Citations Affected: IC 6-1.1; IC 36-2.
Effective: July 1, 2012.
January 4, 2012, read first time and referred to Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy.
January 19, 2012, amended, reported favorably _ Do Pass.
January 24, 2012, read second time, amended, ordered engrossed.
January 25, 2012, engrossed.
January 30, 2012, read third time, passed. Yeas 50, nays 0.
made by written instrument or electronically. Specifies that the payment cycle for a property tax payment plan may be up to 12 months and may begin in December of the year preceding the year the taxes would be due under the May and November installment method and end in the following November. Clarifies that penalties do not apply if the amount due under a monthly payment plan is paid by the due date in November that is designated by the taxpayer. Provides that a real property parcel is not to be listed on a tax sale notice if the delinquent property taxes or special assessments are $25 or less. Provides that the interest rate owed on property tax refunds or when a taxpayer owes more property taxes because of an assessment increase after the tax due date, an appeal, or when collection has been enjoined by court order is equal to the rate established by the commissioner of the department of state revenue for refunds on excess state tax payments. Requires county treasurers and county auditors to attend training sessions approved by the state board of accounts. Provides that money in the county elected officials training fund may be used to provide this training. (Under current law, the fund is used to provide training to county recorders and surveyors.)
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
taxation.
tax bill) the statement in either color type or black-and-white type.
(b) The department of local government finance shall prescribe a
form, subject to the approval of the state board of accounts, for the
statement under subsection (a) that includes at least the following:
(1) A statement of the taxpayer's current and delinquent taxes and
special assessments.
(2) A breakdown showing the total property tax and special
assessment liability and the amount of the taxpayer's liability that
will be distributed to each taxing unit in the county.
(3) An itemized listing for each property tax levy, including:
(A) the amount of the tax rate;
(B) the entity levying the tax owed; and
(C) the dollar amount of the tax owed.
(4) Information designed to show the manner in which the taxes
and special assessments billed in the tax statement are to be used.
(5) A comparison showing any change in the assessed valuation
for the property as compared to the previous year.
(6) A comparison showing any change in the property tax and
special assessment liability for the property as compared to the
previous year. The information required under this subdivision
must identify:
(A) the amount of the taxpayer's liability distributable to each
taxing unit in which the property is located in the current year
and in the previous year; and
(B) the percentage change, if any, in the amount of the
taxpayer's liability distributable to each taxing unit in which
the property is located from the previous year to the current
year.
(7) An explanation of the following:
(A) Homestead credits under IC 6-1.1-20.4, IC 6-3.5-6-13, or
another law that are available in the taxing district where the
property is located.
(B) All property tax deductions that are available in the taxing
district where the property is located.
(C) The procedure and deadline for filing for any available
homestead credits under IC 6-1.1-20.4, IC 6-3.5-6-13, or
another law and each deduction.
(D) The procedure that a taxpayer must follow to:
(i) appeal a current assessment; or
(ii) petition for the correction of an error related to the
taxpayer's property tax and special assessment liability.
(E) The forms that must be filed for an appeal or a petition
described in clause (D).
(F) The procedure and deadline that a taxpayer must follow
and the forms that must be used if a credit or deduction has
been granted for the property and the taxpayer is no longer
eligible for the credit or deduction.
(G) Notice that an appeal described in clause (D) requires
evidence relevant to the true tax value of the taxpayer's
property as of the assessment date that is the basis for the taxes
payable on that property.
The department of local government finance shall provide the
explanation required by this subdivision to each county treasurer.
(8) A checklist that shows:
(A) homestead credits under IC 6-1.1-20.4, IC 6-3.5-6-13, or
another law and all property tax deductions; and
(B) whether each homestead credit and property tax deduction
applies in the current statement for the property transmitted
under subsection (a).
