Question: The article about the property tax relief approved by Richland County commissioners mentions this is available to those that apply for the reduction, but does not tell how or where to apply. Is there a process that must be completed to receive this reduction?
RICHLAND COUNTY — More than 30,000 parcels of land in Richland County qualify for owner-occupancy property tax relief, according to county Auditor Pat Dropsey.
But some may not be receiving the 2.5-percent tax reduction because they have not applied for it.
Since Richland County commissioners have approved adding another 2.5-percent tax credit for people who live in their own home as their principal residence, local residents could be paying far more property tax than required.
It’s worth checking. Dropsey said in the past that title company paperwork when people purchased a home often included a form seeking the relief. He said that happens less frequently these days.
Visit the county auditor’s website and locate your residence to see if the owner-occupancy tax reduction is in place.
Once there, click on “property search” to locate your residence. Scroll down to “taxes due” and look at 2025 for a chart showing your taxes and what (if any) reductions were applied.
If you do not see “Homestead Rollback (Owner Occupancy)” listed, you are likely not receiving the tax reduction.
If that’s the case, here are the basics:
Am I eligible?
You must own and occupy the home as your principal place of residence on Jan. 1 of the year you are applying in order to be eligible. It applies to your primary home only (you and your spouse can claim it on only one home).
The credit is a 2.5-percent reduction on taxes from qualified levies (Richland County commissioners approved doubling the local portion to 5% effective Jan. 1, 2026).
It is separate from the Homestead Exemption (for seniors/disabled persons).
How do I apply?
— Download and complete state Form DTE 105C (Application for Owner-Occupancy Tax Reduction). It’s on the Richland County Auditor’s website or from the Ohio Department of Taxation. (A PDF of the form is below).
— File the form with the Richland County Auditor’s Office no later than Dec. 31 of the tax year for which you are applying. For example, if you want to claim the credit in 2027, you must apply by Dec. 31, 2026.
Forms can be mailed to the auditor’s office at 50 Park Ave. East, Mansfield, Ohio, 44902-1861.
They can be emailed to auditor@richlandcountyoh.gov.
Completed forms can also be dropped off at the auditor’s office in the county courthouse. The auditor’s office is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
If you have any questions, call the auditor’s office at 419-774-5501.
