Sec. 5.3. (a) A property owner that desires to obtain the deduction provided by section 4.8 of this chapter must file a deduction application, on forms prescribed by the department of local government finance, with the auditor of the county in which the eligible vacant building is located. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the deduction application must be filed before May 10 of the year in which the property owner or a tenant of the property owner initially occupies the eligible vacant building.

     (b) If notice of the assessed valuation or new assessment for a 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 the 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 and, if applicable, the property owner’s tenant.

(2) A description of the property for which a deduction is claimed.

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

(4) Any other information required by the department of local government finance or the designating body.

     (d) A deduction application filed under this section applies to the year in which the property owner or a tenant of the property owner occupies the eligible vacant building and in the following year if the deduction is allowed for a two (2) year period, without an additional deduction application being filed.

     (e) A property owner that desires to obtain the deduction provided by section 4.8 of this chapter but that did not 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. A deduction application filed under this subsection applies to the year in which the deduction application is filed and the following year if the deduction is allowed for a two (2) year period, without an additional deduction application being filed. The amount of the deduction under this subsection is the amount that would have been applicable to the year under section 4.8 of this chapter if the deduction application had been filed in accordance with subsection (a) or (b).

     (f) Subject to subsection (i), the county auditor shall do the following:

(1) If a determination concerning the number of years the deduction is allowed has been made in the resolution adopted under section 2.5 of this chapter, the county auditor shall make the appropriate deduction.

(2) If a determination concerning the number of years the deduction is allowed has not been made in the resolution adopted under section 2.5 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, the county auditor shall make the appropriate deduction.

     (g) The amount and period of the deduction provided by section 4.8 of this chapter are not affected by a change in the ownership of the eligible vacant building or a change in the property owner’s tenant, if the new property owner or the new tenant:

(1) continues to occupy the eligible vacant building 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) Before the county auditor acts under subsection (f), the county auditor may request that the township assessor of the township in which the eligible vacant building is located, or the county assessor if there is no township assessor for the township, review the deduction application.

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

     (j) In addition to the requirements of subsection (c), a property owner that files a deduction application under this section must provide the county auditor and the designating body with information showing the extent to which there has been compliance with the statement of benefits approved under section 4.8 of this chapter. This information must be included in the deduction application and must also be updated each year in which the deduction is applicable:

(1) at the same time that the property owner or the property owner’s tenant files a personal property tax return for property located at the eligible vacant building for which the deduction was granted; or

(2) if subdivision (1) does not apply, before May 15 of each year.

     (k) The following information is a public record if filed under this section:

(1) The name and address of the property owner.

(2) The location and description of the eligible vacant building for which the deduction was granted.

(3) Any information concerning the number of employees at the eligible vacant building for which the deduction was granted, including estimated totals that were provided as part of the statement of benefits.

(4) Any information concerning the total of the salaries paid to the employees described in subdivision (3), including estimated totals that are provided as part of the statement of benefits.

(5) Any information concerning the assessed value of the eligible vacant building, including estimates that are provided as part of the statement of benefits.

     (l) Information concerning the specific salaries paid to individual employees by the property owner or tenant is confidential.

As added by P.L.154-2006, SEC.29. Amended by P.L.146-2008, SEC.125; P.L.203-2016, SEC.6.