OK, so we are moving from Hell-Annoys to Indiana and if someone could explain the county taxes I would appreciate it, we started in Lake county but decided on Jasper because of the lower taxes, I know Indiana taxes retirement income at 3% but are there other taxes from the county besides the real estate tax and the 3% income tax ? Sorry for being so dumb, I tried google but I just couldn't find anything I could understand LOL.

Most counties have a county option tax that goes to the county and is
an addition to the state percentage. It varies from county to county
and the state tax instruction booklet has a list of every county and the
tax rate as a percentage. When filing a state tax return your total
state tax bill is a combination of the two seperate taxes. Some county
rates are close to 2% making your actual state tax closer to 5% than
3%. What's disgusting about Indiana taxes is that all income, like
pension income and the meager interest income from savings is taxed
just like wages. Indiana does not tax SS income however. Also some
counties have added a wheel tax, supposedly to fund road repairs, of
$25 per vehicle. So when you renew your vehicle registrations each
year you will pay a $25 tax for each one in addition to other fees.

the Indiana state income tax is 3.4% (not 3% unless it changed this year). Most counties have an additional tax. In Tippecanoe county (Lafayette) there is an additional 1.5%. On the plus side it is flat. There is no additional form, it all goes on the state form.

The excise tax on cars is rather steep, it is based on the age and class (primarily defined by the original value). After 10 years, the excise tax hits a floor.

I think sales tax is 7%, which is kind of high. I'm not sure if there is a county sales tax also.

If you rent, Indiana does let you deduct some of your rent (up to $3000 I think) from your income.

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Common sense isn't so common.

You're right the state rate is actually 3.4%. As far as the county rate
being flat the counties can raise it if they so desire and the rate in
mine has steadily increased over the years and is currently 1.875%
I think. The sales tax is 7% and is applied where you might not
expect, like labor charges for example. No county sales tax but some
have an overlooked tax called a beverage tax, a small tax applied to
the bill for dining out in restaurants to help fund local governments.
If you rent you can deduct your rent from your state taxable income
and if you own your property tax can be deducted. The limits are
$2500 I think. Overall Indiana is not exactly a low tax state but it
does vary from county to county.

Making me question my move , BUT ! I just can't stand this state and the politics anymore, plus the wife don't want to move too far from the grandkids.

And 1 more thing, I'll be living about 20 minutes from Jasper-Pulaski state park or whatever that park is called.

Man, that'll be great - I used to love going up there to see the birds come in.

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Now go make God proud...

Illinois doesn't tax pensions..yet. I'm hearing rumblings about their changing that. Indiana is not in the top 10 of tax heavy states for retirees. Once the elections are over I think we're all gonna need a large jar of Vaseline where ever you live iin the U.S... I haven't been to DeMotte in quite a while. It's pretty nice out there. Only concern might be your new reliance on well water, septic system, and LP gas. If your new digs are aways out there travel to grocery stores and shopping may concern you.

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SOS USA

I haven't lived in Illinois for a long time (left in 89). Other than better gun laws, Indiana doesn't really have much advantage over Illinois. But gun laws don't tell the whole story. I never had any trouble finding places to shoot downstate Illinois (away from Chicago). Granted, that was a long time ago. Maybe things are different now. Indiana, at least around Lafayette, has very few places to shoot. Next to no reloading supplies. Seriously - when I asked where to find reloading supplies here in town, I was told there isn't any - try Terre Haute or Fort Wayne. If you know your Indiana geography, then you know how far away that is. No one even mentioned anyplace in Indianapolis.

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Common sense isn't so common.

Right ! They don't tax pensions, YET ! It's been almost a year and no budget, I don't want to stick around to see the next budget.
I live in Oswego and when I moved here there were 13,000 people, now , it's probably 30,000 , at the end of my sub-division they built these townhomes and since then my garage door got dented (ruined-$1000.00), property vandalized , packages stolen, I'm sure you get the idea , it's no fun to live someplace when you're always worried about what's going to happen next. If it costs me the same to live in Indiana and have peace and quiet it'll be worth it, as for shopping and such we'll both be retired and merrillville is only a half hour away, if you can't find something there you probably don't need it.

Thanks for the replies and info, John

I pay em but I'm not exactly sure how the county tax is figured. My best guess is it's a percentage of your Indiana taxable income and if you owe no state tax you would owe no county. Indiana has a fair mkt value real estate tax and your homestead is capped at 1% fmv for your residence and up to an acre of land. That helps. 2% for rental property and 3% commercial, which is too damned much.

Whenever you say Jasper I think of the cool south central Indiana town of the same name and how close it is to Patoka Lake and Hoosier National Forest, right smack dab in the middle of God's country. The southern part of Indiana is a lot like the hills of Kentucky/Tennessee with nice lakes and forests.

Good year to be an IU basketball fan, too. They've got a fun team to watch and Crean has them peaking just right. Yogi Ferrell is one of the best point guards ever and sophomore Troy Williams shows Jordan type moves. Go Hoosiers!

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God spelled backwards is dog.

You can probably find plenty of reloading components in the
Indianapolis area. The Indy 1500 gun show at the state fair
grounds is held several times a year, one coming up in a
couple of weeks. Castleton mall shopping area off of 82nd
& 86th st, has a Dicks Sporting goods and Gander store.
There is a new Cabelas store at the mall at exit 210 of
I69 plus another Dicks. Any Trap or Skeet ranges near your
house? Most of them sell primers, powder and shot. Going
to the Indy 1500 is expensive, about $9 to get in after you
pay the Fair grounds for the privilege of parking there. The
price of powder and primers will almost certainly be cheaper
at Trap and Skeet clubs. Outdoor shooting ranges are scarce
in most areas in Indiana but there are several indoor ranges
in Indy if you don't mind the cost. There are several gun
shops in the Indy area and most will have components. Go
to the State Trapshooting championships in July. Vendors
set up there and you could buy all the powder you will ever
need for the rest of your life in one day.

When I was 16 or so in '64 we used to go to the drags in Oswego. They held them at a small airport and used a landing strip for the races. They shut down the races for 20 mins. sometimes and a small plane would land. Then they would start up again. I saw Art Arfons there when he was just getting national attention. He had a jet engine with no body panels or covers on it with 4 wheels. He had a lawn chair strapped to the front of the thing which he sat in and took off down the strip promptly blowing all the timing lights to the next county, and ending the days races.
I remember Oswego as a nice town back then. About 6 years ago just before I retired I had a service call that took me back to Oswego and things have indeed changed.

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SOS USA