Florida Homeowners tax exemptions!

Home buyers are always looking for deductions! Who wouldnt.  Well this is the easiest way to check and see if you qualify.  I got this from the states website.  Hope it helps!

You must apply for exemptions with your county property appraiser. The property appraiser may require documentation.

Individual and Family Exemptions

• Homestead, Up To $50,000
  Every person who owns and resides on real property in Florida on January 1 and makes the property his or her permanent residence is eligible to receive a homestead exemption up to $50,000. The first $25,000 applies to all property taxes, including school district taxes. The additional exemption up to $25,000, applies to the assessed value between $50,000 and $75,000 and only to non-school taxes.
  The application for homestead exemption (Form DR-501) and other property tax forms are posted on our form page and on most property appraiser's websites. Click here for county property appraiser contact and website information. Some county sites have quick and easy online applications. If filing for the first time, be prepared to answer these questions:
  

  • Whose name or names were recorded on the title on January 1?
  • What is the street address of the property?
  • Were you living in the dwelling on January 1?
  • Do you claim homestead in another county or state?

  If one spouse holds the title, the other spouse may file for the exemption with the consent of the titleholder. Your property appraiser may ask for any of the following items to prove your residency:
  

  Previous residency outside Florida and date ended
  Florida driver license or identification card number
  Evidence of giving up driver license from other state
  Florida vehicle tag number
  Florida voter registration number (if US citizen)
  Declaration of domicile, residency date
  Current employer
  Address listed on your last IRS return
  School location of dependent children
  Bank statement and checking account mailing address
  Proof of payment of utilities at homestead address

  If you are moving from a previous Florida homestead to a new homestead in Florida, you may be able to transfer, or “port,” all or part of your homestead assessment difference. Read more on portability.
  See a summary of requirements and documentation for homestead related exemptions.
  See section 196.031, Florida Statutes. For local information, contact your county property appraiser.

• Widows and Widowers, $500
  Any widow or widower who is a Florida resident may claim a $500 exemption. If you remarry, you are no longer eligible for the exemption. If you were divorced before the death of your ex-spouse, you do not qualify as a widow or widower.
  See section 196.202, Florida Statutes. For local information, contact your county property appraiser.

• Disability, $500
  A Florida resident who is totally and permanently disabled may qualify for a $500 exemption.
  See section 196.202, Florida Statutes. For local information, contact your county property appraiser.

• Blind Persons, $500
  A Florida resident who is blind may qualify for a $500 exemption.
  See section 196.202, Florida Statutes. For local information, contact your county property appraiser.

• Total and Permanent Disability
  Real estate used and owned as a homestead by a quadriplegic, less any portion used for commercial purposes, is exempt from all ad valorem taxation.
  Real estate used and owned as a homestead by a paraplegic, hemiplegic, or other totally and permanently disabled person, who must use a wheelchair for mobility or who is legally blind, is exempt from taxation if the gross household income is below the current gross income limit. Gross income is the income, including veterans' and social security benefits, of all persons residing in the homestead.
  If filing for the first time, a certificate of total and permanent disability (Form DR-416) from two (2) licensed doctors of this state or from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs is required. For the legally blind, one of the two may be a certificate from a Florida-licensed optometrist (Form DR-416B).
  See section 196.101, Florida Statutes. For local information, contact your county property appraiser.

• Two Local Option Homestead Exemptions for Persons 65 and Older
  Some city or county governments have enacted local ordinances allowing one or both added homestead exemptions. Contact your local property appraiser for information on any ordinances passed in your county.
  This law allows counties or municipalities to grant either or both of the following:
  

  • An exemption not exceeding fifty-thousand dollars to any person who has the legal or equitable title to real estate, maintains their permanent residence on the property, is 65 or older, and whose household income does not exceed the household income limitation; or
  • An additional exemption equal to the assessed value of the property to an owner who has title to real estate in Florida with a just value less than $250,000, has maintained permanent residence on the property for not less than 25 years, is 65 or older and whose household income does not exceed the household income limitation.

  The household income limit is adjusted each year on January 1, according to changes in the consumer price index (CPI). It compares the prior year cost-of-living with the year before. Information on the current income limit for this exemption and more information on the CPI can be found at http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/property/resources/limitations.html. To find the income limit information on this page for these senior exemptions, scroll down to the subheading on the page that says: Additional Homestead Exemption for Persons 65 and Older.
  