(9) This subdivision applies to any property for which a deduction
or credit is listed under subdivision (8) if the notice required
under this subdivision was not provided to a taxpayer on a
reconciling statement under IC 6-1.1-22.5-12. The statement must
include in 2010, 2011, and 2012 a notice that must be returned by
the taxpayer to the county auditor with the taxpayer's verification
of the items required by this subdivision. The notice must explain
the tax consequences and applicable penalties if a taxpayer
unlawfully claims a standard deduction under IC 6-1.1-12-37 on:
(A) more than one (1) parcel of property; or
(B) property that is not the taxpayer's principal place of
residence or is otherwise not eligible for the standard
deduction.
The notice must include a place for the taxpayer to indicate, under
penalties of perjury, for each deduction and credit listed under
subdivision (8), whether the property is eligible for the deduction
or credit listed under subdivision (8). The notice must also
include a place for each individual who qualifies the property for
a deduction or credit listed in subdivision (8) to indicate the name
of the individual and the name of the individual's spouse (if any),
as the names appear in the records of the United States Social
Security Administration for the purposes of the issuance of a
Social Security card and Social Security number (or that they use
as their legal names when they sign their names on legal
documents), and either the last five (5) digits of each individual's
Social Security number or, if an individual does not have a Social
Security number, the numbers required from the individual under
IC 6-1.1-12-37(e)(4)(B). The notice must explain that the
taxpayer must complete and return the notice with the required
information and that failure to complete and return the notice may
result in disqualification of property for deductions and credits
listed in subdivision (8), must explain how to return the notice,
and must be on a separate form printed on paper that is a different
color than the tax statement. The notice must be prepared in the
form prescribed by the department of local government finance
and include any additional information required by the
department of local government finance. This subdivision expires
January 1, 2015.
(c) The county treasurer may mail or transmit the statement one (1)
time each year at least fifteen (15) days before the date on which the
first or only installment is due. Whenever a person's tax liability for a
year is due in one (1) installment under IC 6-1.1-7-7 or section 9 of this
chapter, a statement that is mailed must include the date on which the
installment is due and denote the amount of money to be paid for the
installment. Whenever a person's tax liability is due in two (2)
installments, a statement that is mailed must contain the dates on which
the first and second installments are due and denote the amount of
money to be paid for each installment. If a statement is returned to the
county treasurer as undeliverable and the forwarding order is expired,
the county treasurer shall notify the county auditor of this fact. Upon
receipt of the county treasurer's notice, the county auditor may, at the
county auditor's discretion, treat the property as not being eligible for
any deductions under IC 6-1.1-12 or any homestead credits under
IC 6-1.1-20.4 and IC 6-3.5-6-13.
(d) All payments of property taxes and special assessments shall be
made to the county treasurer. The county treasurer, when authorized by
the board of county commissioners, may open temporary offices for the
collection of taxes in cities and towns in the county other than the
county seat.
(e) The county treasurer, county auditor, and county assessor shall
cooperate to generate the information to be included in the statement
under subsection (b).
(f) The information to be included in the statement under subsection
(b) must be simply and clearly presented and understandable to the
average individual.
(g) After December 31, 2007, a reference in a law or rule to
IC 6-1.1-22-8 (expired January 1, 2008, and repealed) shall be treated
as a reference to this section.
(h) Transmission of statements and other information under this
subsection applies in a county only if the county legislative body adopts
an authorizing ordinance. Subject to subsection (i), in a county in
which an ordinance is adopted under this subsection for property taxes
and special assessments first due and payable after 2009, a person may,
in any manner permitted by subsection (n), direct the county
treasurer and county auditor to transmit the following to the person by
electronic mail:
(1) A statement that would otherwise be sent by the county
treasurer to the person by regular mail under subsection (a)(1),
including a statement that reflects installment payment due dates
under section 9.5 or 9.7 of this chapter.
(2) A provisional tax statement that would otherwise be sent by
the county treasurer to the person by regular mail under
IC 6-1.1-22.5-6.
(3) A reconciling tax statement that would otherwise be sent by
the county treasurer to the person by regular mail under any of the
following:
(A) Section 9 of this chapter.
(B) Section 9.7 of this chapter.
(C) IC 6-1.1-22.5-12, including a statement that reflects
installment payment due dates under IC 6-1.1-22.5-18.5.
