(c) A tract of land, including the campus and athletic grounds of an educational institution, is exempt from property taxation if:

1. (1) a building that is exempt under subsection (a) or (b) is situated on it;
2. (2) a parking lot or structure that serves a building referred to in subdivision (1) is situated on it; or

3. (3) the tract:

   1. (A) is owned by a nonprofit entity established for the purpose of retaining and preserving land and water for their natural characteristics;
   2. (B) does not exceed five hundred (500) acres; and
   3. (C) is not used by the nonprofit entity to make a profit.

(d) A tract of land is exempt from property taxation if:

1. (1) it is purchased for the purpose of erecting a building that is to be owned, occupied, and used in such a manner that the building will be exempt under subsection (a) or (b); and

2. (2) not more than four (4) years after the property is purchased, and for each year after the four (4) year period, the owner demonstrates substantial progress and active pursuit towards the erection of the intended building and use of the tract for the exempt purpose. To establish substantial progress and active pursuit under this subdivision, the owner must prove the existence of factors such as the following:

   1. (A) Organization of and activity by a building committee or other oversight group.
   2. (B) Completion and filing of building plans with the appropriate local government authority.
   3. (C) Cash reserves dedicated to the project of a sufficient amount to lead a reasonable individual to believe the actual construction can and will begin within four (4) years.
   4. (D) The breaking of ground and the beginning of actual construction.

   5. (E) Any other factor that would lead a reasonable individual to believe that construction of the building is an active plan and that the building is capable of being completed within eight (8) years considering the circumstances of the owner.

      If the owner of the property sells, leases, or otherwise transfers a tract of land that is exempt under this subsection, the owner is liable for the property taxes that were not imposed upon the tract of land during the period beginning January 1 of the fourth year following the purchase of the property and ending on December 31 of the year of the sale, lease, or transfer. The county auditor of the county in which the tract of land is located may establish an installment plan for the repayment of taxes due under this subsection. The plan established by the county auditor may allow the repayment of the taxes over a period of years equal to the number of years for which property taxes must be repaid under this subsection.

(h) This section does not exempt from property tax an office or a practice of a physician or group of physicians that is owned by a hospital licensed under IC 16-21-2 or other property that is not substantially related to or supportive of the inpatient facility of the hospital unless the office, practice, or other property:

1. (1) provides or supports the provision of charity care (as defined in IC 16-18-2-52.5 ), including providing funds or other financial support for health care services for individuals who are indigent (as defined in IC 16-18-2-52.5 (b) and IC 16-18-2-52.5 (c)); or

2. (2) provides or supports the provision of community benefits (as defined in IC 16-21-9-1 ), including research, education, or government sponsored indigent health care (as defined in IC 16-21-9-2 ).

   However, participation in the Medicaid or Medicare program alone does not entitle an office, practice, or other property described in this subsection to an exemption under this section.

(i) The exemption provided in this subsection applies only for an assessment date occurring before January 2, 2017. A tract of land or a tract of land plus all or part of a structure on the land is exempt from property taxation if:

1. (1) the tract is acquired for the purpose of erecting, renovating, or improving a single family residential structure that is to be given away or sold:

   1. (A) in a charitable manner;
   2. (B) by a nonprofit organization; and

   3. (C) to low income individuals who will:

      1. (i) use the land as a family residence; and
      2. (ii) not have an exemption for the land under this section;
2. (2) the tract does not exceed three (3) acres; and

3. (3) the tract of land or the tract of land plus all or part of a structure on the land is not used for profit while exempt under this section.

   This subsection expires January 1, 2028.

(j) An exemption under subsection (i) terminates:

1. (1) when the property is conveyed by the nonprofit organization to another owner; or

2. (2) January 2, 2017;

   whichever occurs first. This subsection expires January 1, 2028.

(l) If property is granted an exemption in any year under subsection

1. (i) and the owner:
2. (1) fails to transfer the tangible property within eight (8) years after the assessment date for which the exemption is initially granted; or

3. (2) transfers the tangible property to a person who:

   1. (A) is not a low income individual; or

   2. (B) does not use the transferred property as a residence for at least one (1) year after the property is transferred;

      the person receiving the exemption shall notify the county recorder and the county auditor of the county in which the property is located not later than sixty (60) days after the event described in subdivision (1) or

   3. (2) occurs. The county auditor shall immediately inform the county assessor of a notification received under this subsection. This subsection expires January 1, 2028.

(m) If subsection (l)(1) or (l)(2) applies, the owner shall pay, not later than the date that the next installment of property taxes is due, an amount equal to the sum of the following:

1. (1) The total property taxes that, if it were not for the exemption under subsection (i), would have been levied on the property in each year in which an exemption was allowed.

2. (2) Interest on the property taxes at the rate of ten percent (10%) per year.

   This subsection expires January 1, 2028.

(p) A for-profit provider of early childhood education services to children who are at least four (4) but less than six (6) years of age on the annual assessment date may receive the exemption provided by this section for property used for educational purposes only if all the requirements of section 46 of this chapter are satisfied. A for-profit provider of early childhood education services that provides the services only to children younger than four (4) years of age may not receive the exemption provided by this section for property used for educational purposes.

[Pre-1975 Property Tax Recodification Citation: 6-1-1-2(5).]

Formerly: Acts 1975, P.L.47, SEC.1. As amended by Acts 1979, P.L.51, SEC.1; P.L.74-1987, SEC.4; P.L.57-1993, SEC.7; P.L.25-1995, SEC.13; P.L.6-1997, SEC.35; P.L.2-1998, SEC.17; P.L.126-2000, SEC.4; P.L.198-2001, SEC.28; P.L.264-2003, SEC.1; P.L.196-2007, SEC.1; P.L.156-2011, SEC.2; P.L.197-2011, SEC.32; P.L.151-2014, SEC.1; P.L.181-2016, SEC.2.