Porter County Auditor Robert Wichlinski said on Friday that his office will continue to accept exemption forms on property taxes through Jan. 31.

This includes the “pink slip” form that was sent with the 2010, 2011, and 2012 tax bills. Homeowners may lose their homestead deduction beginning in 2013, which will be reflected in their tax bills next May, if they do return their completed form to the auditor’s office.

Jenny Banks, director of communication for the Department of Local Government Finance, said the DLGF encourages taxpayers with homestead deductions to get their forms in before the Jan. 1 deadline set by the Indiana legislature. That way counties can begin applying the deductions. The auditor, Banks said, will have the discretion of whether or not to apply homestead deductions and may still request information from the property owner to verify the eligibility of their deductions after the deadline has passed.

Wichlinski said there has been an influx of property owners turning in their forms recently. He is unsure how many homeowners with deductions still need to submit their verification forms but expects to have the number next week.

The auditor’s office is located in Suite 204 of Porter County Administration Building or can be reached at 465-3445.

Posted 12/24/2012