(4) A statement that would otherwise be sent by the county
auditor to the person by regular mail under IC 6-1.1-17-3(b).
(5) (4) Any other information that:
(A) concerns the property taxes or special assessments; and
(B) would otherwise be sent:
(i) by the county treasurer or the county auditor to the person
by regular mail; and
(ii) before the last date the property taxes or special
assessments may be paid without becoming delinquent.
The information listed in this subsection may be transmitted to a
person by using electronic mail that provides a secure Internet link
to the information.
(i) For property with respect to which more than one (1) person is
liable for property taxes and special assessments, subsection (h) applies
only if all the persons liable for property taxes and special assessments
designate the electronic mail address for only one (1) individual
authorized to receive the statements and other information referred to
in subsection (h).
(j) Before 2010, the department of local government finance shall
create a form to be used to implement subsection (h). The county
treasurer and county auditor shall:
(1) make the form created under this subsection available to the
public;
(2) transmit a statement or other information by electronic mail
under subsection (h) to a person who, at least thirty (30) days
before the anticipated general mailing date of the statement or
other information, files the form created under this subsection:
(A) with the county treasurer; or
(B) with the county auditor; and
(3) publicize the availability of the electronic mail option under
this subsection through appropriate media in a manner reasonably
designed to reach members of the public.
(k) The form referred to in subsection (j) must:
(1) explain that a form filed as described in subsection (j)(2)
remains in effect until the person files a replacement form to:
(A) change the person's electronic mail address; or
(B) terminate the electronic mail option under subsection (h);
and
(2) allow a person to do at least the following with respect to the
electronic mail option under subsection (h):
(A) Exercise the option.
(B) Change the person's electronic mail address.
(C) Terminate the option.
(D) For a person other than an individual, designate the
electronic mail address for only one (1) individual authorized
to receive the statements and other information referred to in
subsection (h).
(E) For property with respect to which more than one (1)
person is liable for property taxes and special assessments,
designate the electronic mail address for only one (1)
individual authorized to receive the statements and other
information referred to in subsection (h).
(l) The form created under subsection (j) is considered filed with the
county treasurer or the county auditor on the postmark date or on the
date it is electronically submitted. If the postmark is missing or
illegible, the postmark is considered to be one (1) day before the date
of receipt of the form by the county treasurer or the county auditor.
(m) The county treasurer shall maintain a record that shows at least
the following:
(1) Each person to whom a statement or other information is
transmitted by electronic mail under this section.
either by written instrument or electronically. However,
this clause applies only if the county fiscal body has adopted
an ordinance under this section to allow taxpayers to pay
property taxes by monthly installment payments under a
monthly installment plan. on a monthly basis during the
designated payment period either by written instrument or
electronically.
An ordinance adopted under subsection (e) (f) may include a provision
authorizing taxpayers to make monthly deductions or monthly
installment payments in an amount determined by the taxpayer that is
different from the amount otherwise determined by the county treasurer
under subsection (h), (i), (j), or (k), or (l).
(g) (h) If an ordinance is adopted under subsection (e) (f) to allow
taxpayers to pay property taxes by automatic monthly deductions
during the designated payment period from an account of the
taxpayer that is held by a financial institution, the county treasurer shall
provide to each county taxpayer that submits to the county treasurer the
form referred to in subsection (f)(2)(C) (g)(2)(C) a statement that
includes at least the following:
(1) The amount to be deducted monthly from the taxpayer's
account.
(2) The designated payment period and identification of the day
each month, as chosen by the taxpayer, when the deduction will
be made.
(3) A calculation of the amount to be deducted.
(4) An explanation of the manner in which property taxes for the
current year will be reconciled under subsection (n) (o) and notice
that any property tax payments for the current year made by the
taxpayer by means other than automatic deduction from the
taxpayer's account will be taken into account in the reconciliation.
(5) An explanation of the penalties that apply if there are
insufficient funds in the taxpayer's account to cover one (1) or
more automatic deductions.
