1. (a) An individual is entitled to a credit against local property taxes imposed on the individual's real property, or mobile home or manufactured home within the county, if:

   1. (1) the individual served in the military or naval forces of the United States for at least ninety (90) days;
   2. (2) the individual received an honorable discharge;
   3. (3) the individual is at least sixty-two (62) years of age and has a disability of at least ten percent (10%);

   4. (4) the individual's disability is evidenced by:

      1. (A) a pension certificate or an award of compensation issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; or
      2. (B) a certificate of eligibility issued to the individual by the Indiana department of veterans' affairs after the Indiana department of veterans' affairs has determined that the individual's disability qualifies the individual to receive a credit under this section; and

   5. (5) the individual:

      1. (A) owns the real property, mobile home, or manufactured home; or

      2. (B) is buying the real property, mobile home, or manufactured home under contract;

         on the date the credit is claimed, and in the case of clause (B), the contract or a memorandum of the contract is recorded in the county recorder's office.

2. (b) The amount of the credit is equal to two hundred fifty dollars ($250).

3. (c) The surviving spouse of an individual may receive the credit provided by this section if:

   1. (1) the individual satisfied the requirements of subsection (a)(1) through (a)(4) at the time of death; or

   2. (2) the individual:

      1. (A) was killed in action;
      2. (B) died while serving on active duty in the military or naval forces of the United States; or

      3. (C) died while performing inactive duty training in the military or naval forces of the United States;

         and the surviving spouse satisfies the requirement of subsection (a)(5) at the time the credit is claimed. The surviving spouse is entitled to the credit regardless of whether the property for which the credit is claimed was owned by the deceased veteran or the surviving spouse before the deceased veteran's death.

4. (d) An individual who receives the credit provided by this section may receive any other property tax credit that the individual is entitled to by law.
5. (e) An individual who has sold real property or a mobile home or manufactured home to another person under a contract that provides that the contract buyer is to pay the property taxes on the real property, mobile home, or manufactured home may not claim the credit provided under this section against that real property, mobile home, or manufactured home.
6. (f) An individual wishing to claim a credit under this section must file a statement, on forms prescribed by the department of local government finance, with the county auditor and provide documentation necessary to substantiate the individual's eligibility for the credit. The statement must be completed and dated on or before January 15 of the calendar year in which the property taxes are first due and payable. The statement may be filed in person or by mail. If mailed, the mailing must be postmarked on or before the last day for filing. An individual who remains eligible for the credit in the following year is not required to file a statement to apply for the credit in the following year. However, an individual who receives a credit under this section in a particular year and who becomes ineligible for the credit in the following year shall notify the auditor of the county in which the homestead is located of the individual's ineligibility not later than sixty (60) days after the individual becomes ineligible.
7. (g) This subsection applies only for taxes assessed in 2026 and due and payable in 2027. For all taxpayers that received a deduction under IC 6-1.1-12-14 before the enactment of HEA 1210-2026, notwithstanding any other provision, the county auditor shall not apply the deduction under IC 6-1.1-12-14 and shall instead apply the local property tax credit under this section.

As added by P.L.157-2026, SEC.96.