Welcome to Engage™, Hendricks County's citizen engagement portal!

A modern approach to citizen engagement suggests that some citizens appreciate the ability to interact with their local government in a digital environment, such as online access to services to; pay property taxes, research publicly available information, submit documents and forms, etc. That’s where Engage™ comes in!

Engage™ is an online resource where citizens, real estate professionals, businesses, etc. can access all kinds of publicly available information related to property, such as; owner name, assessed value, improvement information, property taxes, property record cards, interactive forms, and so much more!

Engage™ is intended to be an intuitive, user-friendly application. However, we know that some features of Engage™ could use a bit of guidance to be completely beneficial to you. This informative guide will serve to provide you with a bit more guidance, should you have a need. As well to the left, we are happy to provide you with a number of resources to assist you in your property assessment journey.

Thank you for visiting our website and for the opportunity to serve you and your needs.


News

Hendricks County Holiday Schedule

Frequently Asked Questions

  • On your Form 11
  • On your property record card
  • On your tax bill
  • From the search bar on this website, enter your address

  • Record cards can be searched, located and printed online through a parcel search by clicking here.

  • The Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) offers an abundance of information regarding current legislation and tax policy. DLGF OVERVIEW

  • The term "Improvement" simply refers to your house, structure or other improvements to the raw land. These are not necessarily improvements that have been added this year.

For more on the Notice of Assessment of Land and Improvements (Form 11), please visit the Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF).

  • Please see the first paragraph on the following webpage: Tax Bill 101

  • A blank Form 130 can be accessed here Blank 130
  • Search your parcel from the search bar. Click on your address for the property details. Under the "Forms" tab you can access a Form 130 that is populated with your parcel information.
  • Your appeal form can be mailed or brought to the Assessor's office or submitted through this website.

An appeal of the current year's assessment may have two different filing deadlines which are based on when the Form 11 notice of assessment is mailed. If the Form 11 is mailed before May 1st of the assessment year, the filing deadline is June 15th of that year. If the Form 11 is mailed after April 30th of the assessment year, the filing deadline is June 15th of the year that tax statements are mailed. IC 6-1.1-15-1.1

Contact your County Assessor for status on active appeals.

  • Assessed values reflect the market and are trended on an annual basis. Actual taxes can vary based on local approved tax rates, referendums, or individual circumstances.

  • Several factors go into determining taxes once the property is assessed, including deductions, tax caps and fees.
  • Assessed values are determined from a multitude of exterior and interior features. Properties that appear similar may have slightly different attributes that contribute to assessed value.
  • For more information on property taxes visit - DLGF - Citizen's Guide to Property Tax.

Assessed values fluctuate with the market. Valid sales provide a comprehensive indication of trends. An arm's length sale of a property is a significant factor in determining market trends, which may affect your assessed value.

Sales information can be obtained here, or at the Department of Local Government Finance's website by clicking here. You may also contact the County Assessor's office to verify a sale or ownership information. Contact Us

  • Use the search bar to search public information for a property by address or parcel number
  • You can also use the map to search. First type an address in the map search. From there click on any parcel and you will be directed to available information for that parcel Map
  • You may also contact the County Assessor's office to verify a sale or ownership information. Contact Us

Sales disclosures for April 19, 1996 and forward are available for non-exempt properties. Exempt disclosures are available beginning in late 1999. The property may have sold prior to 1996 or may have been an exempt sale. If it is a recent sale, the sales disclosure form may not have been filed with the county to date, or the record is being processed and will be available soon.

  • A physical inspection of the property is performed to ensure records are correct.
  • Properties in Indiana are reassessed on a four-year cycle. One fourth of the county is reassessed each year. For more information visit - DLGF.

During reassessment, our office will send field agents to examine and inspect the exterior of every property and interview the property owner to obtain information about the interior. If no one is available to answer the questions at the time of our inspection, we will leave a door hanger. This information is vital to our efforts, since it provides us with information about the interior features and if any changes have been made to the interior of the home.

During statewide reassessments, county and township assessors physically inspect each property to ensure that records are correct. Inspection accomplishes the gathering of data to value the property. For example, does the property still have a free-standing garage and an in-ground pool? Is the building on this property still 1,200 square feet or has it increased or decreased in size? By confirming this information, assessors can ensure properties are properly valued.

