Sec. 21. (a) The following tangible property is exempt from property taxation if it is owned by, or held in trust for the use of, a church or religious society:
(1) A building that is used for religious worship.
(2) The pews and furniture contained within a building that is used for religious worship.
(3) The tract of land upon which a building that is used for religious worship is situated.
(b) The following tangible property is exempt from property taxation if it is owned by, or held in trust for the use of, a church or religious society:
(1) A building that is used as a parsonage.
(2) The tract of land, not exceeding fifteen (15) acres, upon which a building that is used as a parsonage is situated.
(c) To obtain an exemption for parsonages, a church or religious society must provide the county assessor with an affidavit at the time the church or religious society applies for the exemptions. The affidavit must state that:
(1) all parsonages are being used to house one (1) of the church's or religious society's rabbis, priests, preachers, ministers, or pastors; and
(2) none of the parsonages are being used to make a profit.
The affidavit shall be signed under oath by the church's or religious society's head rabbi, priest, preacher, minister, or pastor.
(d) Property referred to in this section shall be assessed to the extent required under IC 6-1.1-11-9.
(e) This subsection applies to transactions occurring after December 31, 2021. The sales disclosure form required under IC 6-1.1-5.5-5 shall include an attestation that property transferred under this subsection will continue to be used by a church or religious society for the same tax exempt purpose. A county assessor that reasonably suspects that the property transferred is no longer being used by a church or religious society for the same tax exempt purpose may request articles of incorporation or bylaws to confirm the attestation. The request for articles of incorporation or bylaws to confirm the attestation must:
(1) be made in writing; and
(2) include a written explanation of the assessor's reasonable suspicion describing why the assessor believes that the property transferred is no longer being used by the church or religious society for the same tax exempt purpose.
Notwithstanding IC 6-1.1-11-4(e), when exempt property owned by a church or religious society, as described in subsection (a), is transferred to another church or religious society to be used for the same exempt purpose, the transferee church or religious society is not required to file a certified exemption application with the county assessor of the county in which the property that is the subject of the exemption is located. If the property remains eligible for the exemption under this section after the transfer, the exempt status of the property carries over to the transferee church or religious society.
[Pre-1975 Property Tax Recodification Citation: 6-1-1-2(6).]
Formerly: Acts 1975, P.L.47, SEC.1. As amended by Acts 1981, P.L.68, SEC.1; P.L.74-1987, SEC.5; P.L.198-2001, SEC.30; P.L.264-2003, SEC.2; P.L.192-2021, SEC.2.
Structure Indiana Code
6-1.1-10-1. United States Property
6-1.1-10-2. State Property; Property Leased to a State Agency
6-1.1-10-3. Bridges and Tangible Appurtenant Property
6-1.1-10-4. Political Subdivision Property
6-1.1-10-5. Municipal Property
6-1.1-10-5.5. Urban Homesteading Property
6-1.1-10-6. Municipally Owned Water Company Property
6-1.1-10-7. Nonprofit Water Companies
6-1.1-10-8. Nonprofit Sewage Disposal Company
6-1.1-10-9. Industrial Waste Control Facilities
6-1.1-10-11. Appeal of Industrial Waste Control Facility Exemption Determination
6-1.1-10-12. Stationary or Unlicensed Mobile Air Pollution Control System
6-1.1-10-13. Stationary or Unlicensed Mobile Air Pollution Control System; Claim for Exemption
6-1.1-10-16.5. Nonprofit Corporation Property Located Under or Adjacent to Lake or Reservoir
6-1.1-10-16.7. Real Property Exemption; Expiration
6-1.1-10-17. Memorial Corporation Property
6-1.1-10-18. Nonprofit Corporations Supporting Fine Arts
6-1.1-10-20. Manual Labor, Technical, or Trade Schools; Colleges
6-1.1-10-21. Churches or Religious Societies; Attestation of Exempt Use
6-1.1-10-22. Dormitories of Church Colleges and Universities
6-1.1-10-23. Fraternal Benefit Associations
6-1.1-10-24. Fraternity or Sorority Property
6-1.1-10-25. Miscellaneous Organizations
6-1.1-10-26. County or District Agricultural Associations
6-1.1-10-27. Cemetery Corporations
6-1.1-10-28. Free Medical Clinics
6-1.1-10-32. Certain Exempt Property Under Control of Executor
6-1.1-10-33. Certain Exempt Property Under Control of Executor or Trustee
6-1.1-10-34. Contracts Relating to Certain Exempt Property; Unenforceability
6-1.1-10-35. School Lands; When Considered Sold
6-1.1-10-36.5. Property of Exempt Organization Used in Nonexempt Trade or Business
6-1.1-10-37. Leases of Exempt Property; Effect
6-1.1-10-37.8. Homeowners Associations; Held for Use, Benefit, or Enjoyment of Members
6-1.1-10-38. Property Tax Exemption Provisions; Enumeration
6-1.1-10-39. Intangible Personal Property Exemptions
6-1.1-10-41. Exempt Property Purchased Under Contract of Sale by Person Not Qualifying for Exemption
6-1.1-10-42. Small Business Incubator Program
6-1.1-10-44. Enterprise Information Technology Equipment
6-1.1-10-45. Indiana Department of Transportation Signage
6-1.1-10-46. Property Tax Exemption; for Profit Early Childhood Education Provider
6-1.1-10-47. Property Tax Exemption; Certain Federally-Qualified Health Centers
6-1.1-10-48. Property Tax Exemption; Nonprofit Health, Fitness, Aquatics, and Community Center
6-1.1-10-49. Property Tax Exemption; Transportation Facility
6-1.1-10-50. Property Tax Exemption; Property Located in an Innovation Development District