Hardin County Ohio

Hardin County Auditor

Michael T. Bacon

– Contact Info –

Hardin County Auditor
One Courthouse Square
Suite 250
Kenton, Ohio 43326-2398
Ph: (419) 674-2239
Fax: (419) 674-4023
Hours: Mon-Fri, 8:00-4:00
Email the Auditor

Homestead Exemption

Legislative Changes

Due to changes in state law those individuals first qualifying for the Homestead program in 2014 will now be subject to an income means test. In order to qualify a new applicant in 2014 must have an Ohio Adjusted Gross Income (line 3 of the Ohio Income Tax Return) of less than $33,600 including the applicant’s spouse if applicable. Generally speaking, the Ohio Adjusted Gross Income includes only earned income, retirement income such as social security is excluded. This new requirement does not apply to individuals who qualified for the homestead program prior to 2014.

Who is eligible for the homestead exemption?

To qualify for the Homestead Exemption you must:

  • Own and occupy the home as their primary place of residence as of January 1 of the year of the application; AND If qualifying for the first time in 2019 must have an Adjusted Gross Income (line 3 of the Ohio Income Tax Return) of $33,600 or less. This number is adjusted annually by the Ohio Department of Taxation. This requirement does not apply if the property owner qualified for the homestead exemption programs anywhere in the State of Ohio prior to 2014; and meet one of the requirements below:
  • Be at least 65 years old; or
  • Be totally and permanently disabled as of January 1 as certified by a licensed physician or psychologist, or a state or federal agency; or
  • Be 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 to application for real property; or Jan. 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.

What is meant by the term "permanently and totally disabled"?

Section 323.15.1 (D) of the Revised Code provides that “permanently and totally disabled” means a person who has some impairment in body or mind that makes him unfit to work at any substantially remunerative employment which he is reasonable able to perform and which will, with reasonable probability, continue for an indefinite period of at least 12 months. A certificate of disability form must be filled out and signed by a licensed physician and submitted with the application for the Homestead Exemption.

How do I show proof of age?

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 requires some evidence of age, such as a driver’s license, birth certificate or Medicare Card.

What is the deadline to apply?

Applications for the new Homestead Exemption must be submitted on or after the first Monday of January and received by your county auditor’s office no later than the 1st Monday of June.

Does the homestead exemption have an effect on other real estate tax reductions that I am presently receiving?

The Homestead Exemption is an additional reduction in real estate taxes beyond the other property tax deductions and rollbacks. You will continue to receive all other property tax reductions and rollbacks that you are presently eligible to receive.

I already receive the homestead exemption. Do I have to reapply to receive benefits under the new program?

If you received the Homestead Exemption credit on your current tax bill, you do not need to file a new application. You will automatically receive the new Homestead Exemption for the next tax year if you otherwise qualify. If your spouse died during the previous year, and if you received the Homestead Exemption credit on the tax bill you paid the current year only because your spouse met the age or disability criteria, you do not need to file a new application for the exemption. If you were 59 at the time of your spouse’s death, you will continue to qualify.
Taxpayers who filed an application before the previous year’s deadline need not file another application after July 1 of the current year for the expanded Homestead Exemption. The original application contains the information the auditor will need to determine whether taxpayers are eligible for the expanded Homestead Exemption.

For estate planning purposes, I placed the title to my property in a trust. Can I still receive the homestead exemption?

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.

Will I have to apply every year to receive the homestead exemption?

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.

Will I have to apply every year to receive the homestead exemption?

Please go to Forms / Publications to either download the Homestead Exemption Application or the Homestead Certificate of Disability form (under Real Estate).

Hardin County Ohio

Hardin County Courthouse
One Courthouse Square
Suite 100
Kenton, Ohio 43326-1575

Phone: (419) 674 2205
Hours: Mon-Fri, 8:00-4:00

Search Court Records

To search court records, click the button below to go to the Hardin Courts website. 

Upon arrival click on the court whose records you wish to search.  

Click here

Links

Ohio Department of Job & Family Services

Services Provided By Ohio Job & Family Services

Hardin County Family and Children First

Credit Card Payments

Enjoy the convenience, flexibility, and rewards of credit card payments for Real Estate, Personal Property and Mobile Home taxes. In cooperation with Hardin County, PayGov offers individuals and businesses the opportunity to pay taxes by telephone or directly over the Internet.

This service is safe, reliable and in accordance with all state and government regulations. In order to process your payment, PayGov, the credit card service provider, charges a nominal convenience fee based on the amount of the transaction. Hardin County does not retain any portion of this fee.

To make a payment by telephone call 1-866-480-8552 and a live operator will assist you.