If your business was open on the assessment date of January 1, you would need to file a Business Tangible Personal Property Assessment Return by the due date.

While Indiana law does not require it, many taxpayers believe that it is a good idea to communicate this information since the assessor has the authority to place an estimated assessment on someone who he/she believes has failed to file a return.

For general questions about recording documents, you may contact the Recorder's Office. To contact the Recorder's Office, please click here.

For Zoning information you may contact the Hendricks County Planning & Building Department. To contact the Planning & Building Department, please click here.

For information on Building Permits you may contact the Hendricks County Planning & Building Department. To contact the Planning & Building Department, please click here.

Appeals Process

IC 6-1.1-15-1.1
As a result of legislation passed in 2017, significant changes were made to the appeal process. Taxpayers wishing to contest the assessed value of property may do so by submitting a Form 130 prescribed by the State to the County Assessor's office. The Form 133, which was previously used to contest assessments on objective grounds, has been eliminated. Taxpayers wishing to contest their assessment on objective grounds (for example, a garage that has been removed or too much square footage) should complete and submit page 1 & Section III, page 2 of the Form 130.

Form 11’s (Notice of Assessment) are mailed out each year by April 30th. The appeal deadline each year is June 15th.

Access the appeals flowchart by clicking Procedure for Appeal of Assessment Flow Chart.

Form 130

Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals

Hendricks County has a 3 voting-member Board in accordance with Indiana code 6-1.1-28.1. The County Assessor serves as secretary and a non-voting member.

Board Members

  • Mark Ratterman, President
  • Stan Albaugh, Member
  • Andrea Hopper, Member
  • Nicole Lawson, Secretary

Meetings are held at the Hendricks County Government Center 1st floor meeting chambers as scheduled.


Cyclical Reassessment

During statewide reassessments, county and township assessors physically inspect each property to ensure that records are correct. Approximately 25% of the parcels in each jurisdiction will be reassessed each year, over a four-year time frame.

During a field inspection, personnel will attempt to make contact with the taxpayer to identify his/herself and explain their purpose for the visit. They will ask several questions to verify information about the interior of the property and request permission to inspect the exterior. If no one is home, personnel will proceed with their work, which includes an inspection of the front and rear of the property. When the inspection is complete, a door hanger will be left to inform the taxpayer that we were there. Photographs will also be taken during all inspections.

Each reassessment field inspector wears an ID badge. If a taxpayer is uncertain about the identity of a representative, please contact the Hendricks County Assessor's Office for verification.

Real Estate Market Activity

Sales

Property values increase due to real estate market trends. Values fluctuate even without any changes/improvements to the property. (Changes to the property may include, but are not limited to additions, pools, decks, sheds, pole barns, or anything more than 25 sq ft.)

To search for Sales Disclosures for any particular time period, please go to the Gateway Search Page at DLGF Sales Search Site.

Residential Market

2024 median selling price in Hendricks County - $330,000
2023 median selling price in Hendricks County - $312,000
2022 median selling price in Hendricks County - $305,000
2021 median selling price in Hendricks County - $247,000
2020 median selling price in Hendricks County - $247,000

The above-stated values are calculated from the previous year. The increase in the Median Sale Price for 2024 is 7% higher than the previous year and is based on sellers getting approximately 93% of their asking price which is much higher than the 80% norm.

Reasons why trends are higher – Housing Shortage, buyers continue purchasing homes at/above current assessed values. The current data, however, does begin to lean towards a Buyers’ Market instead of a Seller’s Market showing the possibility of lowering trends shortly.

See the Indiana Realtors Housing Hub for current trends across the State of Indiana, click here.

Agricultural Market

Market Sale price per acre for land over 5 acres (bare Ground)

2024 $18,011
2023 $12,925
2022 $9,428
2021 $8,719
2020 $6,087
2019 $5,883
2018 $5,809
2017 $5,154
2016 $5,553
2015 $5,935
2014 $8,766
2013 $7,839

Forms

Please take note of the instructions regarding the forms below:

  • Blank forms may be downloaded.
  • Fillable PDFs will not save as populated under the "save" option. Once filled, they may be printed to a PDF under the "print" option.
  • Fillable forms are to be printed, signed, and submitted to the Assessor's office.