(h) (i) This subsection applies only if the county treasurer
determines that at the time the calculation under subsection (g)(3)
(h)(3) is made the amount of tax liability for the current year has not
been determined. Subject to subsections (i) and (j) and (k), the county
treasurer shall do the following:
(1) Determine the following:
(A) For a parcel of real property, the most recently determined
amount of tax liability that applied to the parcel for the
preceding year.
from the account of the taxpayer that is held by a financial institution
or the amount of the taxpayer's monthly installment payment under a
monthly installment payment plan, the county treasurer shall substitute
for the tax liability that applied to the parcel for the preceding year
under subsection (h) (i) the tax liability to be indicated on the
provisional statement.
(k) (l) This subsection applies only if the county treasurer
determines that at the time the calculation under subsection (g)(3)
(h)(3) is made the amount of tax liability for the current year has been
determined. The amount of the monthly deduction from the account of
the taxpayer that is held by a financial institution or the amount of the
taxpayer's monthly installment payment under a monthly installment
payment plan is the amount of the tax liability for the current year
payable in the installment or installments identified in the ordinance
under subsection (f)(2)(A) (g)(2)(A) divided by the number of monthly
deductions. months in the designated payment period.
(l) (m) Tax liability paid under this section by automatic deduction
from an account of the taxpayer that is held by a financial institution is
not finally discharged and the person has not paid the tax until the
taxpayer's account is charged for the payment.
(m) (n) Penalties apply under IC 6-1.1-37-10 as specified in this
section to taxes payable by automatic deduction from an account of the
taxpayer that is held by a financial institution or by monthly installment
payments under a monthly installment payment plan under this
section.
(n) (o) After the last monthly deduction from an account of a
taxpayer that is held by a financial institution or last monthly
installment payment under a monthly installment payment plan under
this section for the current year has been made and after the amount of
tax liability for the current year has been determined, the county
treasurer shall issue a reconciling statement to the taxpayer. Each
reconciling statement must indicate at least the following:
(1) The sum of:
(A) the taxpayer's actual tax liability for the current year; plus
(B) any penalty that applies for the current year.
(2) The total amount paid for the current year by automatic
deductions, monthly installment payments under a monthly
installment payment plan, and by means other than automatic
deductions or under a monthly installment payments. payment
plan.
(3) If the amount under subdivision (1) exceeds the amount under
subdivision (2), the deficiency is payable by the taxpayer:
date;
the penalty provisions of IC 6-1.1-37-10 apply to the delinquent
property taxes.
(r) (s) IC 6-1.1-37-10 applies to any amounts due under a
reconciling statement issued under subsection (n) (o) that are not paid
within thirty (30) days after the date of the reconciling statement, as
required under subsection (n)(3). (o)(3).
(s) (t) For purposes of IC 6-1.1-24-1(a)(1):
(1) property taxes to be paid by automatic deduction or by
monthly installments under a monthly installment payment plan
under this section before June of the current year are considered
to be the taxpayer's spring installment of property taxes; and
(2) payment on a reconciling statement issued under subsection
(n) (o) is considered to be due before the due date of the first
installment of property taxes payable in the year immediately
following the current year.
from a prior tax sale.
(b) The county auditor shall maintain a list of all real property
eligible for sale. Except as provided in section 1.2 or another provision
of this chapter, the taxpayer's property shall remain on the list. The list
must:
(1) describe the real property by parcel number and common
address, if any;
(2) for a tract or item of real property with a single owner,
indicate the name of the owner; and
(3) for a tract or item with multiple owners, indicate the name of
at least one (1) of the owners.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the real property
so listed is eligible for sale in the manner prescribed in this chapter.
(d) Not later than fifteen (15) days after the date of the county
treasurer's certification under subsection (a), the county auditor shall
mail by certified mail a copy of the list described in subsection (b) to
each mortgagee who requests from the county auditor by certified mail
a copy of the list. Failure of the county auditor to mail the list under
this subsection does not invalidate an otherwise valid sale.
and
(2) forty (40) hours of training courses within three (3) years;
after beginning the county treasurer's term.