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A Florida county property appraiser sets the value of every property in the county as of January 1 each year and handles exemptions such as homestead.
The office finds each property's market value, called just value, then applies exemptions, assessment limits and classifications to reach the taxable value. It must inspect every property at least once every five years. In August it mails each owner a notice of proposed property taxes, called the TRIM notice. The property appraiser does not set tax rates or collect taxes. The county, cities, school board and special districts set the rates, and the county tax collector sends the bills.
Each county property appraiser has its own website with the assessment information for every parcel. In Pinellas County, for example, the search finds a property by address, owner name or parcel number; for an address, type only the street number and street name. Some property appraisers' websites also give a tax estimate based on where the home is. Brevard County's site takes homestead exemption applications online.
If you are buying, the seller's tax bill is not your tax bill. Florida law requires the property appraiser to remove the seller's exemptions and reassess the home at just value on the January 1 after the sale. Exemption applications are due to the property appraiser by March 1. To challenge a value, an owner files a petition with the clerk of court within 25 days of the TRIM notice.
The Brevard County Property Appraiser's Titusville office is at 321-264-6700, and the Pinellas County Property Appraiser is at 727-464-3207. The Florida Department of Revenue oversees property appraisers statewide; its Property Tax Oversight program answers general questions at 850-717-6570.
There is no single Florida rate. Your bill is the home's assessed value, minus any exemptions, times the millage rates set each year by the county, the city if you live in one, the school board and any special districts, so two houses of the same price in neighboring towns can pay different amounts.
Read the answer →If you own your home and it is your permanent residence on January 1, you can file for the homestead exemption with the county property appraiser by March 1, and it lowers that year's tax bill.
Read the answer →A Florida county tax collector mails property tax bills, collects the payments and sends the money to the county, cities, schools and other taxing bodies.
Read the answer →In Brevard, the Property Appraiser sets each property's value, local boards set the tax rates, and the Tax Collector mails the bills around November 1.
Read the answer →A Florida county tax collector mails property tax bills, collects the payments and sends the money to the county, cities, schools and other taxing bodies.
In Florida, you get a building permit from the local building department that covers the property's address, and you must have it before the work starts.
There is no single price: a Florida electric bill depends on which utility serves the home and how many kilowatt-hours the household uses each month.
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