Valuation of Rental Properties: Income Approach

The Income Approach is a method used to assess the value of income-producing properties, such as rental properties. Unlike the Cost Approach, which considers the cost to build the property, the Income Approach focuses on the income generated by the property to determine its value.

For rental properties with four or fewer units, the Gross Rent Multiplier (GRM) is used as part of the valuation process. The GRM is calculated by dividing the sale price of the property by the rental income it generates. To determine the property’s assessed value, the total rent collected is multiplied by the corresponding GRM.

As stated in Indiana Code 6-1.1-4-39: “If a taxpayer wishes to have the income capitalization method or the gross rent multiplier method used in the initial formulation of the assessment of the taxpayer's property, the taxpayer must submit the necessary information to the assessor not later than the assessment date.” Specifically:

  • For rental properties with four or fewer units, the taxpayer is required to submit a copy of the lease agreement for each unit by December 31, annually.
  • For rental properties with five or more units, a copy of the Schedule E (from the taxpayer’s federal income tax return) must be submitted to the Assessor’s office by December 31, annually.
  • As stated in Indiana Code 6-1.1-35-9: “All information that is related to earnings, income, profits, losses, or expenditures is confidential” and will not be disclosed.

If the Assessor’s office does not receive the rental property information before the assessment date, the taxpayer has the right to file an appeal for the current year’s assessment. During the appeal process, rental information may be provided as evidence to support the case.

Important Note: If the required rental information is not submitted and no appeal is filed, the Assessor’s office will be unable to assist with adjustments to the current year’s assessed value.

Online Door Hanger

For Pre-populated Form:

  1. From the Home page, enter your provided parcel number or address.
  2. Select your property from the parcel list.
  3. Once the Parcel Detail panel opens, select the Forms tab.
  4. To complete the form, click the Online Door Hanger link.
  5. Fill out the form, in its entirety, and then click submit.*

For Blank Form:

  1. From the Home page, click the Resources button at the top of the page.
  2. Click Forms, on the left side column.
  3. To complete the form, click the Online Door Hanger link.
  4. Fill out the form, in its entirety, and then click submit.*
* Please note, if you have provided an email address during submission, an automated confirmation will be sent to the provided email for your records.

Personal Property

Personal Property is a self-assessed valuation system whereby property owners are responsible for reporting all tangible personal property that is used in their trade or business, used for the production of income, or held as an investment that should be or is subject to depreciation for federal income tax purposes. Completed personal property returns must be received on or before Thursday, May 15, 2025. Returns can be mailed to: Porter County Assessor, 155 Indiana Ave., Suite 302, Valparaiso, IN 46383 and must be postmarked on or before May 15, 2025.*

A penalty of twenty-five dollars ($25) applies for returns filed after May 15, 2025. For returns not filed within thirty (30) days of the due date, an additional fee of twenty percent (20%) of the taxes payable will be assessed.

Personal Property Exemption

Personal Property exemption eligibility/notification SEA 233-2019

Indiana Senate bill 233 was passed amending IC6-1.1-3-7.2 to allow an exemption from the tax for business owners filing under $80,000 in acquisition costs. Beginning with January 1, 2023 assessment date, a taxpayer is no longer required to file a personal property tax return if they have previously filed a return that claimed the exemption, unless or until the taxpayer no longer qualifies for the exemption. (IC 6-1.1-3-7.2(f) SEA-2002 Sec.11)

Business owners shall report assets in the correct taxing unit where the property has tax situs.* The return must have an NAICS code which appears on the federal return. Individuals using Social Security numbers as Federal Identification numbers are only required to use the last four digits. Failure to file a return on or before the due date without a declared value or signature, not in the correct taxing unit, or without an NAICS code, will result in a penalty of $25.00 per Indiana code 6-1.1-37-7.

* Prestamped and dated postmarks without an official USPS postmark will be deemed late if received after the deadline of May 15, 2025. Appropriate fees and penalties will be applied.

See links below to access websites for required information.

Personal Property Online Portal – Indiana (PPOP-IN)

The Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) has a new online service portal to file business personal property filings, and can be found here.
To Look up your taxing district go to https://budgetnotices.in.gov/
NAICS codes look up go to https://www.census.gov/naics/
Please contact our office at (219) 465-3529 or Assessor@portercountyin.gov if you have any further questions.

