FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sen. Bob Meeks authors bill extending filing date for credits, deductions
STATEHOUSE – Sen. Bob Meeks (R-LaGrange) introduced legislation Tuesday extending the filing date for Hoosiers to seek property tax deductions.
Meeks’ bill – Senate Bill 15 – calls for extending the filing date from June 11 to Oct. 1 for the following credits/deductions (beginning with Pay 2009 taxes):
- homestead credit and homeowner’s deduction;
- mortgage deduction;
- elderly (aged 65 or older and surviving spouse);
- blind and disabled; and
- disabled veteran (and surviving spouse) and World War I veterans.
Meeks’ bill was one of 14 introduced as part of a Senate Republican package designed to reform Indiana’s property tax system. The bills were introduced on “organization day” – normally a ceremonial day only – as senators rolled up their sleeves and went to work immediately on what many have deemed a property tax crisis in Indiana. Committee hearings on the bills – normally not held until January – will begin soon, according to Senate Republican leaders.
“I think extending this deadline is important and necessary, given the difficulty some counties have faced getting bills out and the general complexity of property taxes,” Meeks said. “We want to reform our system, yes, but we also have an obligation to protect senior citizens, blind and disabled Hoosiers as well as our veterans. This bill will give them some additional shelter while we work to reform Indiana’s property tax system.”
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Sen. Meeks, a Republican from LaGrange, serves Senate District 13.
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