Ohio homeowners who turned 65 this year, or who are totally and permanently disabled, have until Dec. 31 to file for the homestead exemption, and the filing cuts the property tax bill that follows. The exemption takes the first $29,000 of a home’s value off the tax calculation for owners within the income limit. That is 61 days from today, and Dec. 31 falls on a Thursday this year.
What the exemption takes off the bill
The homestead exemption is not a refund check. Cuyahoga County says the program exempts part of a home’s market value from taxation, which lowers the value the tax is figured on. The exempt amount on the current application is $29,000, and $28,000 for late filers.
What that saves depends on the local tax rate. Franklin County’s auditor calls the exemption a credit on property tax bills and gives an example: a home appraised at $100,000 is billed as if it were worth $71,000. The auditor adds that savings vary from one community to the next with local rates, so two owners with the same house value can see different dollar cuts.
Who has to file by the age test
The age test counts the whole calendar year. The Montgomery County Auditor says an applicant must be 65, or turn 65, by December 31 of the year of application. An owner who turned 65 in March 2026 and an owner who turns 65 on Dec. 30 both meet it for this year’s filing…