Ombudsman volunteer helps man with late property tax bill

A building on West Monument Avenue that houses the Dayton-Montgomery County ombudsman's offices. CORNELIUS FROLIK / STAFF

A building on West Monument Avenue that houses the Dayton-Montgomery County ombudsman's offices. CORNELIUS FROLIK / STAFF

Editor’s note: The Dayton Ombudsman Office provides weekly columns to the Dayton Daily News to bring awareness to issues it sees. The column was recently moved to the Ideas & Voices section to help readers identify solutions to common problems in their communities.

A man contacted the Ombudsman because his property tax bill arrived late, and because of this tardiness he and his wife are receiving a 10% penalty. He would like assistance in receiving some reconsideration of this because in 10 years he has always paid his tax bill promptly. In his case, this represents a fee of approximately $260.00.

Seeking assistance for this man and his wife was handled by a volunteer Ombudsman. The man was advised to visit the website of the Montgomery County Treasurer’s Office. According to the Ohio Revised Code, Section 5715.39, there are certain circumstances when a taxpayer may request a remission of a penalty. The website leads the taxpayer to the correct form for making such a request for remission.

The man informed the Ombudsman that he had completed the form and placed it in the mail to the Treasurer the day before. Now he had to wait for the response.

Within three weeks the man called to report that he received a letter that the tax penalty will be credited to his next bill for the full amount. The man was pleased and grateful for the Ombudsman assistance and for the outcome.

ajc.com

Credit: Alexis Larsen

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Credit: Alexis Larsen

The Ombudsman Column, a production of the Joint Office of Citizens’ Complaints, summarizes selected problems that citizens have had with government services, schools and nursing homes in the Dayton area. Contact the Ombudsman by writing to us at 11 W. Monument Ave., Suite 606, Dayton 45402, call 937-223- 4613, or by electronic mail at ombudsman@dayton-ombudsman.org.

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