The Porter County, Indiana tax system allows homeowners various ways to reduce their property taxes. These exemptions mainly apply to owner-occupied single family residences. The most common exemptions taken are the homestead and mortgage exemptions, and they can possibly reduce a homeowner’s bill by nearly 50% under a tax bill without such exemptions.
Other available exemptions include green energy exemptions for wind, solar, and geothermal energy usage, over 65 years old, blind, disabled, disabled veteran, World War I veteran, and others.
Investment properties are typically not allowed exemptions, however please check with the county to see if energy exemptions or others may apply. In duplexes that are partially owner occupied, square footage prorations are typically applied to give the homeowner a partial exemption on their property.
To file in Porter County, home owners should visit the Porter County Administration Building in Valparaiso at 155 Indiana Avenue before year end. Applicants must have a current driver’s license with their new address, the last 5 digits of their social security number, and may need a copy of the deed, information on the mortgage, and more. To learn more online, visit the Porter County website auditors page at http://www.porterco.org/index.php?id=auditor . A link directly to the PDF form explaining exemptions is http://www.in.gov/icpr/webfile/formsdiv/51781.pdf . You may also call the county at 219-465-3445 for more information.