  Get and complete a statement of income using this form: (Form DR-501SC).

Veterans Exemptions

• Disabled Ex-Servicemember
  An ex-service member disabled at least 10% in war or by service-connected events may be entitled to a $5,000 exemption on any property he or she owns.
  See section 196.24, Florida Statutes. For local information, contact your county property appraiser.

• Service-Connected, Total and Permanent Disability or Confined to a Wheelchair
  An honorably discharged veteran who is totally and permanently disabled or requires a wheelchair for mobility resulting from their military service may qualify for total exemption of their homestead. Under some circumstances, the benefit of this exemption can carry over to the surviving spouse.
  See sections 196.081 and 196.091, Florida Statutes. For local information, contact your county property appraiser.

• Discount for Veterans 65 and Older with a Combat-Related Disability
  A veteran who is disabled, 65 or older, and owns homestead property may qualify for a property tax discount based on their percentage of disability. To be eligible, you must have been honorably discharged from military service and be partially disabled with a permanent service-connected disability, at least part of which is combat-related. Read more.
  
  See section 196.082, Florida Statutes. For local information, contact your county property appraiser.

• Deployed Military Exemption
  A member or former member of any branch of the United States military or military reserves, the United States Coast Guard or its reserves, or the Florida National Guard may receive an exemption on this year’s tax bill if he or she:
  

  • receives a homestead exemption,
  • was deployed during the last calendar year outside the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii in support of a designated operation (each year the Florida legislature designates operations for this exemption), and
  • submits an application, Form DR-501M, to the property appraiser.

  The percent of the taxable value that is exempt for the current year is determined by the percent of time during the last year when the service member was deployed on a designated operation.

• Surviving Spouse of Military Veteran Who Died in the Line of Duty
  A surviving spouse of a veteran who died from service-connected causes while on active duty may be granted a total exemption on their home.
  
  See section 196.081, Florida Statutes. For local information, contact your county property appraiser.

• Filing and Keeping Your Homestead Exemption
  When a person serving in the Armed Forces owns a property and uses it as a homestead, the service member may rent the homestead without abandoning the claim to the homestead exemption. See section 196.061, Florida Statutes.
  Service members who can't file a homestead exemption claim in person because of a service obligation may file the claim through next of kin or through any other person who has been authorized in writing to file on behalf of the service member. See section 196.071, Florida Statutes.

Fallen Heroes Family Tax Relief Act

• Surviving Spouses of First Responders
  A surviving spouse of first responders who died in the line of duty may be granted a total exemption on homestead property.
  
  See section 196.081, Florida Statutes. For local information, contact your county property appraiser.

Earning their keep!

There are sled dogs, who make great transportation assistance in the polar regions. There are show dogs who make the dog show circuit and earn prize money. Some dogs sell burritos.
Then there are my three amigos. Annie and Buddy Beagle, and Daisy Mae Spaniel. They can eat, sleep and bark. Doesn't seem like much unless your a Realtor with a vacant home behind you. Curious potential home buyers stop and peek in the windows. Annie Beagle starts the arooooo welcome! I follow up with a hello and business card- "That ones sold , but I can help you find another'! And we did.
Their new home had everything but the kitchen sink (really). OK, a kitchen sink and a master bath toilet were missing. The rest of the home was in relatively good shape and had a fantastic layout, yard and pool. Before we placed an offer we called his loan officer and verified they would finance a home with a minor few issues. The seller added the sink and toilet, the lender wasn't concerned with the missing closet doors and lion -chewed bathroom door.
We did a 7am walk through one Saturday. Mrs. P had already written the honey-do list. Honey had to measure for blinds, a refrigerator and a few other odds and ends. Paint colors need changing. Carpet needed discussing. Both are clearly delighted in their choice of homes. I am delighted to have them as neighbors!
I bid $20 on a bag of gourmet bones at a fundraiser auction the other night. I won. Or should I say, my sales associates won!


I sell Real Estate from Sarasota to Naples! I love SWFL and would love to share it with you! There are so many reasonably priced homes and they are going quickly!

Fort Myers Beach photo