Clermont County is tapping the brakes on its upcoming property tax mailings so it can plug in a brand‑new state tax break before the bills go out.
County officials say second‑half 2025 real‑estate tax bills and certain 2026 manufactured‑home tax bills will be mailed later than usual while staff applies Ohio’s new “Inflation Cap Credit.” That means updated bills and due dates will arrive on a delay as the auditor and treasurer work with state agencies and software vendors to recalculate what eligible taxpayers owe.
What House Bill 186 Does To Your Tax Line
House Bill 186, passed by the Ohio General Assembly, creates the Inflation Cap Credit to keep certain school‑tax increases in check by capping their growth at the rate of inflation. According to the Ohio Legislature, the law authorizes credits that can be applied retroactively for some tax years, which is why counties like Clermont have to redo second‑half calculations before final bills can be sent.
How Clermont Officials Are Rolling It Out
The Clermont County Auditor’s Office says it is working with the Ohio Department of Taxation and software vendors to make sure the new credits are correctly calculated and applied before any bills hit mailboxes.
"Our priority is making certain Clermont County taxpayers receive every dollar of relief they are entitled to under House Bill 186," Auditor Linda Fraley said in a press release.
To cut down on refund headaches and confusion, the county has also asked mortgage lenders and escrow servicers to temporarily hold off on automatic second‑half disbursements until the revised numbers are ready.
When To Pay And How To Avoid Overpaying
For now, the county is telling taxpayers to pay only the first‑half tax amount and wait for the recalculated second‑half bill so any Inflation Cap Credit shows up directly on what they owe.
The Clermont County Treasurer notes that second‑half real‑estate and manufactured‑home bills "will be mailed later than usual" and that due dates will likely slide into mid‑ to late‑July or even later. The county repeated that warning on its official Facebook page and urges anyone who pays through escrow or automatic bank draft to contact their lender to avoid accidental overpayments.
Who Actually Sees A Break
The Inflation Cap Credit is not a blanket discount. Eligibility depends on a mix of factors, including school‑district levies, valuation changes and levy‑specific calculations.
The Clermont County Auditor’s Clermont County Auditor fact sheet explains that, for qualifying properties, the credit will show up as its own line item on the second‑half bill. It also notes that most of the reforms kick in for tax year 2026, although some credits may already appear on second‑half 2025 bills in certain school districts.
Residents are urged to keep an eye on county websites and social media for updates. Parcel‑specific questions can be directed to the Treasurer’s Office at 513‑732‑7254. County officials say they will publicly announce the revised due dates once all recalculations and system updates are finished.
