Homestead property tax information residents should know

All new property owners (or qualified relatives) who changed residences during the past year– and use the residence for homestead purposes– must apply for homestead status with their county assessor by Dec. 15. Property owners or qualified relatives who want to classify property as homestead that was not classified as homestead in the past, must apply with the Dakota County Assessor's Office to receive homestead for property taxes payable in 2011. The definition of relative for a homestead includes parent, stepparent, child, stepchild, grandparent, grandchild, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew or niece. This relationship may be by blood or marriage. Once the homestead classification has been granted, no further applications are necessary, unless requested by the county assessor. Only new applicants must file if they have not already done so. If you need an application form, contact Dakota County Assessing Services, 651-438-4200, or print a form from Dakota County's website at www.dakotacounty.usor visit the Service Desk in the main floor atrium area of the Western Service Center, 14955 Galaxie Ave., Apple Valley; or the Northern Service Center, One Mendota Drive, West St. Paul; or the Assessing Services Department in the Administration Center, 1590 Highway 55, Hastings; during normal business hours. Property owners who sell their home, or move, or for any reason no longer qualify for the homestead classification, are required to notify the county assessor within 30 days of the homestead's change in status. (This notice is usually taken care of during the closing process.) Failure to notify the county assessor within 30 days is punishable by recalculation of tax as non-homestead, in addition to a penalty equal to 100 percent of the homestead benefits.