FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Elijah Roberson, Press Secretary
Elijah.Roberson@iga.in.gov
317-232-9498
STATEHOUSE (Jan. 2, 2026) — Blind and disabled Hoosiers and seniors should apply for property tax credits by Jan. 15, 2026 to ensure they receive the benefits they are due, said State Sen. Eric Koch (R-Bedford).
Blind and disabled Hoosiers are now eligible for the more generous $125 Blind/Disabled Credit, rather than the Blind/Disabled Deduction, and should apply by Jan. 15, 2026, even if they were previously receiving the deduction, in order to ensure there is no disruption in receiving it. Eligible Hoosiers can download the application form here or contact their local county auditor's office for assistance.
Hoosiers over 65 can download the one-page application for property tax credits here or contact their county auditor's office to receive an application.
Thanks to the passage of historic property tax relief in Senate Enrolled Act 1, which is estimated to save homeowners $1.3 billion over the next three years, the Over 65 Deduction was switched to a more generous Over 65 Credit of $150, meaning all eligible property owners will experience savings even if their bill is at the property tax cap. SEA 1-2025 also removed the maximum assessed value limit to receive this credit.
SEA 1-2025 also expanded eligibility to help seniors who did not previously qualify for the Over 65 Circuit Breaker Credit, which prevents property tax liability on qualified homestead property from increasing more than 2% compared to prior year tax liability. Specifically, the law removed the assessed-value limit for a home to qualify, and it increased the income limit for the Circuit Breaker credit to $60,000 for individuals and $70,000 for couples.
Hoosiers over 65 are encouraged to apply for these credits before Jan. 15, 2026 in order to receive the credits beginning with property taxes paid in calendar year 2026, even if they were previously receiving the benefit, in order to ensure there is no disruption in receiving it.
To apply for the Over 65 Circuit Breaker Credit and Over 65 Credit:
• A filer must be at least age 65 on or before Dec. 31 of the year prior to the year in which the credit is claimed.
• The application must be filed with the county auditor on or before Jan. 15 of the calendar year in which the property taxes are first due and payable.
• The application for both the Over 65 Credit and the Over 65 Circuit Breaker Credit are on the same form.
o The form – Application for Senior Citizen Property Tax Benefits 43708 – can be downloaded here.
• An individual wishing to claim one or both of these credits must file the application with the county auditor and provide documentation necessary to substantiate the individual's eligibility for the credit.
• An individual who remains eligible for the credit(s) in the following year is not required to file a statement to apply for the credit in the following year.
Hoosiers should also be advised that if they receive one of these credits in a particular year and become ineligible for the credit in the following year, they must notify the auditor of the county in which the homestead is located of the ineligibility no later than 60 days after the individual becomes ineligible.
Hoosiers with questions about the application process or their eligibility should contact their county auditor's office.
Koch is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Utilities, ranking member of the Senate committees on Commerce and Technology and Judiciary, and a member of the Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law. He represents Senate District 44, which includes Brown, Jackson, Lawrence and Orange counties, and a portion of Monroe County.
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