** Please note when filing online that if your filing is "Rejected" for errors and NOT corrected, the filing will be deemed a "failure to file". This will result in the property being assessed fees and/or penalties

Completed personal property forms can be mailed to: Porter County Assessor, 155 Indiana Ave., Suite 302, Valparaiso, IN 46383

Forms

Mobile Home

The true tax value of mobile homes is assessed under IC 6-1.1-7 (other than mobile homes subject to the preferred valuation method under IC 6-1.1-439(b)) using J.D. Power Connect.

50 IAC 3.3-2-2
"Annually assessed mobile home" defined Sec. 2
"Annually assessed mobile home" means a mobile home that: (1) has a certificate of title issued by the bureau of motor vehicles under IC 9-17-6; and(2) is not on a permanent foundation.

IC 9-17-1-0.5
Items requiring a title under IC 9-17Sec. 0.5. The following are required to be titled under this article:(3) Manufactured or mobile homes that are:(A) personal property not held for resale; or(B) not attached to real estate by a permanent foundation.

50 IAC 3.3-2-3 - "Mobile Home" means a "dwelling" as defined in IC 9-13-2-103.2.

A "manufactured home" as defined in IC 9-13-2-96

If you have any questions regarding Transferring/ Moving permits, see the guidance offered by the Office of the Hendricks County Treasurer.

  • For questions or information regarding mobile home titles, please contact the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
  • If the name(s) on the title appears to be incorrect, please contact your mobile home park office.

Tax Bill Estimator

The Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF), in partnership with the Indiana Business Research Center (IBRC) at Indiana University, created the below tax bill projection tools for Indiana taxpayers. These tools will allow the taxpayer to enter their property's assessed value and possible deductions to see a range of tax bill estimates.

The estimates provided by these tools are projections only and should not be taken as a statement of true tax liability.

For a list of Taxing Districts (Number/Name) by Township, please see this listing made available by the DLGF.

Property Tax Cap Allocations

Indiana property tax caps limit the amount of property taxes to 1% of property values for homesteads (owner-occupied), 2% for other residential property and farmland, and 3% for all other property.

  1. Homestead 1%
  2. Residential property 2%
  3. Long-term care property 2%
  4. Agricultural land 2%
  5. Nonresidential property 3%
  6. Business Personal Property 3%

Note: An individual real estate assessment may contain a variety of cap allocations.
Note: Property taxes imposed after being approved by the voters in a referendum or local public question shall not be considered for purposes of calculating a person’s credit ( i.e. Circuit Breaker Tax Credit). In other words, the voter-approved taxes are outside the property tax caps.
Note: A person does not need to file an application for the Property Tax Cap credit. It will automatically be applied to the property tax statement. This credit has nothing to do with the Homestead deduction. A taxpayer desiring to have a Homestead deduction must have an approved Homestead deduction on file in the Auditor’s office.

Homestead- 1%
  • Consists of dwelling, garage, 1 acre of land
  • Any number of decks, patios, gazebos, or pools.
  • One (1) additional building that is not part of the dwelling if the building is predominantly used for a residential purpose and is not used as an investment property or as a rental property.
  • One (1) additional residential yard structure other than a deck, patio, gazebo, or pool.”
  • Has a homestead deduction on file
Residential Property- 2%
  • Single-family dwelling that is not part of a homestead and 1 acre of land
  • A building that includes 2 or more dwelling units (includes apartment buildings)
  • Any common areas shared by the dwelling units, including land that is a common area
  • Land on which the building is located
  • Land rented or leased for the placement of a manufactured home or mobile home, including common areas shared by the manufactured homes or mobile homes
Long-Term Care- 2%
  • Used for the long-term care of an impaired individual
  • Health facility licensed under Indiana Code, or housing allowed to use the term “assisted living”
  • Independent-living home that, under contractual agreement, serves not more than 8 individuals
Agricultural Land- 2%
  • Land assessed as agricultural land under the real property assessment rules and guidelines of the Department of Local Government Finance
Nonresidential Property- 3%
  • Real property that is not a homestead, or residential property
  • Commercial land and improvements not considered Residential Property
  • Yard improvements not part of a homestead
  • Agricultural Improvements
Business Personal Property- 3%