How Can I Lower My Property Taxes In Florida?

admin • Jul 11, 2022

When you buy a home, the cost of property taxes can be an afterthought. You might assume they’ll remain the same year after year, but that isn’t always the case. 

Your property tax bill can change from one year to the next for a variety of reasons. If your property taxes are more than you expect, it’s time to take action before the bill becomes even higher. 

Here are some essential tips to help you lower your Florida property taxes by a significant amount this year. If you need expert assistance lowering your property taxes, be sure to contact the Law Offices of Mary King. 

We have extensive experience dealing with all manner of taxes, and that includes property taxes in Florida. So read on to learn what you can do, and contact us for further assistance.

Ensure Your Initial Home Valuation Is Low

The first step to lowering your Florida property taxes is to make sure that your home’s initial valuation is as low as possible.

When you first purchase a home or property in Florida, the county will appraise it at market value. You can try to negotiate a lower appraisal with the appraiser. If you succeed, your tax bill will be lower because it will be based on a lower value. To appeal your home’s initial valuation, contact your county property appraiser’s office.

Your property tax bill will be based on the property’s assessed value, which is determined in part by the appraiser. The goal is to get the most accurate appraisal of your home so that you pay the lowest amount of taxes possible. 

To help you achieve this, you want to make your home look its best during the appraisal visit. Make sure that there are no cluttered or messy areas. You should also remove or cover up any items inside your house like pictures, furniture, and decorations that might hinder a clear view of the interior.

Apply for Homestead Benefits

If you live in Florida and your home is your primary residence, you may be eligible for Homestead Benefits. These benefits can help lower your property taxes. To receive homestead benefits, you must file an application with your county property appraiser’s office. 

The average amount of homestead benefits received is $1,200 per year. This amount can vary depending on your county of residence and the value of your home. It’s important to note that you must apply for homestead benefits each year.

Your lawyer can assist you with the application process and help you receive the benefits to which you’re entitled.

Obtain Portability

If you’re moving to a new home in Florida, you may be able to transfer your Homestead Exemption and save thousands of taxable dollars on your new home! 

When buying a new home, it’s important to get as much portability as possible. You can do this by asking your real estate agent about properties that have a lot of Homestead Exemption left. The more exemption you have, the fewer taxes you’ll have to pay on your new home.

In Florida, you can receive up to $50,000 in Homestead Exemption. This exemption can save you thousands of dollars on your property taxes each year. The first half of the amount goes to all property taxes.

If you sell your home, you can use the portability tax credits to lower your tax bill on a new property. Usually, these credits are worth thousands of dollars, so they’re definitely something you want to take advantage of. 

This year, the portability limit increased from $25,000 to $50,000 per owner per fiscal year. That’s one reason why it’s so important to get as much portability as possible. If you’ve owned your home for a while and haven’t used any portability yet, now is the time. 

You can find out how much portability you have by contacting your county appraiser office. No matter how much portability you have left this year, getting more will help with future taxes.

If you’re not moving, you can still receive a Homestead Exemption on your current home. To do this, be sure to file an application with the county property appraiser.

Negotiate with Your County Property Appraiser

You can try to negotiate a lower assessment with your county property appraiser. The appraiser will reassess your home and lower your tax bill if they agree that your home is worth less than what was originally assessed.

Appeal to the Board

If you feel that your property taxes are too high, you can appeal them to your county’s Value Adjustment Board. To do so, you must file a petition within 25 days of receiving your bill. You will need to present evidence to the board that your home is not worth as much as the appraised value. If the board agrees, your property taxes will be lowered.

In Closing

You now know a few strategies that will lower your property taxes in Florida. Remember, it’s important to do your research and find out which of these strategies might be right for you and your situation, which is why we’ve provided as much information as possible to help you make the best decision. Give these strategies a try and enjoy lower property taxes!

Let Mary King and Her Team Help with Your Florida Property Tax Matters

At the Law Offices of Mary E. King , we understand the need for lower property taxes. We live at a time where saving every little bit matters. So if you need expert legal guidance regarding your property taxes, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.

The information in this blog post is for reference only and not legal advice. As such, you should not decide whether to contact a lawyer based on the information in this blog post. Moreover, there is no lawyer-client relationship resulting from this blog post, nor should any such relationship be implied. If you need legal counsel, please consult a lawyer licensed to practice in your jurisdiction.

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