Homestead filing arrives


Thursday, December 30, 2010
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Homestead filing arrives

By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer

Juanita Dillard and her staff will begin taking homestead applications January 4.

Anyone who has built or acquired a new home in 2010 and who has lived in it on or before January 1, 2011, is eligible for homestead exemption, according to tax assessor Juanita Dillard.

Mobile home owners who have registered and certified ($12 fee) their mobile home and registered it as real property prior to January 1, 2011, are also eligible for homestead exemption.

“Homestead exemption will save a property owner a lot of money on his or her 2011 real property tax,” Dillard said. “In order to receive the exemption, you must apply for it on or before April 1, 2011. If you wait until after April 1, you will have to wait another year to apply for homestead exemption.”

The tax assessor’s office will be taking homestead applications beginning January 4, 2011, through Friday, April 1.

Homeowners who already are enjoying homestead exemption will not have to renew their application unless one of the following situations apply:

• You changed a property or homestead status. If you have changed residence or moved to another location, you should report that change to the tax assessor’s office.

• You purchased additional property to add to your homestead property or you sold some of your homestead property.

• You filed a new deed involving your homestead property.

• You changed marital status (married, divorced, separated, or death of a husband or wife).

• You turned 65 years of age prior to January 1, 2011, or if you are under age 65 and became disabled prior to January 1, 2011.

• Your homestead was denied last year or you failed to file last year.

• You changed the use of your property (opened or closed a business in your home or changed renting part of your home).

• You are an heir to and occupy a property that had a homestead exemption in 2010, and the owner was deceased prior to January 1, 2011.

If any of the above situations apply to a resident or his or her property, he or she must come to the Marshall County Tax Assessor’s office and file a new application between January 4, 2011, and April 1, 2011.

Individuals may visit the Byhalia Substation located on Highway 309 North on Tuesdays and Fridays or come by the office in Holly Springs to update Homestead Exemption applications or to make a new application. Call the Byhalia office at 662-838-5395 or the Holly Springs office at 662-252-6209 for an answer to any questions.

The homestead department will be available, weather permitting, in the Byhalia Tax Collector’s Office between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Or an individual can visit the Holly Springs office on Market Street.

Dillard said she hopes eventually to have the Byhalia office open throughout the week in years to come.

“As for now, I hope this will help alleviate some of the burden of having to travel to Holly Springs to file your application,” she said.

An individual may homestead only one residence, if she or he owns more than one residence. The residence must be the person’s primary residence and all vehicles the person owns must be tagged in Marshall County. An individual also has to be in compliance with Mississippi Income Tax provisions as well.

Those who are 65 and over or who are disabled may file for and obtain an additional exemption of the first $75,000 assessed value of the homesteaded property. Check with the tax assessor’s office if you have any questions about exemptions for those aged 65 and over or for the disabled.

Mobile homes must be certified to the land they are located on in order to be covered by homestead and the person who owns the home must use it as a primary residence.

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