Sec. 8. (a) Subject to subsection (c), a provisional statement must:
(1) be on a form prescribed by the department of local government finance;
(2) except as provided in rules adopted under section 20 of this chapter and subsection (b):
(A) for property taxes first due and payable after 2010 and billed using a provisional statement under section 6 of this chapter, indicate:
(i) that the first installment of the taxpayer's tax liability is an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the tax liability that was payable in the same year as the assessment date for the property for which the provisional statement is issued, subject to any adjustments to the tax liability authorized by the department of local government finance under subsection (e) and approved by the county treasurer; and
(ii) that the second installment is either the amount specified in a reconciling statement or, if a reconciling statement is not sent until after the second installment is due, an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the tax liability that was payable in the same year as the assessment date for the property for which the provisional statement is issued, subject to any adjustments to the tax liability authorized by the department of local government finance under subsection (e) and approved by the county treasurer; and
(B) for property taxes billed using a provisional statement under section 6.5 of this chapter, except as provided in subsection (d), indicate tax liability in an amount determined by the department of local government finance based on:
(i) subject to subsection (c), for the cross-county entity, the property tax rate of the cross-county entity for taxes first due and payable in the immediately preceding calendar year; and
(ii) for all other taxing units that make up the taxing district or taxing districts that comprise the cross-county area, the property tax rates of the taxing units for taxes first due and payable in the current calendar year;
(3) indicate:
(A) that the tax liability under the provisional statement is determined as described in subdivision (2); and
(B) that property taxes billed on the provisional statement:
(i) are due and payable in the same manner as property taxes billed on a tax statement under IC 6-1.1-22-8.1; and
(ii) will be credited against a reconciling statement;
(4) for property taxes billed using a provisional statement under section 6 of this chapter, include a statement in the following or a substantially similar form, as determined by the department of local government finance:
"Under Indiana law, ________ County (insert county) has sent provisional statements. The statement is due to be paid in installments on __________ (insert date) and ________ (insert date). The first installment is equal to fifty percent (50%) of your tax liability for taxes payable in ______ (insert year), subject to adjustment to the tax liability authorized by the department of local government finance and approved by the county treasurer. The second installment is either the amount specified in a reconciling statement that will be sent to you, or (if a reconciling statement is not sent until after the second installment is due) an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of your tax liability for taxes payable in ______ (insert year), subject to adjustment to the tax liability authorized by the department of local government finance and approved by the county treasurer. After the abstract of property is complete, you will receive a reconciling statement in the amount of your actual tax liability for taxes payable in ______ (insert year) minus the amount you pay under this provisional statement.";
(5) for property taxes billed using a provisional statement under section 6.5 of this chapter, include a statement in the following or a substantially similar form, as determined by the department of local government finance:
"Under Indiana law, ________ County (insert county) has elected to send provisional statements for the territory of __________________ (insert cross-county entity) located in ________ County (insert county) because the property tax rate for ________________ (insert cross-county entity) was not available in time to prepare final tax statements. The statement is due to be paid in installments on __________ (insert date) and _________ (insert date). The statement is based on the property tax rate of _________________ (insert cross-county entity) for taxes first due and payable in _____ (insert immediately preceding calendar year). After the property tax rate of ________________ (insert cross-county entity) is determined, you will receive a reconciling statement in the amount of your actual tax liability for taxes payable in _____ (insert year) minus the amount you pay under this provisional statement.";
(6) indicate any adjustment to tax liability under subdivision (2) authorized by the department of local government finance under subsection (e) and approved by the county treasurer for:
(A) delinquent:
(i) taxes; and
(ii) special assessments;
(B) penalties; and
(C) interest;
(7) in the case of a reconciling statement only, include:
(A) a checklist that shows:
(i) homestead credits under IC 6-1.1-20.4, IC 6-3.6-5 (before its expiration), or another law and all property tax deductions; and
(ii) whether each homestead credit and property tax deduction were applied in the current provisional statement;
(B) an explanation of the procedure and deadline that a taxpayer must follow and the forms that must be used if a credit or deduction has been granted for the property and the taxpayer is no longer eligible for the credit or deduction; and
(C) an explanation of the tax consequences and applicable penalties if a taxpayer unlawfully claims a standard deduction under IC 6-1.1-12-37 on:
(i) more than one (1) parcel of property; or
(ii) property that is not the taxpayer's principal place of residence or is otherwise not eligible for a standard deduction; and
(8) include any other information the county treasurer requires.
(b) The county may apply a standard deduction, supplemental standard deduction, or homestead credit calculated by the county's property system on a provisional bill for a qualified property. If a provisional bill has been used for property tax billings for two (2) consecutive years and a property qualifies for a standard deduction, supplemental standard deduction, or homestead credit for the second year a provisional bill is used, the county shall apply the standard deduction, supplemental standard deduction, or homestead credit calculated by the county's property system on the provisional bill.
(c) For purposes of this section, property taxes that are:
(1) first due and payable in the current calendar year on a provisional statement under section 6 or 6.5 of this chapter; and
(2) based on property taxes first due and payable in the immediately preceding calendar year or on a percentage of those property taxes;
are determined after excluding from the property taxes first due and payable in the immediately preceding calendar year property taxes imposed by one (1) or more taxing units in which the tangible property is located that are attributable to a levy that no longer applies for property taxes first due and payable in the current calendar year.
(d) If there was no property tax rate of the cross-county entity for taxes first due and payable in the immediately preceding calendar year for use under subsection (a)(2)(B), the department of local government finance shall provide an estimated tax rate calculated to approximate the actual tax rate that will apply when the tax rate is finally determined.
(e) The department of local government finance shall:
(1) authorize the types of adjustments to tax liability that a county treasurer may approve under subsection (a)(2)(A) including:
(A) adjustments for any new construction on the property or any damage to the property;
(B) any necessary adjustments for credits, deductions, or the local income tax;
(C) adjustments to include current year special assessments or exclude special assessments payable in the year of the assessment date but not payable in the current year;
(D) adjustments to include delinquent:
(i) taxes; and
(ii) special assessments;
(E) adjustments to include penalties that are due and owing; and
(F) adjustments to include interest that is due and owing; and
(2) notify county treasurers in writing of the types of adjustments authorized under subdivision (1).
As added by P.L.1-2004, SEC.37; P.L.23-2004, SEC.40. Amended by P.L.219-2007, SEC.65; P.L.87-2009, SEC.11; P.L.182-2009(ss), SEC.161; P.L.89-2010, SEC.4; P.L.172-2011, SEC.44; P.L.197-2016, SEC.21; P.L.93-2024, SEC.47; P.L.68-2025, SEC.77.
