Whitley County Veterans Service Office (Joshua Smith), Government Building, Columbia City

The office. The Veterans Services page: "The County Veterans Service Office is here to help veterans in the community with all veteran issues. We work in conjunction with The Indiana Department of Veteran Affairs, The United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and various Veteran Service organizations assisting veterans and their family members with benefits they may be eligible for due to their military service. This office is now a full time position and will be open during normal business hours. Please feel free to call, email or stop in if you have any questions or want some information. We are here to serve those who have served!!" The page links the 2025 federal benefits guide, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune and Gulf War pages, the Center for Women Veterans and Indiana's Military Family Relief Fund. Who and where. Joshua Smith, Veterans Service Officer, 220 W Van Buren St, Suite 111, Columbia City, IN 46725; phone (260) 248-3189, mobile (260) 248-7884. Hours: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed for lunch noon to 1 p.m. He also sits on the county's Veterans Treatment Court team (the court entry). Property tax. The State's disabled veteran property tax benefits are filed with the County Auditor. File State Form 12662 with the County Auditor by January 15, 2027 for taxes due in 2027; a totally disabled veteran who had the old $14,000 deduction must file again to get the new 100% deduction, or the county applies only the $250 credit. The Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs says State Form 51186 "is no longer used", and the service officer can complete the form's Section VIII certificate. See the Indiana entries on the 100 percent deduction and the $350 and $250 credits.