COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio homeowners and renters could get some relief from high property taxes if legislation in the Ohio House and Senate ultimately becomes law. Under the companion bills, eligible homeowners would get an income tax credit or rebate if their property taxes are more than 5% of their income.
It would also apply to renters for the portion of their rent attributable to property taxes. The primary sponsors of the House version say Ohio needs property tax relief now.
"Our property taxes are way too high for way too many people," Rep. Dani Isaacsohn (D - Cincinnati) said.
That is why he introduced House Bill 645 along with Republican Representative Thomas Hall. Isaacsohn says the measure could potentially help hundreds of thousands of Ohioans.
"Not only are property taxpayers, homeowners, getting relief, but also when the landlords are passing on the increases to their renters, that their tenants are also getting some relief," Isaacsohn said.
"House Bill 645 is bipartisan legislation that will offer a circuit breaker to eligible homeowners and renters, delivering targeted tax relief to Ohioans in direct response to the countless conversations I have been able to have with constituents across our district and the state," Rep. Hall said in a statement.
The bill would provide an income tax credit or rebate for homeowners and renters in a tiered system. A household making $60,000 or less would be eligible for a credit or rebate of up to $1,000.
The amount of relief falls as income increases, as shown below.
Household income / Credit or rebate
- $60,001- $70,000 = $800
- $70,001-$80,000 = $600
- $80,001-$90,000 = $400
- $90,001-$100,000 = $200
Under the House bill, $100,000 is the highest eligible income level for relief. The Senate companion bill differs in that it would provide credits or rebates only for households making up to 60,000.
"Any action or activity that the general assembly can take that is going to allow people to be able to maintain and stay in the neighborhood they want, we're very supportive," Franklin County Auditor Michael Stinziano said.
Stinziano oversees the county's Property Tax Assistance Program. It provides one-time payments for seniors and those with disabilities struggling to pay property taxes. He says the program is small but growing in terms of awareness, funding and the number of recipients. One-hundred and twenty-six homeowners received property tax assistance through the program in 2023, up from 63 in 2021.
"We continue to hear that kitchen table issue of not wanting to be property taxed out of their neighborhood," Stinziano said.
Representative Isaacsohn says seniors are most impacted by rising property taxes, and they are a focus of the new bill.
"They are the most vulnerable," Isaacsohn said. "They're on fixed incomes, a lot of them, and so we really want to make sure that we are including almost all seniors who would qualify."
Isaacsohn says other states already have similar tax relief measures in place. He says this bill is based on a law in Michigan.
"People are being taxed out of their homes yesterday, today, tomorrow, and so we are trying to do more on this issue," Isaacsohn said.
Because of the bi-partisan support, Isaacsohn is hopeful the legislature will pass the bill before the end of this year. If it does not, he says he will re-introduce the bill in the next General Assembly after the new year.