Brush up on Property Taxes

2007 Property Tax Exemption Filing Period
For Miami Dade County-If you miss this deadline you’ll be sorrrrrrrrryyyyy.

Tuesday, January 2 - Thursday, March 1

The Miami-Dade County Property Appraisal is currently receiving applications for the various property tax exemptions provided for by Florida state law.The deadline for property owners to submit applications is Thursday, March 1st 2007.To facilitate this process, beginning on Tuesday, January 2nd 2007, the Property Appraisal Department will accept applications at special satellite offices across the county.Click here for a list of these satellite offices, operating hours and the documents needed to file for these exemptions.
Service Connected Disabled Veteran Discount

You may be eligible for the new tax abatement program if:

If you are a service connected disabled veteran
At least 65 years of age as of January 1st
Permanent Florida Resident at the time you went into service
Honorably Discharged

If you meet the above listed criteria the percentage of your service connected disability will be applied to your Ad Valorem taxes. For example, if you have a 30% service connected disability then 30% of the Ad Valorem taxes will be abated. This does not apply to non-ad Valorem assessments, such as garbage and lighting districts. The deadline to apply for this tax abatement is March 1st.

Payment of Real Estate Taxes – Property Tax Payment Deferral Program
Did you know that Under Florida Statutes 197.252 and 197.253, you may defer a portion or all of your property tax payments and any non-ad valorem assessments. Click here for information on the revised tax deferral program offered by the Tax Collector.
In case you wanted to be slick-
You May Lose Your 3% Cap If You Add Someone Other Than Your Spouse to your Deed and he/she Applies for Homestead Exemption
Adding names to the ownership of your property normally does not affect your $25,000 homestead exemption if the original owner/applicant still meets the residency requirements and title is held as tenants by the entirety or joint tenants with rights of survivorship.
However, if the owner added to the property applies for homestead exemption, Florida law now requires the removal of the 3% assessment limitation on your property resulting in an increase in taxes.
For additional information, please call 305-375-4125.



PROPERTY APPRAISER’S OUTREACH PROGRAM
The Property Appraiser’s office is here to help you. If you would like to have someone meet with your condo or civic organization to discuss tax exemption programs or the assessment process, please contact us at (305) 375-4712 or email us by Clicking here.

“BUYER SHOULD NOT RELY ON THE SELLER’S CURRENT PROPERTY TAXES AS THE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAXES THAT THE BUYER MAY BE OBLIGATED TO PAY IN THE YEAR SUBSEQUENT TO PURCHASE.”

A new law under Section 689.261, Florida Statutes, now requires a disclosure, before signing a contract, that a sale triggers a reassessment of a property and subsequent increase in property taxes. To help you better estimate future property taxes, the Property Appraisal Department encourages you to use our Tax Estimator.

THE MY SAFE FLORIDA HOME PROGRAM

Under a new State program, qualified Florida homeowners may receive up to $5,000 in matching grant funds to strengthen their home against hurricanes. To qualify for the program you must meet the following criteria:
Home ownership

Have a valid homestead exemption on the home
And, the insured value of your home cannot exceed $500,000
The Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser can help you obtain evidence of homestead exemption for you property in two ways.

Option 1:
Using the property search function on you can locate your property. The information on our website will reflect useful information to include the current owner of record, folio number, property address and your homestead exemption.


Option 2:
On August 22, 2006, a Notice of Proposed Property Taxes was mailed to all homeowners. This Notice reflects the current owner of record, folio number, property address and your homestead exemption.

For more information about this program visit the My Safe Florida Home program.
FOR OTHER IMPORTANT DATE AND DEADLINES CLICK HERE