Lake County Credit
The Lake County Credit is a tax credit available to Indiana residents who paid property tax to Lake County on their residence during the tax year. This credit is designed to offset county tax liability and is available to both residents and nonresidents filing Indiana income tax returns.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must have paid property tax to Lake County (Indiana) on your residence during the year.
- Must file either Form IT-40 (resident) or Form IT-40PNR (nonresident) for the tax year.
- Income thresholds apply for certain filing statuses:
- Single or Married Filing Jointly: Must have an adjusted gross income (AGI) less than $18,000.
- Married Filing Separately: Must have an AGI less than $9,000.
How to Claim the Credit
Complete the appropriate worksheet based on your filing status:
- For Single or Married Filing Jointly (AGI < $18,000):
- Enter the amount of Indiana property tax paid on your Lake County residence (Line A1).
- Maximum credit allowed is $300 (Line A2).
- Enter the smaller of A1 or A2 as your credit (Line A3).
- Report this amount on Schedule F, Line 7 (for nonresidents) or Schedule 5, Line 7 (for residents).
- For Married Filing Separately (AGI < $9,000):
- Enter the amount of Indiana property tax paid on your Lake County residence (Line C1).
- Maximum credit allowed is $150 (Line C2).
- Enter the smaller of C1 or C2 as your credit (Line C3).
- Report this amount on Schedule 5, Line 7.
- For Nonresidents (Form IT-40PNR):
- Complete Worksheet A if AGI is less than $18,000 and filing as single or married filing jointly.
- Complete Worksheet B or D if applicable, based on income and residency status.
- Report the credit on Schedule F, Line 7.
Order of Application
Credits are applied in a specific order:
- First, apply any credit for local taxes paid outside Indiana.
- Then, apply any community revitalization enhancement district credit.
- Finally, apply the Lake County Property Tax Credit.
Important Notes
- The credit is limited to the actual amount of property tax paid, up to the maximum allowed ($300 for single/joint filers, $150 for married filing separately).
- The credit reduces county tax liability only and cannot be used to reduce state income tax liability.
- Keep records of property tax payments and supporting documents for potential audit.
Source:
Form IT-40
Form IT-40PNR
Disclaimer: Always verify details with official forms and instructions from the Indiana Department of Revenue. OLT (Online Taxes) provides guidance based on retrieved information but does not guarantee accuracy for individual circumstances.