(La Porte County, IN) - A tax break has been given to a home in La Porte despite evidence of it being used as a short term rental.

 

A homestead exemption was granted to owner Lisa Moore by the La Porte County Board of Property Tax Appeals on Thursday.  The decision on appeal was opposed by La Porte County Auditor Tim Stabosz, who rejected Moore’s request for a homestead exemption in 2023.

 

Stabosz argues the home on Willow Bend Drive is not her primary residence, based on evidence such as documented vacation rental use by tenants.  He also said the home is available for short term rental use on websites such as Airbnb and VRBO.

 

“We have evidence that this is primarily rented,” he said.

 

Moore said she doesn’t live there all of the time since she has other residences in Long Beach and Colorado, but her home on Willow Bend is listed as her primary residence on tax returns and other things like her driver’s license.  She said the home she purchased from her parents is also where she grew up.

 

Moore said she was under the impression she was following Indiana law governing homestead exemptions.

 

“I don’t see anything where I can’t rent it when I am not there and I don’t see anything where I have to sleep there so many days of the year,” she said.

 

Stabosz said he believes her primary residence, which also serves as an office for her real estate agency business, is in Long Beach.

 

The board citing her address being on tax returns and her driver’s license voted unanimously to grant her the tax exemption over the auditor’s objections.

 

Homestead exemptions are for primary residences only and offer tax deductions not available for secondary homes.

 

Stabosz wanted to call neighbors to testify about Moore's lack of major presence at the home and the loud noise from parties hosted by her guests.  The board voted not to allow for witness testimony, questioning whether it would be totally accurate.