Morgan County Auditor FAQ
- How do I find out if someone owns real estate in Morgan County?
You may call our office at 740-962-4475 or use this website.
- How/When do I get a dog license? At what age is the dog license necessary?
There are several ways to obtain a dog license:
Dog license’s may be obtained online, in person at the Morgan County Auditor’s office (155 E Main St. McConnelsville, OH), or at various businesses throughout the community.
All dogs at least 3 months old must be registered by January 31st of each year. All dogs new to the county must be licensed within 30 days of residency. Renewal applications are mailed each year during the first week of December. The cost is $12.00 per license. The late fee is also $12.00 per Ohio law. Applications may be printed from our website or you may call our office for one. They are also available for purchase online.
If you have any questions about the dog licensing process or the carious fees associated with licensing your dog, please call 740-962-4475. Licensing fees may be prorated if the license is issued after the statutory deadlines of any given year.
- You changed the Auditor assessed value of my property – why?
The Ohio Revised Code requires the county auditor to determine the taxable value of real property. As part of this duty, and in our effort to maintain accurate and up-to-date real estate records, you will see regular changes to your property’s appraised value. There are several reasons why your Auditor’s Office may have updated your appraised property value, including:
* Sexennial reappraisal – Ohio law requires a full reappraisal of the value of each parcel in the county once every six years.
* Triennial update – on the third year of the six-year cycle referenced above, Ohio law requires your Auditor’s Office to perform a countywide update of appraised property values based on real estate market trends.
* Construction – your value may be adjusted due to started or completed construction on your property as determined by permits issued by your locality.
* Correcting inaccurate property data – Your Auditor’s Office continuously reviews property data for accuracy and your assessed value may be impacted by the updating of inaccurate or out-of-date data associated with your property. (i.e., incorrect square footage, bathroom count, bedroom count, etc.) If you suspect that your property’s data is inaccurate, please notify us by calling 740-962-4475.
* Board of Revision (BOR) decision – a BOR decision may result in a change in your property’s appraised value.
* Damaged or destroyed property – damage to or destruction of your property will likely result in a change in value. If your property has been damaged or destroyed, please notify our office by submitting an Application for Valuation Deduction for Destroyed or Damaged Real Property (DTE 26)
- How do I qualify for the Owner Occupancy Tax Reduction?
All residents that live in the house they own may apply for the Owner Occupancy Tax Reduction of real estate taxes. If you own more than one home, you may only apply for your main residence. The application is on our website or you may call our office for the form, 740-962-4475.
- What is Homestead Exemption and how can I apply for it?
The standard Homestead Exemption is a property tax credit designed for lower income older adults and those who are permanently and totally disabled.
To qualify, an individual must be age 65 or older as of December 31 of the year for which they apply or be totally and permanently disabled as of January 1 of the year for which they apply. The individual must also reside in their home as their primary residence as of January 1 of the year for which they apply and earn below a specified income limit. The maximum allowable income changes each year based on inflation and approved applicants will receive a property tax reduction equal to the taxes owed toward $25,000 of their property value.
You may apply for the standard Homestead Exemption by completing the Homestead Exemption Application for Senior Citizens, Disabled Persons, and Surviving Spouse (DTE 105A) and mailing it to Morgan County Auditor, 155 E Main St McConnelsville, OH 43756. (Must provide documentation of total disability) An enhanced Homestead Exemption is also available for military veterans who are 100% disabled by or are receiving 100% compensation for service-connected injuries as well as surviving spouses of public service officers killed in the line of duty. There are no income requirements with the enhanced Homestead Exemption and approved applicants will receive a property tax reduction equal to the taxes owed toward $50,000 of their property’s appraised value.
You may apply for the enhanced Homestead Exemption for disabled veterans by completing the Homestead Exemption Application for Disabled Veterans and Surviving Spouses (DTE 105I), (must provide verified VA Documentation) and mailing to Morgan County Auditor 155 E Main St McConnelsville, OH 43756. Alternatively, you may apply for the enhanced Homestead Exemption for the surviving spouses of public service officers killed in the line of duty by completing the Homestead Exemption Application for Surviving Spouses of Public Service Officers Killed in the Line of Duty (DTE 105K). and submitting it via mail at the address referenced above.
- What about a surviving spouse?
