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County veterans urged to refile property-tax benefits after state reform
Summary
Megan Brown, Johnson County director of Veterans Affairs, said roughly 12,000 local veterans will need to refile for new state credits when the state form is released (expected July 1); filings between July 1 and Dec. 31 will affect 2027 taxes, she told the commissioners.
Megan Brown, director of Veterans Affairs for Johnson County, told the Board of Commissioners that Indiana’s 2026 reform of veteran property-tax benefits will require every veteran who currently receives a deduction to refile for a new credit.
"All that means is every veteran in Johnson County and roughly, I believe, is 12,000 veterans in Johnson County have to refile for this," Brown said, adding that the state form had not yet been released but was expected July 1.
Brown described the county’s certification process: veterans must schedule an appointment with the Veterans Affairs office so staff can certify address and disability rating, stamp the form with the county seal, and then the veteran files the form with the auditor’s office. She said filings submitted between July 1 and Dec. 31 will be effective for 2027 tax purposes.
Board members asked how the county will reach older veterans who may not use the internet. Brown said staff are coordinating with the auditor, American Legion and VFW posts and the county libraries for outreach; she also said the office plans to add more appointment slots and said county staff would consider co-locating an auditor employee temporarily so veterans would not have to make two trips.
Brown cautioned that the state has not issued the official form and that many implementation details remain unclear: "The state form, they're saying should be available July 1," she said. "We're working with the auditors. I've talked to the attorneys. I've talked to Barb Davis, just about getting the word out."
Commissioners encouraged outreach through veterans' organizations and noted the county will need to provide assistance to ensure eligible veterans do not miss benefits.
No formal county policy change was made at the meeting; the presentation was informational and county staff said they will continue outreach and report back when the state releases the form.
