COVID-19 Property Tax Aid For Eligible Ohio Homeowners and Renters

Ohio recently passed Law SB 57 effective August 3, 2021. This law provides property tax breaks for property owners who have suffered from the COVID-19 pandemic or state COVID-19 orders. This relief is designed to help the businesses hardest hit by the impact of COVID-19, including hotels, restaurants, retail stores, and other tourism-related businesses. As a result of SB 57, qualified tenants can submit complaints or counterclaims against complaints from tax year 2021.

Ohio Approves Examination of COVID-19 on Tax Review Complaints

In Ohio, an eligible person can now request that their home valuation be determined by October 1, 2020 (instead of January 1, 2020) by filing a 2020 tax year appraisal complaint. The complaint must require that the valuation reflect a decrease in the real value of the property due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic or a governmental COVID-19 order. Depending on the revaluation and update of the property value in your county, the adjusted value will also apply to subsequent tax years.

In order to file a complaint, the applicant must in particular indicate how such a COVID-19-related circumstance or a governmental COVID-19 order has reduced the real value of the property; A complaint alleging a general decline in economic or market conditions in the region or region is not enough. The complaint must be submitted by September 2, 2021. The bill also waived the rule that excludes more than one assessment complaint filed within the same intermediate time. Note that eligible individuals can also file tax review complaints that meet these requirements for the 2021 or 2022 tax year, although the complaint must be filed by March 31, 2022 or March 31, 2023, respectively.

Tenants may be able to file tax value complaints or counterclaims for the 2021 tax year

SB 57 to submit authorized tenants of commercial or industrial properties to submit tax value complaints or counterclaims against complaints if: (i) the tenant is obliged by the tenant to pay the full amount of the taxes levied on the property; and (ii) the lease permits or the owner authorizes the tenant to file such complaints. A tenant who meets these requirements can file complaints or counterclaims against complaints for the tax year 2021 and beyond.