To make a payment by credit card online Click Here to get started

Here is what you will need:

  • Your Tax Bill
  • Your Credit Card

Tax Installment Prepay Plan

The Tax Installment Prepay (TIP) Plan divides the Annual Real Estate Taxes in 12 portions. Taxpayers receive a coupon book with ten (10) coupons, enough for the entire year. The taxpayer makes five (5) installments per half and then the final bill shows the Half Tax less all prepayments and the balance due. There is no penalty if one of the payments is late or missed as long as the total Half Tax in paid in full prior to the closing date for that half.

To be eligible for this TIP Plan a taxpayer needs to have their taxes paid for the current Tax Year.

If you are interested in getting started on the Tax Installment Prepay (TIP) Plan please contact our office.

Coroner's Office

Hardin County Coroner
Aaron M. Fritz, MD
1025 S. Main Street
Kenton, Ohio 43326
Phone: (740) 978-6208
aaron.fritz@hardincountyohio.gov
Hours: all times

The key job responsibility is to determine the manner and cause of deaths, often by performing autopsies. During autopsies, coroners inspect the body of a deceased person to identify marks or other empirical evidence that indicates how he or she died. Other specific job duties include visiting death scenes, identifying human remains, supervising the transportation of corpses, operating crime scene equipment, completing death certificates and notifying next of kin.

Victim Assistance

Tracy Wright
Hardin County Victim Assistance
Prosecutor’s Office
One Courthouse Square, Suite 50
Kenton, Ohio 43326
Phone: 419 674 2277
Email
Hours: Mon-Fri, 8.00am – 3.30pm

The office of the Hardin County Prosecutor has a Victim Assistance Program to assist victims of crime throughout their dealings with the criminal justice system.

Victims of crime can be left feeling alone, afraid, frustrated, angry and violated. The victim’s advocate is here to help you and we will make every effort to ensure victims receive timely notification of scheduled changes that involve their case.

The Victim Assistance Program is currently funded 100% by the SVAA (State victim Assistance) Grant through the Ohio attorney Generals Office. A new grant is written each year to keep the program in operation.
Go to the website for forms and more information.

Domestic Relations Court

One Courthouse Square
Suite 210
Kenton, Ohio 43326
Phone: 419 674 2233
Fax: 419 675 2941

Go to the website

Municipal Court

P.O. Box 250
111 W. Franklin Street
Kenton, Ohio 43326
Phone: 419 674 4362
Fax: 419 674 4096
Hours:

Go to the website

Probate Court

One Courthouse Square

Suite 210
Kenton, Ohio 43326
Phone: 419 674 2230
Fax: 419 674 2274
Email

Records birth certificates, marriage licenses, guardianships, wills, adoptions, and estates. Same Judge also serves Juvenile Court.

Go to the website

Ditch Maintenance and Tax Map

Phone: (419) 674-2225
Email the Tax Map Dept
Email the Ditch Maintenance Dept
Hours: Mon-Fri, 8:00-4:00

Keeps a variety of maps and records. Checks legal descriptions of property and deeds. Checks land contracts for attorneys and real estate agents to determine if the contracts accurately describe the property and deeds. Maintains the county’s 166 petitioned ditches.

Emergency Management Agency

Keith Severns, Director
1025 South Main Street
Kenton, Ohio 43326
Phone: 419 674 2276
Hours: Mon-Fri, 8:00am – 4.30pm

Email EMA

GIS

One Courthouse Square Suite 180
Kenton, Ohio 43326
Phone: 419 673 2984
Email: Nathan Saylor, GIS Coordinator
Hours: Mon-Fri, 8:00 – 4:00

Geographical Information Systems; creates maps using data and statistics available from various sources in the county.

Go to the parcel mapping website
Go to the products and FAQ website

I.T.

Hardin County’s IT Department is now a Contracted Service .

Maintenance

Hardin County Courthouse Maintenance
Richard A. Lawson
One Courthouse Square
Suite 90
Kenton, Ohio 43326
Phone: 419-674-2210
Mail Maintenance
Hours: Mon-Fri, 6.30 – 4pm

The goal of the maintenance department is “To preserve and maintain the facilities that belong to all residents of Hardin County in an economic manner and to ensure that these public buildings remain for many years to come.“

As an employee of the commissioners, supervisor Richard Lawson is charged with this task. The Courthouse, Courthouse Annex, Title Building and Safety Center are the main responsibility of this department. At times our services are rendered at the Transfer Station, Dog Pound and Lifeworks.

Duties include but are not limited to assisting office staff, scheduling and oversee service contractors, general repairs, minor construction, grounds care, etc. The maintenance staff is also responsible for decorating the courthouse for the Christmas season.

Unclaimed Funds

Unclaimed funds are funds that have left the possession of its rightful owner without having directly entered into the possession of another person. Examples of these funds are utility deposits, inheritance bequests, forgotten bank accounts, insurance claims, etc. If you believe you are entitled to such funds, please go to the State of Ohio Unclaimed Funds to collect them.

Click here for State of Ohio Website