Prepared By: MJ Stone, PresidentMJ Stone & Associates P.A.1640 W-Oakland Park Blvd. Suite 402Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33311

MJStone@TaxFlorida.com(954)-202-9696 (office) ext. 305(954)-727-8053 (fax)(561)-252-6285 (mobile)

HOW DO I APPEAL MY PROPERTY TAXES? Petitions forms* are available at the

Property Appraiser’s Office and the Value Adjustment Board (“VAB”).

A filing fee of $15 per parcel of property is required when the petition is filed with the VAB.

After petition is filed, the VAB will schedule a hearing before a Special Tax Magistrate.

Please refer to MJ Stone & Associates, P.A. handout material for petition forms.

WHEN DO I APPEAL MY PROPERTY TAXES? Petition deadline is no later than 25 days following

the mailing of the Truth in Millage (“TRIM” or Notice of Proposed Taxes) notices.

If petition deadline has passed, a petition for a “ Just Cause” hearing can be filed in some counties.

This is a preliminary attempt to extend and explain why the original petition was not filed in a timely manner.

The petitions will be based on the Market Value as of January 1 of the Assessment Year.

There is a no guarantee that the “Just Cause” hearing will be granted

METHOD OF ASSESSMENTS – STATE LAW

193.011 ASSESSMENT AT JUST VALUATION –The Property Appraiser shall assess all the real

and personal property in such a manner as to secure a just valuation as a required by Sec.4,

Art. VII of the State Constitution. In arriving at a just valuation, the Property Appraiser shall take into consideration the following factors:

1. The present cash value of the property;2. The highest and best use to which the property can

be expected to be put in the immediate future, and the present use of the property;

3. The location of said property;4. The quantity or size of said property;5. The cost of said property and the present

replacement value of any improvements thereon;6. The condition of said property;7. The income from said property; and8. The net proceeds of the sale of the property, as

received by the seller, after deduction of all of the usual and reasonable fees and costs of the sale, including the costs and expenses of financing.

Property Assessment cannot increase more than the cost of living or 3% per year, whichever is less. (Market Value, in almost all cases of homesteaded properties, typically is greater than the Assessed Value.)

$50,000 deducted from the total assessed (taxable) value of the property, resulting in a tax savings of approximately $990.

Must be applied for by March 1st of calendar year. Property tax exemption applications can be

applied for by mail. To qualify for homestead exemption, you must be

an owner/occupant, and this must be your primary residence.

Please refer to MJ Stone & Associates, P.A. for handout material for homestead exemption forms.

Properties purchased prior to January of the tax year will be assessed based upon market transactions that occurred during that year. Properties purchased after January of the tax year will be assessed at the Market Value prior to the sale.

http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/forms/2001/dr486.pdf