounts to
determine the net amount due.
Q.
If I think my taxes are too high, how can I have them lowered?
A.
If you feel the market value the County has your property
appraised for is too high you may fdile a complaint form DTE
Form 1 on the valuation of your property before the due date
of first half taxes or March 31, whichever is later. Obtain
this form by calling the auditor's office at 740-699-2132, or
by going to our online forms.
Q.
Do I need to file a building permit to build a new structure
or make alterations to an existing building?
A.
If you are located within a municipality, you need to contact
your city building about the building requirements. If you are
located in the township, you must file a New Construction
Notice to County Auditor in lieu of a permit. This is to
notify the Auditor for real estate tax purposes. There is no
fee charged for filing this form. However you could be
assessed a 50% penalty on your real estate tax bill for every
year you did not report your new construction. This form may
be obtained by calling 740-699-2132.
Vendor's
License
Q.
How much does a Vendor's License cost?
A.
$25.00
Q.
How can you purchase a Business License?
A. You
would purchase a Vendor's License.
Q.
How can you get a tax-exempt number?
A.
The only way an item can be exempt from sales tax is if the
item is going to be resold. When the item is resold, sales tax
is then collected. If a vendor is buying items for resale then
a Vendors License is needed. You purchase a Vendor's License
in the Auditor's office.
If you are a not-for-profit business,
you are required to fill out a tax-exempt form. The forms are
available at most print shops and office supply stores.
Weights
and Measures
Q.
How accurate are fuel dispensers?
A. Gas
pumps must be recalibrated when the meter has an error greater than
+/- .004 of a gallon.
Q.
What does the inspector do with the gas after a meter test?
A. The gas is
returned to the station storage tank.
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