A surviving spouse between the ages of 59 and 64 of a person who was receiving the homestead exemption by reason of age or disability in the year of death may continue to receive the reduction as long as they continue to meet the residency guidelines. - How do you define permanently and totally disabled?
According to Section 323.151 (E) of the Ohio Revised Code states that “permanently and totally disabled’ means a person who has some impairment in body or mind that makes him unfit to work at any substantially remunerative employment which he is reasonably able to perform and which will, with reasonable probability, continue for an indefinite period of at least twelve months without any present indication of recovery there from or has been certified as permanently and totally disabled by a state or federal agency having the function of so classifying persons.” - When will the reduction affect my property taxes?
The reduction will be reflected on the tax bill that is due the year following the year you originally applied. - Do I still pay taxes if I qualify for the reduction?
The Homestead Exemption offers a reduction in taxes – it does not necessarily eliminate your total tax liability. You are also responsible for paying any special assessments (from your city / township or the county) that is reflected on your tax bill. - Once I qualify and receive the reduction, do I have to apply every year?
No. However, if your circumstances change and you no longer qualify for the Homestead Exemption, you must notify the county auditor by the first Monday in June. In January the county auditor will mail you a copy of the continuing application (DTE 105B, Continuing Homestead Exemption Application Form for Senior Citizens, Disabled Persons, and Surviving Spouses). Please return this form to the auditor only if you no longer own the home, no longer occupy is as your primary place of residence, or if your disability status has changed.
- Do I need a permit to move my mobile/manufactured home? Do I have to register my mobile/manufactured home? Do I pay taxes?
Yes, a new law passed that requires a permit to move a mobile or manufactured home. The cost is $5.00 and is purchased in our office. Failure to purchase a permit will result in a $100 fine for both the home owner and the mover. All manufactured/ mobile homes must be registered within 30 days of placement in our county. There are manufactured home taxes similar to real estate taxes.
- Where do I obtain my cigarette license?
Cigarette license are obtained in the Auditor’s Office each year in May at a cost of $125.
- When are Real Estate Taxes due?
Your Morgan County Auditor’s Office does not levy or collect any taxes.
The Morgan County Treasurer’s Office is responsible for issuing property tax bills and collecting tax payments.
Generally, property taxes are due on a semi-annual basis in February and July. For information about your property tax bill or to pay the taxes owed, please contact the Morgan County Treasurer’s Office directly at 740-962-3561. You may also visit the Treasurer’s website.
- How can I update the tax bill mailing address on my property?
The Morgan County Treasurer’s Office is responsible for issuing property tax bills and collecting property tax payments. You may submit a request to update your tax bill mailing address directly to the Treasurer’s Office as 740-962-3561.
- What is C.A.U.V. and do I qualify? What is an Ag District?
CAUV stands for Current Agricultural Use Value and active farms may qualify for the reduction in value. You must have crops, animals, and/or commercial timber on at least 10 acres. You may have someone else farm your property. The application is on our website or you may call our office for the form. There is a one-time $25.00 filing fee AND you must renew the application every year. Failure to renew your application will result in the loss of the value reduction.
If parcels are contiguous only one application is needed. You may add parcels to the same application as long as the parcel is in the same name.
An Ag District is a type of farm protection program. You land must be in the CAUV program and you must file an application every 5 years. There is no filing fee for this program. This application is DTE Form109.
- When is a vendor’s license required and how do I get one?
A vendor’s license is required by state law whenever a business makes retail sales. Having a vendor’s license enables the business owner to collect sales tax for the State of Ohio. The initial license is issued by the county auditor’s office in the county where the business is located. Because there are different types of vendor’s licenses, we recommend contacting your Morgan County Auditor’s Office directly at 740-962-4457 to determine which license type you may need. You may also visit the Ohio Department of Taxation’s website to learn more about vendor’s licenses and Ohio’s sales tax.
What should I do if I suspect a gasoline pump, price scanner or retail scale is incorrect?
If you suspect a problem with a measuring, weighing, or scanning device in Morgan County, please report the potential issue to your Morgan County Auditor’s Office by calling 740-962-4475
When making a report, please provide the following information:
- Name and location of the establishment;
- Nature of the complaint;
- Date the suspected error was discovered;
- Your name and telephone number, and
- Any receipts or other details you may have from the transaction
