Assessor
Department Alert
**NEW HOMESTEAD CREDIT & EXEMPTION APPLICATION AVAILABLE FOR CLAIMANTS 65 YEARS OR OLDER**
Benton County Residents 65 years and older can now apply for an exemption along with their traditional Homestead credit amount for qualified claimants who occupy their home 6+ months out of the year.
The application is available under the Links and Forms portion of the Assessor's website and/or through the Beacon Search site at the bottom of the page when you do a search for your property.
* PLEASE READ THE PRESS RELEASE IN OUR "NEWS" SECTION OF THE WEBSITE TO FIND OUT MORE DETAILS.
This is the same Homestead application but with the addition of the "Owner's Birthdate" question. Applications are due July 1st to your local assessor - Those who qualify will see a reduction in the taxable value of the property, rather than a direct reduction in the amount of property tax they pay, on the following year's tax statement. The credit and exemption will apply for future years without re-filing as long as the claimant continues to qualify. A new Homestead Credit and Exemption form would need to be filed when the owner moves to a different property and/or when the owner turns 65, on or prior to the first of the year.
Benton County Courthouse
111 E. 4th St. · 2nd Floor, NW Corner
Vinton, IA 52349
Driving Directions
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 549
Vinton, IA 52349
Contact Information
(319) 472-5211
(319) 472-5212 (Fax)
[email protected]
Hours
Monday thru Friday
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Holiday Closures
Our Team
Larry Andreesen
County Assessor
Rachel Webster
Office Manager
John Martin
Appraiser
Jordan Neve
Deputy Assessor
Assessor
About the Assessor
THE ASSESSOR DOES NOT:
*calculate taxes*
*determine tax rate*
*collect taxes*
*set policy for the Board of Review*
The Assessor is concerned with value, not taxes. Taxing jurisdictions such as schools, cities, and townships, adopt budgets after public hearings. This determines the tax levy, which is the rate of taxation required to raise the money budgeted. The taxes you pay are proportionate to the value of your property compared to the total value of the taxing district in which your property is located.
Assessors are appointed to their positions by a Conference Board consisting of the members of the Board of Supervisors, the Mayors of all incorporated cities, and a member from each school district within the jurisdiction. A city with a population of ten thousand or more may elect to have their own assessor.
Assessors are required, by statute, to pass a state examination and complete a Continuing Education Program consisting of 150 hours of formal classroom instruction with 90 hours tested and a passing grade of 70% attained. The latter requirement must be met in order for the assessor to be reappointed to the position every six years. The Deputy Assessor also must pass a state examination as well as successfully complete 90 hours of classroom instruction of which at least 60 hours are tested.
The Conference Board approves the Assessor's budget and after a public hearing acts on adoption of same. The Assessor is limited, by statute, depending upon the value of the jurisdiction, to a levy limitation for the budget.
Important Dates
January 1
Effective date of current assessment.
April 2 - April 25
Taxpayers may appeal informally to the Assessor.
April 2 - April 30
Protest of assessment period for filing with the local Board of Review.
May 1 - Adjournment
Board of Review meets each year.
October 9 - October 31
Protest period for filing with the Board of Review on those properties affected by changes in value as a result of the Director of Revenue and Finance Equalization Orders (odd-numbered years).
October 10 - November 15
Board of Review reconvenes in a special equalization session if the jurisdiction received an equalization order (odd-numbered years).
