Symmes Township homeowners should ignore online videos claiming they can apply for a "Federal Senior Homeowner Tax Review Request" form. It doesn't exist.
Hamilton County Auditor Jessica E. Miranda issued a warning Aug. 10, alerting property owners that an entirely AI-generated, 30-minute video is circulating online in various formats. The video directs older homeowners to contact their county auditor for the fake form. It also references "Form 1098-SR" and a "federal property tax freeze," neither of which is a real program.
"[T]his form does not exist, and the video is entirely false," Miranda said in the release. "Please continue to report the video as misinformation."
Miranda said auditors across Ohio are fielding a surge of calls about the scam, which targets homeowners 65 and older.
As we reported Aug. 11, Clermont County Auditor Linda L. Fraley issued a parallel warning covering Loveland and Milford residents. But Symmes Township sits in Hamilton County, meaning Miranda's office handles tax relief there.
What's actually available
The only legitimate property tax relief program for older Ohioans administered by county auditors is the Homestead Exemption. To qualify in Hamilton County, a homeowner must:
- Be at least 65 years old
- Occupy the home as a primary residence
- Have a 2025 gross income below $41,000 (Social Security is not counted)
Applications for the Homestead Exemption dropped nearly 70% between 2013 and 2023 after an income ceiling took effect in 2014, according to a separate July 2026 release from Miranda's office. That decline means eligible seniors may be leaving money on the table.
How to verify or apply
Miranda urged residents to get tax information only from official government sources. Symmes Township homeowners who think they may qualify for the Homestead Exemption can contact the Hamilton County Auditor's Homestead Unit at 513-946-4099 or email [email protected]. The auditor's Homestead Exemption page has additional details.
Anyone who encounters the fake video should report it as misinformation on the platform where it appears.
