Sec. 5. (a) A property owner who desires to obtain the deduction provided by section 3 of this chapter must file a certified deduction application, on forms prescribed by the department of local government finance, with the auditor of the county in which the property is located. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) or (e), the deduction application must be filed before May 10 of the year in which the addition to assessed valuation is made.

     (b) If notice of the addition to assessed valuation or new assessment for any year is not given to the property owner before April 10 of that year, the deduction application required by this section may be filed not later than thirty (30) days after the date such a notice is mailed to the property owner at the address shown on the records of the township or county assessor.

     (c) The deduction application required by this section must contain the following information:

(1) The name of the property owner.

(2) A description of the property for which a deduction is claimed in sufficient detail to afford identification.

(3) The assessed value of the improvements before rehabilitation.

(4) The increase in the assessed value of improvements resulting from the rehabilitation.

(5) The assessed value of the new structure in the case of redevelopment.

(6) The amount of the deduction claimed for the first year of the deduction.

(7) If the deduction application is for a deduction in a residentially distressed area, the assessed value of the improvement or new structure for which the deduction is claimed.

(8) The assessed value of the new agricultural improvement, if applicable.

     (d) A deduction application filed under subsection (a) or (b) is applicable for the year in which the addition to assessed value or assessment of a new structure is made and in the following years the deduction is allowed without any additional deduction application being filed.

     (e) A property owner who desires to obtain the deduction provided by section 3 of this chapter but who has failed to file a deduction application within the dates prescribed in subsection (a) or (b) may file a deduction application between January 1 and May 10 of a subsequent year which shall be applicable for the year filed and the subsequent years without any additional deduction application being filed for the amounts of the deduction which would be applicable to such years pursuant to section 4 of this chapter if such a deduction application had been filed in accordance with subsection (a) or (b).

     (f) Subject to subsection (i), the county auditor shall act as follows:

(1) If:

(A) a determination about the number of years the deduction is allowed has been made in the resolution adopted under section 2.5 of this chapter; and

(B) an abatement schedule has been established under section 17 of this chapter;

the county auditor shall make the appropriate deduction.

(2) If:

(A) a determination about the number of years the deduction is allowed has not been made in the resolution adopted under section 2.5 of this chapter; or

(B) an abatement schedule has not been established under section 17 of this chapter;

the county auditor shall send a copy of the deduction application to the designating body. Upon receipt of the resolution stating the number of years the deduction will be allowed or establishing the abatement schedule, as applicable, the county auditor shall make the appropriate deduction.

(3) If the deduction application is for rehabilitation or redevelopment in a residentially distressed area, the county auditor shall make the appropriate deduction.

     (g) The amount and period of the deduction provided for property by section 3 of this chapter are not affected by a change in the ownership of the property if the new owner of the property:

(1) continues to use the property in compliance with any standards established under section 2(g) of this chapter; and

(2) files an application in the manner provided by subsection (e).

     (h) The township or county assessor shall include a notice of the deadlines for filing a deduction application under subsections (a) and (b) with each notice to a property owner of an addition to assessed value or of a new assessment.

     (i) Before the county auditor acts under subsection (f), the county auditor may request that the township assessor of the township in which the property is located, or the county assessor if there is no township assessor for the township, review the deduction application.

     (j) A property owner may appeal a determination of the county auditor under subsection (f) to deny or alter the amount of the deduction by requesting in writing a preliminary conference with the county auditor not more than forty-five (45) days after the county auditor gives the person notice of the determination. An appeal initiated under this subsection is processed and determined in the same manner that an appeal is processed and determined under IC 6-1.1-15.

As added by Acts 1977, P.L.69, SEC.1. Amended by Acts 1979, P.L.56, SEC.9; Acts 1981, P.L.72, SEC.4; Acts 1982, P.L.45, SEC.12; P.L.71-1983, SEC.6; P.L.62-1985, SEC.3; P.L.62-1986, SEC.3; P.L.74-1987, SEC.7; P.L.56-1988, SEC.7; P.L.42-1992, SEC.4; P.L.65-1993, SEC.6; P.L.4-2000, SEC.7; P.L.90-2002, SEC.122; P.L.245-2003, SEC.9; P.L.193-2005, SEC.1; P.L.146-2008, SEC.124; P.L.288-2013, SEC.13; P.L.203-2016, SEC.5; P.L.8-2022, SEC.6.